SCECLB327 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)?

General principles long overdue

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

Approriate

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?

Misunderstandings about sex and gender. This is a difficult issue but it cannot be avoided. The most straightforward definition is the sex at birth but that causes problems for transgender people. How does the Senedd propose handling this issue?

Are any unintended consequences likely to arise from the Bill?

General public being unsympathetic to self statement of sex/gender.

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

Appropriate

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?

Still much confusion between gender and sex within the general public. This issue is still much misunderstood. The UN has used gender over recent years but is still unclear about the use of gender. UN Women appears to be using women and girls as the inclusive terminology.

Do you have any views on matters relating to the legislative competence of the Senedd including compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights?

More confidence than with Westminster. However current discussions appear to favour resiling from the ECHR. This would be retrogressive but how does that leave Wales since we are part of the UK as far as the UN and the EC are concerned.

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

Should we be looking to independence in order to be recognised formally by the UN and EC, for example?

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

No thanks

Anything else?

No thanks