13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
Yes, so, I just want to go back to this issue of nominations and self-declarations, because it is something that people have flagged up as being peculiar. So, someone who is trans can identify themselves as either a man or a woman, or a woman or not a woman…
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
Yes.
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
But, Minister—
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
Because there is no definition of what a woman is and what a woman isn't on the face of the Bill, doesn't that risk undermining the true purpose of the Bill?
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
To declare whether they're a man or a woman.
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
Is there any other gender quota system in the world where people are allowed to determine for themselves at the point of declaration whether they consider themselves to be a woman or not and are asked in this way, 'Are you a woman or not a woman?' rather…
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
Can I just get this right: if someone self-identifies as a woman, they are entitled to declare themselves to be a woman for the purposes of an election? Is that right? And what happens with gender-fluid individuals who regard themselves as gender fluid, which…
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
Well, that's for me to determine, isn't it, as far as the Bill is concerned.
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
With respect, though, Minister, I'm asking you specifically what would prevent me from making a declaration that I was a woman for the purposes of the election, because there are people who describe themselves as gender fluid, aren't there, that might declare…
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
So, if, for example, I decided to state that I was a woman for the purposes of the election, what sanction would I face?
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
But you're not asking them to state their gender, because if I was asked my gender, I would say I'm a male. You're asking people to state whether they are woman or not a woman, which is quite a distinction. Why that specific test?
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
The Bill makes provision for people to make a declaration at the time that they are nominated as a candidate to state whether they are a woman or whether they're not a woman. Do you want to tell us why that approach has been taken, rather than a…
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
Of course, no one's objecting to diversity.
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
But 100 per cent women on all lists would be acceptable under the Bill. Obviously, anything above 50 per cent men on lists would not be acceptable in the Bill. So, there's a significant imbalance there, isn't there? That's the point I'm making. Would you not…
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
I appreciate the points you made about horizontal and vertical, but what I think people are finding difficult to understand is why the zipping isn't being applied. They're finding it difficult to see why it would be acceptable to have an all-women list, while…
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
But you accept that what you're permitting—. It would be perfectly permissible to have a list of six women, but obviously not permissible to have a list of six men. The maximum number of men that can be on any list is, obviously, going to be three, if it's a…
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
Yes. You've referred quite a bit in evidence there to thresholds of 50 per cent in other Parliaments, which, obviously, I see, and I can see the benefits of that in terms of delivering a more gender-balanced Parliament. But the quota system, or the approach…
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
Given the differences of legal opinion on this issue between Welsh Government lawyers, who appear to be the standout, versus everybody else, wouldn't it be sensible to put beyond doubt the powers of the Senedd and to ask for the consent of the UK Government…
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
Well, in terms of seeking powers to be able to introduce quotas, potentially.
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
The reason I ask is because, obviously, there has been previous correspondence between the Welsh Government and the UK Government on the competency issue around the introduction of gender quotas, hasn't there?
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
And on competency?
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
Have there been any discussions between the Welsh Government and the UK Government on this competency matter, and if so, can you tell us what—?
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
Can I ask one further question?
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
It was due to be published in December.
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
Can I ask a question, then? Why was there a delay in the presentation of this Bill?
