SCECLB450 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 don't believe that there is a need for this legislation as representation by women in the Senedd is broadly there anyway. This Bill is seriously flawed in that it allows anyone to say they are a woman. Unless it's recognised that a woman is an adult human female and not an identity that can be chosen by anyone the legislation is open to abuse by males who claim to be women.

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

With no ability to enforce a truthful or untruthful gender statement at all and no offence of submitting an unlawful one. Men will make a ‘statement’ to get an advantage.

Women (adult human females) will obviously declare they are women. Men (adult human males) will have an opportunity to say they are women, no questions asked. It makes a mockery of the Bill and of the Senedd and it smacks of a government in thrall to the fantasy that is Stonewall ideology.

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 Senedd doesn’t have legal competence to bring it in and is likely to end up in the Supreme Court at great cost to Welsh taxpayer.

Are any unintended consequences likely to arise from the Bill?

Yes. Males masquerading as women (whether or not they have had medical or surgical treatment will exploit this.

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

Unnecessary waste.

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?

It seems completely incompetent to legislate for something which is unnecessary and would have consequences for the rights of women and girls.

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

It is poor quality and is an exercise in ticking boxes and keeping organisations on side which push "trans ideology" as a genuine issue.