SCECLB413 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)?

It is never going to make a more efficient Senedd just because there are equal number of males and females amongst the Ms-es. What makes the Senedd more effective if we can choose from the best and most talented people be it woman or man. Gender declarations are self-Id and as such the Senedd does not have Legislative power to allow such thing.

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

This would mean self-ID which is not allowed according to the UK Law. The Preceding Officer has already told the Senedd that it does not have the legislative power to introduce such thing, so this will be illegal.  It will cost the taxtpayer lots of monet to drag it through court. Somebody's sex is not up to statements, it is fact. If the CRO has to take the statements at face value. It will give lots of chance for misuse by males who want to get an advantage over females. Even if this came into power it would not give 50/50 representation between woman and man. Absolute pipedream and unnecessary.

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?

Very high court costs. It is discriminatory. It does not comply with the Equality Act 2010

Are any unintended consequences likely to arise from the Bill?

Many: for starters: a costly court case against the UK government. Even if it went through: it would exclude woman rather then give them a better chance at succeeding in the underrepresented world of politics.  It would give great chance for misusing the legislation by man claiming to be woman.

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

The Bill is useless, unnecessary, illegal and a joke.

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?

Yes, it doe snot have legislative power, it does not comply with the Equality Act 2010.  I don't know much about the ECHR in this context but I hope they have more sense than Welsh legislators.

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 Bill is dreadful, not having a clear point in what exactly it is set out to do and why. It is following some ridiculous ideology.

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 is unnecessary. Quotas particularly with hidden "self-ID" in them will cause havoc and will never achieve what it would like to. 50/50 representation was achieved many years ago without quotas.  Why would we change it now? Make the work of a politician more attractive for woman and they will come.

Anything else?

I am very sad that we are even having to consider such an unnecessary Bill which seem to have come out of someone's head who hasn't got anything better to do than thinking up non sense which is not even in the Senedd's legislative power.