File n° 50 

For several years now, the National Assembly, like the Senate, has been seeking to develop an independent assessment capacity. It was in this framework that parliamentary delegations and offices, with varying importance, legal status and activities, were set up. There are currently five delegations. By virtue of the Constitutional Law no. 2008-724 of July 23, 2008 the Delegation for the European Union has become the committee in charge of European affairs. Two others have a legal existence but, in reality, no longer have any real activity. They are:

― The Parliamentary Delegation for Demographic Problems, set up by Law n° 79-1204 of December 31 1979, concerning the voluntary interruption of pregnancy. This delegation is drawn from both the National Assembly and the Senate. Its brief is to inform the assemblies of the results of the policy implemented to increase the birth rate and the application of laws concerning birth control, contraception and voluntary interruption of pregnancy. It has twenty-five members (fifteen M.P.s and ten Senators), appointed in such a way as to ensure the proportional representation of political groups.

― The Parliamentary Delegation for Planning, set up by Law n° 82-653 of July 29, 1982 which introduced planning reform. This delegation, with fifteen members, is responsible for informing the National Assembly of the drawing up and the implementation of the State Plans. A similar delegation exists at the Senate.

The two final delegations, which were set up more recently, have much more regular activity.

I. – The Delegation for Regional Planning
and Sustainable Development

Article 10 of Law n° 99-533 of June 25, 1999 provides for the setting-up, in each assembly, of a Parliamentary Delegation for Regional Planning and Sustainable Development. Each delegation is made up of fifteen members, appointed in such a way as to ensure the proportional representation of political groups.

In both the National Assembly and the Senate, the delegation is in charge of assessing regional planning and development policies and of informing the parliamentary bodies on the drawing-up and the carrying-out of the collective service plan as well as the implementation of planning contracts.

It has the right of self-referral on every question dealing with regional development. Matters may also be referred to it by the Bureau of the National Assembly, either on its own initiative or upon the request of the chairman of a political group or by 60 M.P.s or indeed by an ad hoc or a standing committee.

In addition, upon the request of the Government, the delegation gives an opinion on draft decrees which implement collective service plans. To do this, it has one month at its disposal, from the date of the transmission of the text.

During the XII^th Parliament, the delegation of the National Assembly published several information reports, in particular on:

― Mobile telephone and broadband internet coverage throughout France (November 2002);

― Household rubbish management throughout France (November 2003);

― Water management throughout France (November 2003);

― Instruments for sustainable development policy (April 2005);

― Deployment of digital coverage throughout France (December 2006).

II. – The Delegation for women’S Rights
and Equal Opportunities between Men and Women

Law n° 99-585 of July 12, 1999 set up, within each of the assemblies of Parliament, a Parliamentary Delegation for Women’s Rights and Equal Opportunities between Men and Women.

Each of these delegations has thirty-six members appointed “in such a way as to ensure the proportional representation of political groups and balanced between men and women as well as between the standing committees”.

The delegation’s “brief is to inform the National Assembly of the Government’s policy and the impact it has on women’s rights  and on equal opportunities between men and women. In this area, it ensures the follow-up of the implementation of the laws”. Although its brief may be broad, it must, nonetheless,  be carried out “without impinging upon the remit of the standing or ad hoc committees nor that of the Delegation for the European Union ”.

The following matters may be referred to the delegation:

― Government and Members’ bills, by the Bureau of the National Assembly, either on its own initiative or upon the request of a chairman of a political group, or by an ad hoc or standing committee;

― Texts submitted in accordance with article 88-4 of the Constitution, by the Delegation for the European Union .

The delegation may request to interview ministers and the Government must transmit to it all useful information as well as the documents necessary for the carrying-out of its brief.

In the case of referral concerning a Government or a Members’ bill, the work of the delegation leads to the filing of a recommendation report on the Table of the National Assembly. This report is also transmitted to the relevant committees and to the Delegation for the European Union . It is made public.

Amongst the most significant of the numerous reports filed by the delegation of the National Assembly are the following:

― Sexual Equality in Politics (January 2000, February 2003, July 2003 and February 2007);

― Civil Rights: Patronymic names (January 2001), Surviving spouse’s rights (January 2001), Parental authority (June 2001), Divorce (October 2001, March 2004);

― Social Rights: Professional equality between men and women (March 2000 and November 2000), Salary equality between men and women (April 2005);

― Protection against Marital Violence: The curbing of violence within couples (December 2005);

― Women’s Rights: Emergency contraception (September 2000), voluntary termination of pregnancy and contraception (November 2000).

In addition, the delegation also publishes an annual activity report, which may include, if need be, proposals for the improvement of legislation and regulations in the areas of its competence. It has thus published reports about the follow-up of the law of May 9, 2001 on professional equality in companies, about part-time jobs, about immigration and women, about the follow-up of the law of July, 4, 2001 on the voluntary termination of pregnancy and contraception, and about the lack of job security for women.

On top of this, the delegation of the National Assembly may organize conferences and decide to hold joint meetings with the Senate’s delegation.