SCECLB51 Individual

Senedd Cymru | Welsh Parliament

Y Pwyllgor Biliau Diwygio | Reform Bill Committee

Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol)| Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill

Ymateb gan Unigolyn | Evidence from Individual

What are your views on the general principles of the Bill and the need for legislation to deliver the Welsh Government’s stated policy objective (to make the Senedd a more effective legislature by ensuring it is broadly representative of the gender make-up of the population)?

I agree with the policy objective of aiming to enusre the Senedd is broadly representative of the gender make-up of the population. This is a laudable aim.

I have concerns that forcing a gender split may mean that some good quality candidates will not be selected. As you are making parties publish a candidate list then this should be based on merit alone. If we wish to have the Senedd full of the best people then this is the only way. If the concern is that parties may favour "the old boys club" then they should also publish the reasons why candidates were selected in the order they were.

What are your views on the system of enforcement and potential sanctions for non-compliance proposed in the Bill?

If you are forcing a male/female split then you need to enforce it

Are there any potential barriers to the implementation of the Bill’s provisions? If so, what are they, and are they adequately taken into account in the Bill and the accompanying Explanatory Memorandum and Regulatory Impact Assessment?

Are any unintended consequences likely to arise from the Bill?

You may not get the best candidates elected. Selection should be on merit. It may also put some good candidates off standing as they might believe that they will not get on ballot due to gender quotas.

Just because each party is gender split does not mean that those elected will be gender equal as will depend on votes. It could be that each party standing candidates in a seat will have say a male on top of the list and the way the vote share goes each party may get 1 seat = all men. So on that basis this policy may not work anyway

If you are not selecting on merit the quality of politicians may go down eroding voter trust

What are your views on the Welsh Government’s assessment of the financial and other impacts of the Bill?

What are your views on the balance between the information contained on the face of the Bill and what is left to subordinate legislation? Are the powers for Welsh Ministers to make subordinate legislation appropriate?

Do you have any views on matters relating to the legislative competence of the Senedd including compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights?

I think that if a outstanding candidate was not selected due to quotas they would potentially have a claim of discrimination