The two MHKs who travelled to Bangladesh for an international conference say the visit was worthwhile.

Speaker Juan Watterson and Douglas East MHK Clare Bettison attended the 63rd Parliamentary Conference in Dhaka, along with Clerk of Tynwald Roger Philips.

They said the Isle of Man received ’positive reviews’, at the conference, hosted by the Bangladesh branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. The theme of the gathering was ’continuing to enhance high standards of performance of parliamentarians’.

Ms Bettison said: ’The conference was extremely diverse in content, with the emphasis on good governance through professional development.

’Another recurring theme was how best to engage with the electorate - especially with the younger generation - and in this many delegates found it a real eye-opener that in the Isle of Man 16-year-olds had the right to vote.’

Ms Bettison also served as the British Islands and Mediterranean Region representative at the inaugural CPC youth ’round-table’ session.

’The conference was most worthwhile as it showed how important it is, geographical location should not be seen as a barrier to parliamentarians regularly coming together face to face to build new and reinforce existing relationships, share experiences and work together to strengthen the democratic process.’

Mr Watterson, who is also chairman of the Isle of Man branch of the CPA, said it was a busy week, which saw him involved in press conferences, chairing two sessions and presenting another. He also met the president and prime minister of Bangladesh.

’It was also useful to build relationships with fellow speakers from parliaments as big as the Indian Lok Sabah and as small as the Cook Islands Assembly,’ he added.

’We are always keen to extend an invitation to the Isle of Man, and representatives from parliaments large and small are taking us up on that offer.’ Mr Watterson said the cost of the trip would be revealed once it was confirmed.

Hotel accommodation and meal costs were met by the host nation, he said, apart from possibly, an additional night at the hotel that was required because of flight times.

There would be a rebate of some of the travel costs, from the CPA, and once the clerk of Tynwald’s office had that information, then it would reveal the full cost details.

Neither he nor Miss Bettison had submitted any claims for expenses from the trip, he said.

The cost to taxpayers of representatives travelling to Commonwealth Parliamentary Association trips came under the spotlight earlier this year, when a freedom of information inquiry revealed expenses claimed by a delegation travelling to a four-day conference in the Falkland Islands, in 2013, reached £16,770.

The bulk of the party’s claim was the £14,356 spent on flights as the party had to change their tickets due to the threat of industrial action by air traffic control in Spain.

It also revealed money spent on meals and accompanying drinks, plus paracetamol, after-sun, deodorant, bottled water, batteries and tissues. The expenses were approved by the finance officer.

When the information was released, Mr Watterson said the group travelled economy class both ways.

He also pointed out important contacts were made during the conference.

Some of the cost of accommodation were paid for by the Falklands authorities.