Commentary on provisions of Act Section 1: The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
Section 1 gives effect to the core purpose of the Act in respect of the CPA. It enables His Majesty by Order in Council to provide for the CPA to be treated in a manner comparable to an international organisation. Such treatment includes the conferral of the legal capacities of a body corporate; the provision of P&I commensurate with its functional needs in respect of the CPA and its Secretary General; and the application to the CPA of relevant statutory provisions relating to international organisations.
	Subsection (1) provides that the Order in Council may specify an organisation named the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, whether the organisation is established before or after the Act is passed. This will facilitate its proposed future operating model as a body corporate. Subsection (2) provides that the Order in Council may exclude from its application any branches or other subordinate bodies of the CPA. This ensures that the treatment comparable to an international organisation is limited to the core international organs of the CPA, such as the Secretariat; it is not intended that any privileges, immunities or other facilities would be extended to any of the national or sub-national branches of the CPA, including the UK branch.
	Subsection (1)(a) enables conferral on the CPA of the legal capacities of a body corporate. This power is informed by the equivalent power at section 1(2)(a) of the 1968 Act. The key capacities relevant to the operation of an international organisation in the UK are the capacity to conclude contracts, to acquire and dispose of property, and to institute and be party to legal proceedings.
	Subsection (1)(b) enables the provision of specific P&I in respect of the CPA. These are limited to the P&I set out in Part 1 of the Schedule. The actual suite of P&I to be accorded, including relevant exceptions and limitations, will be determined on the basis of the functional need of the organisation and will be specified in the Order in Council. This power is informed by the equivalent power at section 1(2)(b) of the 1968 Act.
	Subsection (1)(c) enables the provision of specific P&I in respect of the Secretary-General of the CPA. These are limited to the P&I set out in Part 2 of the Schedule. Sub-paragraph (ii) ensures that this facility may be provided to the person who leads the international Secretariat of the CPA, even if the name of the role were to change in a future reorganisation. The provision of P&I is limited to the Secretary-General of the CPA in recognition of the Secretary-General’s international and leadership role within the organisation; it is not proposed that any other officers or staff of the CPA should be accorded P&I by virtue of the Act. This power is informed by the equivalent power at section 1(2)(c) of the 1968 Act.
	Subsection (1)(d) provides for the Order in Council to specify certain statutory provisions in relation to international organisations which should apply in relation to the CPA with any necessary modifications. This provision will ensure that the CPA can be accorded comparable treatment to an international organisation, in particular where the definition of international organisation in the legislation is limited to inter-governmental organisations.