, Plenary
Group 12: Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru—functions relating to remuneration of elected Members (Amendments 40, 41)
Move to a vote.
, Plenary
Group 12: Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru—functions relating to remuneration of elected Members (Amendments 40, 41)
Thank you, Llywydd. These are simple amendments in this group. Amendment 40 ensures that any decision by Welsh Ministers to use the powers under section 69H to direct the commission to reconsider an annual decision on payments and allowances for county…
, Plenary
Group 11: Publication of contact details for community councils (Amendment 39)
We'll move to a vote.
, Plenary
Group 11: Publication of contact details for community councils (Amendment 39)
Thank you. Llywydd. The purpose of amendment 39 is to replace the current requirement in the Bill for a principal council to publish ‘an up-to date list of all communities and community councils in its area', and have a broader requirement that would have a…
, Plenary
Group 10: Electoral arrangements reviews (Amendments 2, 3, 4, 5)
However, the provisions in Part 3 of the 2013 legislation are broader than just wards for the election of members to a local authority. They also include designating community council wards and some other names in the area. The examples that I gave you at…
, Plenary
Group 10: Electoral arrangements reviews (Amendments 2, 3, 4, 5)
'any area for which members are elected to a local authority'.
, Plenary
Group 10: Electoral arrangements reviews (Amendments 2, 3, 4, 5)
I introduced an amendment at Stage 2 that sought to emulate and apply the same principles that were accepted in the naming of proposed Senedd constituencies, as the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024 is now on the statute book, to local and…
, Plenary
Group 9: Welsh language requirements for returning officers (Amendments 37, 38, 51)
Moved.
, Plenary
Group 9: Welsh language requirements for returning officers (Amendments 37, 38, 51)
I'm so disappointed. It simply isn't good enough. This is the fundamental difference, isn't it? Agreements between different organisations or protocols or memoranda of understanding, guidance, an advisory group, good practice—none of those gives me rights. A…
, Plenary
Group 9: Welsh language requirements for returning officers (Amendments 37, 38, 51)
The fundamental point here is that the Welsh language has official equal status in Wales in principle. That is certainly what the Government would have us believe. However, as standards have not been implemented, this official status hasn't extended in…
, Plenary
Group 9: Welsh language requirements for returning officers (Amendments 37, 38, 51)
Thank you, Llywydd. Amendments 37, 38 and 51 enable the Welsh Language Commissioner to give a compliance notice to returning officers and thereby making them open to compliance with Welsh language standards regulations in the future. Using primary legislation…
, Plenary
Group 8: Financial assistance scheme—operation (Amendments 35, 19)
Happy to move to a vote.
, Plenary
Group 8: Financial assistance scheme—operation (Amendments 35, 19)
Thank you. The purpose of this amendment is to ensure that there are specific provisions on expenses available for electoral candidates. In addition to some of the other amendments already introduced, these amendments will ensure that participation in our…
, Plenary
Group 7: Welsh elections information platform (Amendments 17, 18, 31, 1, 32, 33, 34)
I move.
, Plenary
Group 7: Welsh elections information platform (Amendments 17, 18, 31, 1, 32, 33, 34)
We do oppose amendments 17 and 18 because we strongly believe that creating this platform is an excellent opportunity to raise levels of democratic engagement and public awareness of how democracy works. In light of this, we have also introduced amendment 31…
, Plenary
Group 5: Assistance for voters with disabilities (Amendments 15, 30)
Move.
, Plenary
Group 5: Assistance for voters with disabilities (Amendments 15, 30)
May I thank Peter Fox for introducing amendment 15, which aims to deliver a similar aim to our own amendment in this group, namely to ensure that disability is not a barrier to the fundamental right to vote? We are very content to support this amendment. The…
, Plenary
Group 3: Welsh elections piloting powers and regulations (Amendments 9, 10, 11, 12)
We support amendment 9 to pilot an electoral cycle of four years for local elections, aligning it with the new Senedd electoral cycle. We also recognise the value of amendment 12 to create a duty to pilot in rural and urban areas, where appropriate, in order…
, Plenary
Group 2: Electoral registration (Amendments 7, 28, 8, 29)
Move.
, Plenary
Group 2: Electoral registration (Amendments 7, 28, 8, 29)
I move.
, Plenary
Group 2: Electoral registration (Amendments 7, 28, 8, 29)
I'd like to thank Peter Fox for his amendments in this group. As a party, we're very supportive of the measures in this Bill to introduce electoral registration without application, and we believe that this is an initial step that can increase electoral…
, Plenary
Group 1: Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru—functions (Amendments 26, 27, 36)
Move.
, Plenary
Group 1: Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru—functions (Amendments 26, 27, 36)
As you were so generous with my opening remarks, I don't want to keep us too long. Thank you for that considered response from the Counsel General. We are still of the view that there is merit in being specific on these other functions. I understand that…
, Plenary
Group 1: Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru—functions (Amendments 26, 27, 36)
I do have more to say on democratic health. The intention of amendment 27 is to ensure that the democracy commission encourages democratic innovation and it puts a framework in place as to how the commission should exercise its functions for the democratic…
, Plenary
Group 1: Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru—functions (Amendments 26, 27, 36)
As we are discussing a Bill that essentially has the aim of strengthening the foundations of parliamentary democracy and representative democracy, it's appropriate that the first group of amendments relates to the health of our democracy. Democracy in this…
