The practice of holding conferences of Commonwealth Speakers or Presiding Officers of legislatures and of the Clerks of those legislatures is not as prevalent as one would expect in view of the importance which is attached to the institution of parliament as a bond between Commonwealth countries.

For many years India has provided an outstanding example of co-operation in this field. The first conference of Presiding Officers of the various legislatures in that country took place in New Delhi in 1921. Since then these conferences have been held periodically and they have now become a regular annual event. The agenda largely comprises procedural points of interest; no votes are taken and no formal resolutions are adopted. The first conference of Secretaries of legislative bodies in India was held at Gwalior in 1953, and subsequent conferences have been held annually in different states.