, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with Electoral administrators
So, I just wanted to make sure that if someone—it could be a smaller party as well—hasn't got themselves on the list what type of timescales they would need to be on that list prior to a candidature being submitted. So, I think that that's something that we…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with Electoral administrators
Yes, the notice on the nominations is—. But, as I say, we often come across in campaigning, 'Oh, we're not registered', and you've still got time to register to vote, for example.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with Electoral administrators
We will be coming on to that.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with Electoral administrators
Okay. And I'm going to throw a curveball on the residency question. We also know that this Bill is focused on parties, clearly, because that's, you know—. But we do agree that there are opportunities for independents to come forward, and smaller parties, and…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with Electoral administrators
I understand your position on this as to the rules and the spirit, but in this sense, it's therefore possible—. You talk about the local voting for that person, and how they consider that candidate, but if it's a closed list—. I know it's not your position…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with Electoral administrators
James, do you want to come in?
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with Electoral administrators
Thank you. Sarah.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with Electoral administrators
I'm talking about the Bill published already.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with Electoral administrators
Yes.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with Electoral administrators
Okay. Before I move on to one of my colleagues, you mentioned one thing there—this and the other Bill. We are clearly interested in the links between the various Bills that come before us. We know there are three reform Bills, basically, on elections: two…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with Electoral administrators
Clare, do you want to add anything to that?
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with Electoral administrators
Thank you, both, for that. We appreciate that you're very heavily involved in the implementation and practicalities of delivering the outcomes of the Bill. And whilst we will be exploring some of those points, we may also explore whether some of those aspects…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with Electoral administrators
Colin.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with Electoral administrators
With that said, let's move on to item 2, which is our evidence session this morning with the electoral administrators. Can I welcome remotely Clare Sim, member support and advice manager for the Association of Electoral Administrators, and, in the room, Colin…
, Reform Bill Committee
Introductions, apologies, substitutions, and declarations of interest
Good morning. Can I welcome Members and the public to this morning's meeting of the committee, where we continue our scrutiny of the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill? Before we start, just to do some housekeeping, we have had apologies from Darren…
, Reform Bill Committee
Motion under Standing Order 17.42(ix) to resolve to exclude the public for the remainder of the meeting
In that case, item 7 is a motion under Standing Order 17.42 to exclude the public from the remainder of today's meeting. Are Members content to do so? Therefore, we will now move into private session for the remainder of the meeting.
, Reform Bill Committee
Papers to Note
As a committee, if we now move on to the next item on the agenda, which is item 6, papers to note. We have five papers to note, and I would hope that we can note them all as a collective. And those five papers are the response from the Counsel General on 20…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Welsh Language Commissioner
You will receive a copy of the transcript, and if there are any factual inaccuracies, please let the team know as soon as possible. Diolch yn fawr.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Welsh Language Commissioner
Thank you, and thank you very much for coming today.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Welsh Language Commissioner
We're very quick this afternoon. Does any Member have another question? Unless there's anything you want to add to that—. Is there anything we haven't covered that you might want to say we should have covered?
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Welsh Language Commissioner
Okay, Heledd?
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Welsh Language Commissioner
On that point, we spoke with Members of the Welsh Youth Parliament on Monday evening, and they actually were more of the view that there should be 32 constituencies of three, rather than 16 of six, which would allow the locality and the local issue, the local…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Welsh Language Commissioner
Darren.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Welsh Language Commissioner
It's just something we need to have an understanding of and clarification.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Welsh Language Commissioner
I've listened to what you've been saying, conveying a strong argument for involvement in the naming and in strengthening the Welsh language, and encouraging more Welsh within the Senedd, and particularly you've highlighted the committee as an example. But…
