An All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) is a grouping in the Parliament of the United Kingdom composed of politicians from all political parties.
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All-Party Parliamentary Group
APPGs include members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. APPGS meet together, relatively informally, to discuss a particular issue of concern. APPGs are either country based, e.g., the APPG on Zimbabwe, or subject based, e.g., the APPG on breast cancer - the topics reflecting parliamentarians' concerns. APPGs generally have officers drawn from the major political parties and strive to avoid favouring one political party or another. Inevitably, they tend to focus most on the governing party's priorities, discussing new developments and inviting Government Ministers to speak at their meetings. APPGs have no formal place in the legislature, but are an effective way of bringing together parliamentarians and interested parties. APPGs must be registered every parliamentary year and must hold an Annual General Meeting.
APPGs allow others in the subject such as campaign groups, charities and other non-governmental organisations in the field to become involved in discussions and influence politicians. Often a relevant charity or other organisation will provide a secretariat for the Group helping to arrange meetings and keeping track of members of the APPG - for example the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Homelessness and Housing Need is administered by the charity Housing Justice. Others may be somewhat more frivolous in nature, such as the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group.
Associate Parliamentary Group
An Associate Parliamentary Group is similar to an All-Party Parliamentary Group except that for the latter only Members of the House of Commons or Lords have voting rights, whereas an Associate Parliamentary Group additionally allows voting rights to persons who are neither.
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