SADCOPAC/EAAPAC Clerk Training Roles, Responsibilities of PAC Clerks: Procedural and Administrative Support Anthony Staddon SADCOPAC/EAAPAC Clerk Training Kampala, Uganda May 9-10, 2013

PAC Support Staff Previous research into the relationship between parliamentary committees and supreme audit institutions emphasized the quality of legislative staff as a factor of success for oversight activities. According to Wehner (2002), “at a minimum, the Committee should have a clerk and a secretary”. Larger PACs tend to have a lower ratio of dedicated staff to committee members compared to smaller PACs (Buzaljko 2010). The absence of a dedicated research capacity can be compensated to a certain extent with the expertise of the audit institution (Wehner, 2002). Pelizzo (2011) demonstrates that the number of staff members serving the PAC has a major impact on the PACs ability to draft reports.

PAC Support Staff (Ngozwana 2009) Country Clerk/Secretary Researcher Legal Other Total Botswana 6 5 11 Lesotho 1 Malawi 3 4 Namibia Mozambique South Africa 2 4/5? Swaziland Tanzania Zambia In Botswana, the five ‘other’ are additional staff from Parliament whose responsibility is to assist with drafting committee reports. Working facilities Adequate 6 67% Not adequate 3 33%

Training, Staffing and Facilities: Nigeria (Ekeyi 2008) The typical PAC in Nigeria has 6 full time staff members: 4 staff members are dedicated to the PAC 2 provided by the AG 1 staff member provided by govt departments Staff do not regularly engage in research activities Training is very weak. Ireland has access to external support for a major enquiry.

PAC Staffing: British Isles (Staddon 2008) Training is very weak. Ireland has access to external support for a major enquiry.

Staffing and Facilities: Canada and South Asia All PACs in Canada have a clerk serving the committee Only one Canadian PAC (federal) has a dedicated clerk serving the PAC on a full-time basis. Twelve of 14 jurisdictions have some form of research support (only the federal PAC has dedicated research staff on a full-time basis) The typical PAC in South Asia has: 4 staff members dedicated to the PAC 1 or 2 staff members shared with other committees 1 staff member provided by the AG Majority of PAC staff in South Asia engaged predominantly on administrative matters.

Roles of the Secretariat: Czech Republic and Slovenia (Buzaljko 2010) Preparation of Meetings Yes Drafting of Reports No Drafting of Transcripts Provide recommendations for resolutions Administration Research Communication with SAI Communication with Parliament Media Relations Sometimes

Administrative Support Q. What are the main types of support required from PAC Committee staff? [Consider your work in three areas: administrative, procedural and research support].