SCECLB319 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)?

If you are going to define women as anyone who identifies as a woman, then issues around women's sex-based difficulties, such as lack of maternity services, lack of respect within medical services, affordable childcare, child benefits, the importance of sex-segregated spaces for safety, dignity and privacy, will not be addressed and so this idea of trying to even out shortlists is pointless. Surely it would be better to have a sex-based policy and a trans identifing policy to ensure proportionate representation of both.

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

If anyone can identify as any gender without any rules being enforced, then the exercise is a pointless waste of time, effort and money in my view.

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?

If you are trying to make sure that women's unique sex-based circumstances are addressed through the legislature via proper and proportionate representation, then by not specifying that the women's lists must consist of biological women and by not enforcing that, you are creating a situation whereby any man who does not have experience, interest in or concern for women's unique issues can be counted as a woman for these purposes. If you are trying to create a situation where men can self identify as women into your legislature while pretending to serve women, then you will probably be challenged in the courts and lose. In both instances you will not achieve what you are after.

Are any unintended consequences likely to arise from the Bill?

I don't know what your intentions are. If they are to represent women, and to give more weight to women's issues, such as proper maternity care, sex-based pay parity or affordable childcare, then you need to be more specific about how you are identifying "women", as many men think they are women. I suggest you use adult human female, and enforce it.

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

I have no view

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 the matter of legislative competence over Equality matters should remain with the UK Parliament, where Wales has adequate representation.

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

If you don't specify what you mean by "woman" or police it, then the bill is meaningless. It is also pointless if your aim is to give women fair representation in order to address their unique sex-based issues which are not adequately addressed in a legislature dominated by men.

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

If you want trans people represented in the Synedd then perhaps you should make a list for them to be proportionally represented too.