, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
Can we just go back to what this will do? By requiring that a woman follows any candidate who is not a woman on a list, the rules make sure that women are, at the very least, placed in every other position on a list. Can we go back to where we are? Thirty-one…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
Well, it's a minimum 50 per cent model as far as women are concerned. We're not actually that far away from what the expert panel recommended. It doesn't prevent a zipping approach. We can have that alternate—
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
We've come up with a system, an approach, that we think will, with the backing of political parties—. If we don't get the message over to women in Wales that we're welcoming them, and this is the way that we're going to get fair representation of women of…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
Well, obviously, this is about a candidates model that we're taking forward in terms of gender quotas. It goes without saying that this is something that, if it succeeds through the Parliament, and our political parties, who also are going to be producing…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
Yes. Well, we have looked extensively. For example, from the research, we've taken some South American countries, for example, that apply a 50 per cent quota, Bolivia being one example. Actually, many countries have lower thresholds as well as gender quotas…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
Diolch yn fawr, Jane. Obviously, it goes back to the purpose of the Bill, to create a more effective Senedd, reflecting the gender make-up of the population—that's the key purpose—leading to better and more effective scrutiny and decision making. I think it's…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
—how we've moved into a minimum model, 50 per cent model.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
Well, clearly, a great deal of work has gone on succeeding the special purpose committee recommendations. I hope we can now look at some of the work that has led us to the model that we've got within this Bill. I did get a question about that point…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
Elections to the Senedd are not a reserved matter. And in the spirit of all the legislation, obviously we share, at official level, and also yesterday was the first chance—and Monday we published the Bill—for other Parliaments to see what we're doing. And…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
This is our—. This is the Bill, laid down in the programme for government, that we will take forward as a Welsh Government. Actually, we're doing it on behalf of the Parliament, because this Welsh Parliament backed this, that we would proceed with the…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
In relation to this Bill, so that they know what we're doing. I mean, this is—. We are in charge of this priority of this Government.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
Not specifically, no. I mean, I think the discussions that have been taking place are of the usual kind, aren't they, Catrin?
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
I'm not—. No, not in terms of—
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
Well, we have been—. I think, perhaps, that's something, Catrin, you might like to discuss, but we've discussed with relevant UK Government departments and agencies; we do that with all Bills.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
Absolutely, and I respect that. And, as I said, I did say yesterday, very clearly, that I profoundly respect the fact that the Llywydd has reached a different view, and this is what parliamentary scrutiny is all about, and I really welcome the opportunity to…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
Good.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
—and we are here today to scrutinise this Bill.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
—to take us to this point. We are where we are, Chair—
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
Well, there's a lot of work that's been undertaken by the team, as you know—
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
We wouldn't be here, Darren, if that was—. This is a Welsh Government Bill—
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
I think we've probably covered the point. We're really interested in the committee's views—obviously you're sharing those already with us. But can I just repeat that the Bill has been through the usual processes, checks within the Welsh Government, and we've…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
Well, I hope we will be able to continue with scrutiny this morning about the purpose of this Bill—
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
I don't think she should be asked to comment on that at all. We are at the start of scrutiny of these proceedings, and I'm certain it's not the time to be talking in those terms.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
But, Anna, anything to add to this point, in terms of Mr Millar's point?
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
Anna, if you want to add to points that I've made—. I do think that we need to refer back, also, to our powers over the elections as well, in terms of the Wales Act 2017, as well as the fact that we do have—and I haven't got the reference I made yesterday to…
