13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
No, they're not on the face of the Bill. I have responded, to say about ways in which we're working with stakeholders in order to develop pipelines of candidates, and also looking at other provisions within other legislation, like job sharing as well. Can I…
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
I don't think we can provide that information.
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
Well, Darren, as you know, I'm of the view that the Bill is within the competence of the Senedd. We don't account for costs of potential legal challenges in the assessment of our costs. And that's the case for all regulatory impact assessments that accompany…
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
The Welsh Government is entitled to, and also ensures that we have our legal advice from our department. I don't think there's anything more to say on that, Chair.
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
Not as far as I'm aware. I think we've got our senior legal adviser here today.
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
Well, we, obviously, in terms of developing any Bill—as I'm sure you would, if you were in our position—we have our own costs, we have our own public servants who are undertaking that work. I don't think there's anything else to say, is there, Will, on that?
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
Thank you, Darren. Well, you'll be aware, obviously, of the regulatory assessment, with the assessment of cost. It lays it out, the costs and benefits, over the eight-year appraisal period, from 2024-25 to 2031-32. Total costs arising from the Bill are…
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
Yes. The Electoral Commission, with political parties, direct.
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
—so they've agreed they meet every three months, cross-party, mainstream parties, so that's been facilitated.
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
I mean, in fact, I think the Electoral Commission has got its own party political group, hasn't it—
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
Well, I have been able to—. We've had cross-party committees working on this as well, in terms of previous committees—a special purpose committee in particular—but we also have engaged with all the political parties in terms of the way forward. Obviously…
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
Thank you very much, Sarah. We have used—. I've already mentioned the engagement that I've just had, as we've come to the point of introducing the Bill, with existing stakeholders for engagement purposes, and of course this is the history that takes us back…
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
Will.
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
Well, do you want to answer it, Catrin or Will?
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
Well, I think we had a very useful debate in relation to the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill on this matter. So, I think, probably, in terms of the way we're going forward, and as we've gone through Stage 2 of the Senedd Cymru (Members and…
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
Well, I think, of course, it is up to the Senedd, as we said, in terms of the review. The Senedd may want to take a co-ordinated approach to reviewing the two Bills in terms of their operation. If they're both coming into effect in the 2026 election, and…
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
We haven't considered that in terms of financial provision. I've mentioned ways in which we can encourage women to come forward with mechanisms such as job sharing. I think culture is pretty important, as well as family friendly. Some of the points I've made…
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
Including filing an election petition.
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
I'll turn to you for that answer, Will.
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
We looked at the possibility of imposing financial penalties. You could issue a fine, but that would require a whole new set-up of independent bodies to do that. It was—. I think, really, we recognised the special purpose committee's views that this was the…
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
I think, again, it's interesting how the use of the political compliance in Ireland that means that if they don't comply then they lose their state funding is a pretty powerful way of enforcing gender quotas. But I think your point about how political parties…
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
Diolch yn fawr, Heledd. Of course, we are following very much the special purpose committee recommendations. They recommended the rejection of lists by returning officers as the most appropriate enforcement mechanism. And, again, working with our…
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
Well, I think, as you said, for many people, the information they give about whether or not they are a woman won't be a sensitive matter. But if it is a sensitive matter, in terms of the person concerned, it may be possible for the published list, for…
13 Mawrth 2024 , Reform Bill Committee
Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a’r Prif Chwip
Those gender statements will be covered by the same safeguards as currently apply to any other personal data that is collected on the nomination forms.
