SCECLB223 Helen Bishop

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 Helen Bishop | Evidence from Helen Bishop

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)?

All public statistics must be based on sex ie male or female not on gender. Using the term 'gender' opens the door to a wide range of definitions which will get in the way of your purpose which is to ensure the full and equal participation of biological women who are currently underrepresented in politics, senior jobs, equal pay etc

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

Your proposal to use gender self identification goes against your aim which is to ensure equal representation of women (biological females) in politics and public life, currently underrepresented as per current givernment statistics . Ensure that all identification is based on biological sex at birth. You can ask about gender as well if you want but DON'T  use only gender, that would cause a range of problems . If you want to address under-representation of transwomen, then make a separate category for them. But remember that biological women are 51% of the population and need 51% representation!

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?

Your aim is to address under representation of women in politics. This will not be achieved if you use gender instead of biological sex. And self id is wide open to abuse and people changing from one self I'd to another at different times. And however well intentioned, men who self id as women do not have the lived experience to truly represent biological females.and current history shows that men who self id in order  to break through women's boundaries do not do this for the benefit of biological women cp transwomen in prison, sports etc. And what will you do with those who self define as non binary etc?

Are any unintended consequences likely to arise from the Bill?

Yes. Welsh public statistics ,on which identity of inequalities and subsequent public policy are built,will be skewed. Yes welcome trNswomen into public life but do it properly by giving them a separate category because They speak from a different perspective than biological women.. Many transwomen are sensitive and sympathetic, but they are not the ones  who are pushing to break biological women's boundaries. The latter are not doing that for the benefit of biological women, but to prove a point.

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

Statistics show that biological women are the most impoverished especial single mothers and the elderly. Any change to the basis for collecting statistics  ie self id ir gender rather than sex will impact on identifying issues of the most needy in society.

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?

Your proposal runs counter to the current Equal Rights Act 2010 which has sex as a protected characteristics not gender, except for the very precise term gender reassignment. But your proposals contain no definition of exactly what self id is and what it means.

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

Biological women's lives are different from mens. Menstruation period pains  childbirth breastfeeding menopause , srxual harassment and abuse, 2 women murdered by men each week, constantly being aware of potential danger coming from men etc.Huge implications of moving from biological birth sex as a definition,  to gender (which is a socially constructed term and has been different historically and in different  cultures) and the even bigger consequences of self id.(which of course can change from minute to minute)

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

Base everything on realistic and scientific FACT. Consult with groups across the whole range of opinions. Be clear what you want to achieve and check that what you are doing is not going to create a muddle.

Anything else?

Biological women are 51% of the population and need proper representation