18 Ebrill 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Phanel Pleidiau Senedd Cymru y Comisiwn Etholiadol
Yes. And Joanna.
18 Ebrill 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Phanel Pleidiau Senedd Cymru y Comisiwn Etholiadol
And what about resourcing to help parties with outreach to under-represented groups? Is that something that might be helpful?
18 Ebrill 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Phanel Pleidiau Senedd Cymru y Comisiwn Etholiadol
Okay. Thanks, Geraint. Tom.
18 Ebrill 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Phanel Pleidiau Senedd Cymru y Comisiwn Etholiadol
And in terms of support for personal costs for some of the people facing those barriers, you feel that's better dealt with from outside the party system, do you, Geraint?
18 Ebrill 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Phanel Pleidiau Senedd Cymru y Comisiwn Etholiadol
Yes. Can I just turn to the matter of costs and preparation for the introduction of any changes that might be introduced as a result of this Bill? So, obviously, we know that each of the political parties has done work on trying to promote diversity, but…
18 Ebrill 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Phanel Pleidiau Senedd Cymru y Comisiwn Etholiadol
With clarity.
18 Ebrill 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Phanel Pleidiau Senedd Cymru y Comisiwn Etholiadol
If the timescale is tight already, which is what Jo has just indicated, then, surely, winding the clock back by six months is going to make it a nigh on impossible challenge, is it not?
18 Ebrill 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Phanel Pleidiau Senedd Cymru y Comisiwn Etholiadol
Can I ask a supplementary question, if I may, Chair? So, one of the things that changed in the other Senedd reform Bill, which is on its way through the Senedd at the moment, is that the prospect of the introduction of Senedd reform has moved back…
18 Ebrill 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda sefydliadau diwygio etholiadol
I think these questions have really been answered, Chair. It seems to me that the collection of diversity data is something that is very important, needs to be done, and should be put on a statutory basis. That's effectively the messages that you've both…
18 Ebrill 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda sefydliadau diwygio etholiadol
Okay. Thank you very much.
18 Ebrill 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda sefydliadau diwygio etholiadol
Okay. Thank you. And you, Hannah?
18 Ebrill 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda sefydliadau diwygio etholiadol
Thank you for that. Can I just ask you a little bit more about the electoral system, if I can? So, obviously, the Bill focuses on people having to declare, at the point that they become candidates, whether they are a woman or not a woman, and there's no…
18 Ebrill 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda sefydliadau diwygio etholiadol
And so transport, ICT, childcare or any other caring responsibilities that someone might have, income forgone if they're having to take time off work in order to campaign—they're the sorts of costs you think that, because they're barriers, we could try to…
18 Ebrill 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda sefydliadau diwygio etholiadol
Okay, and—
18 Ebrill 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda sefydliadau diwygio etholiadol
I mean, as you both indicated, I think, in the evidence you've sent in, both written and the oral evidence today, many of those barriers are barriers for people who are not white male middle-class as well. I came from a working-class background, and many…
18 Ebrill 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda sefydliadau diwygio etholiadol
You mentioned earlier on, I think, Hannah, just about the fact that your organisation works with women all the way through the process, from them expressing an interest in politics to joining a party and perhaps considering becoming a candidate et cetera…
18 Ebrill 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda'r Panel Arbenigol ar Ddiwygio Etholiadol y Cynulliad
I appreciate that. I think the Welsh Government does have some funding that it made available to support disabled candidates, so the Welsh Government is already active in this area of trying to promote diversity by resourcing; I think that was more resourcing…
18 Ebrill 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda'r Panel Arbenigol ar Ddiwygio Etholiadol y Cynulliad
In terms of trying to recruit, I know my own party, for example, works very hard to try and encourage women candidates to take an interest in politics, to come forward, and to apply to be candidates in different seats, but we've only had limited success. I…
18 Ebrill 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda'r Panel Arbenigol ar Ddiwygio Etholiadol y Cynulliad
Well, I think she said she didn't have the answers. Perhaps if anybody else has some, I'll be happy to listen.
18 Ebrill 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda'r Panel Arbenigol ar Ddiwygio Etholiadol y Cynulliad
Thank you. Obviously, gender quotas are one way to address the imbalance in terms of the gender in a Parliament, but what other barriers and action might be taken in order to address the gender imbalance? And particularly, what support could be offered to…
18 Ebrill 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda'r Panel Arbenigol ar Ddiwygio Etholiadol y Cynulliad
Okay, thank you.
18 Ebrill 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda'r Panel Arbenigol ar Ddiwygio Etholiadol y Cynulliad
I see. So, it's more about position on the list. So, we all need to change our names to something beginning with 'A'.
18 Ebrill 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda'r Panel Arbenigol ar Ddiwygio Etholiadol y Cynulliad
Right.
18 Ebrill 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda'r Panel Arbenigol ar Ddiwygio Etholiadol y Cynulliad
And just one final question, if I may, Chair. It is in relation to the provisions in the Bill. You asked a question earlier on about open and flexible lists, and I already know your views on that. But can I just ask, if there were to be no gender zipping…
18 Ebrill 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda'r Panel Arbenigol ar Ddiwygio Etholiadol y Cynulliad
So, you could have slightly different arrangements for the first election under the system versus the second, for example if there was a historical imbalance that needed to be addressed by the larger political parties in the first one, couldn't you? That…
