Cyflwynwyd yr ymateb hwn i ymgynghoriad y Pwyllgor Biliau Diwygio ar Fil Senedd Cymru (Aelodau ac Etholiadau).

This response was submitted to the Reform Bill Committee consultation on the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill.

SCME02  Ymateb gan: | Response from: Annemarie Bevan Edwards 
_____________________________________________________________________________________

To whom it may concern,

I am shocked and totally disheartened by the proposal to increase the number of Senedd Members in the Senedd.

I truly believe the timing for this proposal is not only thoughtless, but demonstrates just how out of touch with the wishes of the Welsh people the Senedd is.

I would like to respectfuly remind you of the following:  the people of Wales are currently:

1.  struggling with a cost of living crisis

2.  are overwhelmed by the climate

      emergency

3 . see schools falling apart, and trying

      to cope with a horrendous staffing

      crisis

4.  every day we hear about how badly

     our NHS is doing, despite the valiant

     efforts of its staff

5. the Welsh government currently has

     a catastrophic shortfall in it's 

     finances and budget

6.  our roads are falling apart

7.  our rivers are polluted

8.  our industrial strength non existent 

And the Welsh government wants to increase its members by 36 at a cost of £18 million.

I understand the need for proportional representation. The need for everyone in Wales to be fairly represented in the Senedd. 

But this is not the time, nor is it the priority of the vast majority of people in Wales.

I request the Senedd postpone this initiative until such time as the country can afford it and the people support it.

Kind regards Annemarie Bevan Edwards