SCECLB85 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 think the Welsh Government's stance on this is flawed from the outset. If the Welsh Government genuinely wants more women in the Senedd and genuinely understands the reasons why there is inequality in the first place then they must acknowledge and recognise that women are a sex class. Any other definition of women is regressive and based on stereotype.

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

This is actually ridiculous, completely laughable. Give one other example where someone can simply state their age, race, nationality, etc without any proif and it is just accepted. This quota is meaningless unless it is reserved for people who are adult human females. This is an insult to women.

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?

Barriers are that this process if implemented could make a laughing stock of Welsh Government and could have the opposite effect intended, ie women self excluding because they are not willing to go along with accepting men who claim to be women, as actual women.

Are any unintended consequences likely to arise from the Bill?

As above, women self excluding because they are not willing to go along with accepting men who claim to be women, as actual women. Also the result that men accepted as 'women' would skew the quota and we would not have an equal number of males and females representing the citizens of Wales.

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?

Welsh Ministers should consult further with grass roots women's groups who do not receive public funding.

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

Welsh Government certainly have no right to redefine 'woman', have no right to bring in self-id. Welsh Government seem to need reminding that women have human rights too.

Do you have any views on matters related to the quality of the legislation, or to the constitutional or other implications of the Bill?

The legislation is of the poorest quality I have seen. It is illogical and illegal (goes against the Equality Act 2010)

Are there any other issues that you would like to raise about the Bill and the accompanying Explanatory Memorandum or any related matters?

The Bill should be dropped immediately, it is wasted time, effort and money as well as being discriminatory against women.