President’s Message

The year in review has again been dominated by COVID-19, and the continuing lockdowns and other restrictions have impacted significantly on Trust operations, resulting in disruption to the normal flow of education and members’ programmes.

I was therefore pleased to be able to open two parliamentary seminars in March and May respectively. The Trust’s seminars, while intensive, are insightful providing a very realistic picture of how Parliament works and how government is exercised through Parliament.

It is also pleasing to see a small group of Members of Parliament undertaking Business Attachments with corporate members. The Business Attachment programme gives Members the unique opportunity to learn about businesses and the impact that political decisions may have on businesses.

I congratulate the Trust on its 30th anniversary milestone reached on 11 December. When we look back to the reasons behind the Trust being founded in December 1991 - the inspired vision of the people who promoted the idea (of which Sir Pat Goodman and Sir Robin Gray MP were key players) and the coming together of the business community and parliamentarians in making the vision a reality - the Trust can be very proud of the remarkable contribution it has played in ensuring that our corporates have the opportunity to better understand their parliamentary systems. The importance of this work is as relevant in 2021 as it was in 1991 and it will continue to be so in the new decade ahead.

I would like to thank the Chairman, Peter Griffiths, members of the Trust Board and Trustee Council and the Secretariat, for the work they undertake on behalf of our Corporate members and Members of Parliament.

Rt Hon Trevor Mallard MP Speaker