SCECLB88 Alison Johnson

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 Alison Johnson | Evidence from Alison Johnson

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)?

It is vital that equality of representation is based on sex, not gender as this leaves room for female representation spaces to be assumed by biological men who identify as women, who do not have a GRC. The concept of gender is not present in any law - Equality Act includes only sex and gender reassignment as protected characteristics. Why is the word gender being used in this bill when sex is what is meant?

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

Women in law are either biologically female or biologically male with a GRC. Taking the statement made at 'face value' means self identification which is not sufficient to ensure the required representation of the female population

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?

The bill in it's current form allows for self identification of femaleness. This is detrimental to its aims to ensure equitable representation of women

Are any unintended consequences likely to arise from the Bill?

See above

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?

Sex matters. Issues that relate to women are often linked to sex based oppression. Law refers to sex not gender. Any bill that uses gender as its descriptor for sex is fundamentally flawed.