The British Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (BGIPU) represents the UK Parliament in the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) which is the world body of Parliaments with headquarters in Geneva founded in 1889. The IPU has twice-yearly Assemblies and convenes other inter-parliamentary meetings on a range of issues across the international agenda. The IPU is an official observer of the United Nations and works closely with the UN on a wide range of issues where parliamentary input is essential. Under broad IPU auspices, BGIPU also arranges bilateral inter-parliamentary exchanges by hosting delegations from other IPU member parliaments in the Palace of Westminster and organising outwards delegation visits to counterpart parliaments worldwide. Membership of the BGIPU is open to all Members of the House of Commons and House of Lords, across all political parties and the cross-benches. The BGIPU is managed by an Executive Committee appointed by its full membership with policy and administrative support provided by a permanent BGIPU Secretariat based in the UK Parliament. BGIPU is funded jointly by the House of Commons and the House of Lords with the primary aim of advancing the parliamentary dimension of Britain’s foreign relations.