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.

SCME43 Ymateb gan: | Response from: Unigolyn / Individual
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Committee Members,

I wholeheartedly disagree with the need to increase the number of MSs in the Senedd by a single person, of any political party. They are unwarranted, unwanted and totally unnecessary. 

Wales is already in a deep financial hole, to the tune of £900million and increasing. The extra £100millions+ creating more MSs, building refurbishment/expansion and staffing will cost is something we, Wales, cannot afford, especially when all our necessary services are in such a diabolical state: NHS, Emergency Services and Education, to name a few. 

This proposed extra cost will take even more of tax-payers money away from these vital services. More people will die on the ever- increasing waiting lists, or waiting for ambulances.

Taken from Welsh Labour's 2022 manifesto list of pledges:

We want to foster a national, civic conversation in Wales about our future. We will establish an independent, standing commission to consider the constitutional future of Wales.

The Commission has been established but the civic conversation has not. 

''Consider the constitutional future of Wales'' in no way implies, or even hints at, adding another 60% of MSs and the vast cost implication, and cannot be construed as such.

Welsh Labour does not have a mandate to impose this on Wales if they are relying on this pledge, which outlines nothing of substantial detail and is open to wide misinterpretation and conclusion.

This is a subject that should be put to the electorate, if not in a Referendum, then postponed until after the next Senedd election in 2026, when the people, who pay their wages and will be most affected, have their say on such a fundamental change. 

If Welsh Labour and the Committee are absolutely positive that this is what the electorate voted for in 2022, then a short postponement until 2026 would make little difference. 

This election result would give a mandate to the leading political party when the full facts are put to the electorate and they will be able to make an informed decision.

I also disagree with the proposal to change the electoral system so that all members are elected via a closed list, proportional representation. 

This is totally undemocratic, the electorate are entitled to know precisely who they are voting for. 

They should know the name of the person, where they live, what their experience is, their prior work experience and where they live (not precise address, but area).

The electorate should be able to vet and question their prospective MS and not rely on a Party Manifesto.

The electorate should be able to ask how the MSs (if they were already standing and up for re-election) voted on certain issues and what they had done for their community in particular.

The electoral system should be left as it is currently, 1^st vote for a person and a 2^nd vote for a political party. 

I state this because a voter might appreciate an individual MS, for their commitment to their constituency but not favour the political party they stand for in general. 

It denies the electorate choice and a voice as to who serves their constituency, speaks on their behalf and stands up for them.

This also gives the wide impression of dictating what we should be voting for, ie political party, rather than who we should be voting for,

ie named person.

The Senedd elections (including the Devolution Referendum) in Wales have rarely, if ever, managed to get even 50% of the voting population out to the ballot box. Please do not give another reason for anyone to think that their vote is pointless, just because they are denied the knowledge of exactly who they are voting for.

I agree with the proposal to shorten the Senedd term to 4 years.

I agree with the requirement for Senedd candidates to be resident in Wales.

I would like to be informed of the detailed instructions to be given to the newly named DBCC on boundary reviews, before agreeing/disagreeing with that proposal.

There are some parts of the Bill that I don't understand the ramifications of:

1)

Increase the legislative limit on the size of the Welsh Government to 17 (plus the First Minister and Counsel General), with power to further increase the limit to 18 or 19.

2)

Provide for review of the operation and effect of the new legislative provisions following the 2026 election (by requiring the Llywydd after the election to propose the establishment of a Senedd committee to review specified matters).

3)

Provide a mechanism for the Seventh Senedd’s consideration of job-sharing of offices relating to the Senedd (by requiring the Llywydd in the Seventh Senedd to propose the establishment of a Senedd committee to review specified matters).

(Does this mean having more than 1 responsibility, [eg Health Minister & Transport Minister] or a sharing of physical offices/rooms for different departments?)

I have tried to be as brief as possible, whilst giving you my views and reasons for them.

Regards,