Over the next few weeks, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK Branch (CPA UK) will deliver a series of online workshops on financial scrutiny for St Helena’s Public Accounts Committee, taking place on 16 November, 30 November and 7 December 2020. Forming part of Phase Two of the UK Overseas Territories Project, these sessions aim to bolster the relationship between St Helena Legislative Council, the UK Parliament and CPA UK. 

The primary objective of these workshops is to improve the understanding and knowledge of financial scrutiny to better hold to account those charged with governance. The virtual workshops will cover three main topics: The Purpose of Financial Statements, Interpreting Financial Information: Benchmarks, Comparisons and Setting Priorities, and Effective Questioning and the Importance of Following Up. The sessions have been designed by Larry Honeysett, Head of Financial Scrutiny at UK Parliament, and will be attended by members of the St Helena Public Accounts Committee and Audit St Helena.  

Members of the St Helena PAC have also recently participated in CPA UK’s Virtual Westminster Workshop on Public Financial Oversight, which was attended by over 85 delegates from the Caribbean, Asia, the Pacific, Africa and Europe, and is a key element of one of CPA UK’s main thematic areas; providing the opportunity to share knowledge, challenges and good practice on developing effective Public Accounts Committees.