30 Tachwedd 2023 , Reform Bill Committee
Cyflwyniadau, ymddiheuriadau, dirprwyon a datgan buddiannau
Can I welcome Members and the public to today's evidence session of the committee, looking into the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill? We continue our scrutiny of the Bill this morning. Before we go into the business of scrutiny, can I just remind…
29 Tachwedd 2023 , Cyfarfod Llawn
Dadl ar Adroddiad y Pwyllgor Diwylliant, Cyfathrebu, y Gymraeg, Chwaraeon, a Chysylltiadau Rhyngwladol, 'Cysylltiadau rhwng Cymru ac Iwerddon: Archwilio hen berthynas mewn oes newydd'
A gaf fi ddiolch i'r Cadeirydd am ei sylwadau agoriadol, ac am ein hatgoffa ni i gyd o'n cysylltiadau diwylliannol a hanesyddol cyffredin? Rwy'n croesawu'r cyfle i siarad yn y ddadl hon, ac rwy'n gwneud hynny fel aelod arweiniol dirprwyaeth y Senedd i'r…
22 Tachwedd 2023 , Reform Bill Committee
Cynnig o dan Reol Sefydlog 17.42(ix) i benderfynu gwahardd y cyhoedd o weddill y cyfarfod
We'll move on to item 5, which is a motion under Standing Order 17.42 to exclude the public for the remainder of the meeting. Are Members content to do so? Therefore, we'll now move into private session.
22 Tachwedd 2023 , Reform Bill Committee
Papurau i'w nodi
Well, there are some in there that look at—. One of the maps on pack page 66 does seem to apply to the new boundaries. Okay, so we'll make that point.
22 Tachwedd 2023 , Reform Bill Committee
Papurau i'w nodi
Other than that, are Members content to note—? Sarah.
22 Tachwedd 2023 , Reform Bill Committee
Papurau i'w nodi
You and I know my position on this, but I can let you know, Darren, that I've taken consideration, I've spoken with the team, and I've come to the conclusion that we will seek evidence from the First Minister and from Plaid Cymru in relation to the proposal…
22 Tachwedd 2023 , Reform Bill Committee
Papurau i'w nodi
For colleagues, we'll move on to item 4 on the agenda, which is papers to note, and we have three papers in our packs. The first one is the additional information provided by the Electoral Reform Society Cymru following their session with us two weeks ago…
22 Tachwedd 2023 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Aelodau ac Etholiadau): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Chomisiwn Ffiniau a Democratiaeth Leol Cymru
You'll be aware that you'll receive copies of the transcript. If you identify any factual inaccuracies please can you let the clerking team know, so we can have them corrected on the record. Thank you once again.
22 Tachwedd 2023 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Aelodau ac Etholiadau): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Chomisiwn Ffiniau a Democratiaeth Leol Cymru
Okay. Thank you. Any further questions from colleagues? Jane? In that case, we've come to the end of the session. Can I thank you very much for your time this morning?
22 Tachwedd 2023 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Aelodau ac Etholiadau): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Chomisiwn Ffiniau a Democratiaeth Leol Cymru
And since we're talking about skill sets, I just want to try and find a clarification. You obviously are looking at skills and I'm assuming, therefore, that you give consideration to both Welsh language skills and geographic boundaries, locations, for people…
22 Tachwedd 2023 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Aelodau ac Etholiadau): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Chomisiwn Ffiniau a Democratiaeth Leol Cymru
No, you're still doing local boundary reviews.
22 Tachwedd 2023 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Aelodau ac Etholiadau): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Chomisiwn Ffiniau a Democratiaeth Leol Cymru
Okay. Does any Member have any further—?
22 Tachwedd 2023 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Aelodau ac Etholiadau): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Chomisiwn Ffiniau a Democratiaeth Leol Cymru
Okay. And a final question from me in that case, I think. Yes. I understand the situation here is the cycle of review—is it eight years being proposed? And if we're staying with commissioners being on for two terms, for example, that would fit in nicely with…
22 Tachwedd 2023 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Aelodau ac Etholiadau): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Chomisiwn Ffiniau a Democratiaeth Leol Cymru
I'm going to have to challenge you on that, because you say 'areas'—regions, I would have said, more than areas. Because it wasn't constituency focused, it was definitely regionally focused, because, from my own constituency, we had to go to Swansea, for…
22 Tachwedd 2023 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Aelodau ac Etholiadau): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Chomisiwn Ffiniau a Democratiaeth Leol Cymru
Okay. And on that basis, then, do you think the two to five public hearings that the Bill proposes as a limit of public hearings is enough? Because, clearly, there's a possibility that—. There will be a need for clarification on these points with communities…
22 Tachwedd 2023 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Aelodau ac Etholiadau): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Chomisiwn Ffiniau a Democratiaeth Leol Cymru
So, it's a legal position you're looking at to ensure that challenge is minimised, so that your consideration of the boundaries and the consideration of the changes is reflected in how you actually look, practicality—
22 Tachwedd 2023 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Aelodau ac Etholiadau): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Chomisiwn Ffiniau a Democratiaeth Leol Cymru
So, your focus would be, preferably, if you were looking at changes, to change a community, rather than just simply hit the numbers?
22 Tachwedd 2023 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Aelodau ac Etholiadau): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Chomisiwn Ffiniau a Democratiaeth Leol Cymru
[Inaudible.]—because one of the questions—. We're talking about the requirement to minimise disruption, effectively, or the amount of change, and one of the suggestions you would change is, rather than that being an obligation, it becomes a desirability…
22 Tachwedd 2023 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Aelodau ac Etholiadau): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Chomisiwn Ffiniau a Democratiaeth Leol Cymru
Have they gone to Welsh Government for their consideration?
22 Tachwedd 2023 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Aelodau ac Etholiadau): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Chomisiwn Ffiniau a Democratiaeth Leol Cymru
Can I go back now to this question of assessment, post 2026, of the constituencies? And your suggested amendments in your paper were very much appreciated. The first question is, I suppose, is: have you sent those suggestions to the Welsh Government for their…
22 Tachwedd 2023 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Aelodau ac Etholiadau): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Chomisiwn Ffiniau a Democratiaeth Leol Cymru
And you'll have a wider skill set.
22 Tachwedd 2023 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Aelodau ac Etholiadau): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Chomisiwn Ffiniau a Democratiaeth Leol Cymru
Okay. Darren.
22 Tachwedd 2023 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Aelodau ac Etholiadau): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Chomisiwn Ffiniau a Democratiaeth Leol Cymru
It's not our committee that's looking at it, but the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill, which is also being considered at this point in time, puts in automatic registration. Have you considered how that impacts upon the future calculation, because…
22 Tachwedd 2023 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Aelodau ac Etholiadau): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Chomisiwn Ffiniau a Democratiaeth Leol Cymru
If we go on to the reviews post 2026, because you will be looking at, possibly, the boundaries, and there's going to be a change—well, 'minimise the change', I think I saw in some of your decisions or recommendations for amendments to the Bill. That'll be…
22 Tachwedd 2023 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Aelodau ac Etholiadau): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Chomisiwn Ffiniau a Democratiaeth Leol Cymru
Jane.
