, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
Let me finish. It's shown to strengthen its legitimacy. This is about a legitimacy that we want to confer on our Senedd by having a more effective Senedd. I would say, can I just—
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
I will go back to that really key point, Darren, that you make, that is, about the purpose of this Bill. The purpose of this Bill is to establish a more effective Senedd, a more representative Senedd. Women are the under-represented majority in this Senedd…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
Well, of course, the special purpose committee, and indeed the former Senedd reform committee, did receive a lot of evidence—and I was going to go on to that, of course—including evidence from the Women's Equality Network Wales, from their legal counsel. I'm…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
I can bring Anna in—I'm very happy to do so, as our senior lawyer—but I think, as I said, the question of whether a provision of an Act of the Senedd relates to a reserved matter is determined by reference, as I said, to the purpose of the provision, having…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
Diolch yn fawr, Chair. Well, based on all the information available to me, as I said in my statement yesterday, I am of the view that this Bill is within the legislative competence of the Senedd. And just in terms of reaching that view, the Bill has been…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
Can I introduce Will Whiteley, the deputy director of Senedd reform; Catrin Davies, head of diversity policy, Senedd reform; and Anna Hind, our senior lawyer from Legal Services, Welsh Government.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
I'm delighted to be with you this morning.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
Diolch yn fawr, David—Chair of this committee.
, Plenary
Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal—A Bill for increased safety on public transport
Can I raise a point of order, please? Or ring the bell—that's the best thing. We've got a problem with the—
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip: Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill
Thank you very much, Adam Price, for those very important points. We shall all move forward.
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip: Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill
Diolch yn fawr, Huw Irranca-Davies, and thank you for your leadership. Your chairing of the special purpose committee was such an important contribution in your political career—I hope you see that—and in your life as well. It was such an important…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip: Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill
Diolch yn fawr, Sioned Williams. I have said this is very much an important part of the package of Senedd reform, and there's no question it is a package. It is a crucial part of that package of reforms to deliver that commitment to make it a more effective…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip: Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill
Diolch yn fawr, Vikki Howells. I'm always a bit reticent about reflecting on personal experience, but I served, before I came to this Senedd, in a local authority—and, I have to say, in a Labour group—where there were very, very, few women. Many of you will…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip: Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill
Diolch yn fawr, Heledd Fychan. This is an exciting afternoon; this is a really important afternoon for us in our Senedd. The electoral candidate lists Bill is, as you said, a part of that package of reforms to deliver our commitment to make the Senedd a more…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip: Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill
I was going to say that I do miss the informed engagement that I had with some of your former colleagues. I'm delighted that the Welsh Conservative women Members have come to our women's caucus meetings, and, in fact, your former colleagues—Welsh Conservative…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip: Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. This is why we need a gender-balanced Senedd.
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip: Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill
I'll finish on this point, because I will focus on the very important—[Interruption.]
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip: Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill
And I think that what is important is that we look at the purpose of the Bill. You've commented on the purpose of the Bill, Darren. The purpose of the Bill is to establish a more effective Senedd, and, as such, the Bill is within the Senedd's competence. And…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip: Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill
Diolch yn fawr, Darren Millar. Well, I'm very pleased you say that it is a very important Bill, because it is. It's a groundbreaking piece of legislation. And yesterday, when I published this Bill, there was much welcome that came from across Wales, and I…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip: Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill
Diolch, Llywydd. The Senedd has been transformed over the past quarter century. It has become a Parliament in the true sense of the word, assuming primary law-making powers and powers over taxation, among other new responsibilities. An effective parliament is…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
This is no way to treat a parliamentary inquiry, and it's unacceptable that Ofgem has failed to provide that prompt response to the committee, which we have pressed for again today. Because we need confidence that Ofgem is actually treating the Senedd with…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
Thank you very much, Jack Sargeant, for that question. I welcome your Petitions Committee—the Petitions Committee that you chair—your recent report on the forced installation of prepayment meters, and I share your concerns. I welcome the steps Ofgem has taken…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
Diolch yn fawr iawn, and I'm really pleased that the Deputy Minister for Social Services is here in the Chamber, as well as the designated Member Siân Gwenllian, because I know this is precisely and particularly what they're working on, to ensure that there…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
Diolch yn fawr, Jane Dodds. Evidence suggests that quality childcare provision supports child development, particularly for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. And that's why we are expanding childcare services to all two-year-olds via the quality…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
Well, diolch yn fawr, Adam Price, for that question. And it is important that the disability rights taskforce has got a work stream on children and young people. Of course, there is also a work stream on employment and income, but a focus on children and…
