, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Ministerial evidence session
You set me off. [Laughter.]
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Ministerial evidence session
I do apologise.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Ministerial evidence session
Well, I think the first thing is it's the extension of a system that we already have in place, so there is an understanding as to how it works. The second thing—and with D'Hondt—is that it is proportional, so it brings about a much fairer representation of…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Ministerial evidence session
Yes.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Ministerial evidence session
Well, listen, I'm interested in all recommendations that will come from this committee. I do it within the context, of course, that part of my obligation is in respect of fulfilling and translating into legislation the recommendations from the special purpose…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Ministerial evidence session
It is—. When we move towards the system that we're talking about, which is a single closed list system, as opposed to the dual system that we have at the moment, with first-past-the-post constituencies and then a top-up, a third, closed list as well, moving…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Ministerial evidence session
That is a—. Sorry, and I do apologise, I was looking at the broader situation too much rather than the focused one. So, it would be someone who has actually already been selected as being a candidate et cetera, they would naturally be next in line et cetera…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Ministerial evidence session
So, you say they are still on the list, but they're now, because they are no longer on the electoral register and so on—. Well, look, I'd be certainly more than happy to look at any recommendations from the committee on that and how that might work. I think…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Ministerial evidence session
The question is, then, if you do that, then do you provide that month's grace period to just about anybody, anyone who has ever lived in Wales et cetera, in whatever part of the world they're in, or whatever? I think, you know—. Listen, I'm more than happy…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Ministerial evidence session
I think there's a great difficulty when you talk about wiggle room within legislation, because legislation needs to be clear—
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Ministerial evidence session
I think the problem is if you make that analogy and you make that analogy for, say, taking the Westminster example, that analogy then extends to just about every other circumstance where, for some reason, someone has taken up a position somewhere else. What…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Ministerial evidence session
Well, I think people make their choices, don't they, in terms of whether they're going to be a representative or whether they're not going to be a representative. You can move away, out of Wales, and still remain on the register. That isn't—. There are people…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Ministerial evidence session
Well, I think it's—. I suppose it would be in terms of how the registration system actually operates and how that is accommodated. Is there anything you can add on that, Anna or Will?
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Ministerial evidence session
No. I think where there is a mistake that has occurred and it's a governmental mistake or an administrative mistake, then that is something that shouldn't disqualify someone; that's surely something that needs to be considered in terms of how the system will…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Ministerial evidence session
Yes, certainly, this is an area that is still something that needs to be looked at very carefully as to how it is going to work. If, for example, there were to be a mistake—I'm not aware of there being any evidence of this happening, certainly to any…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Ministerial evidence session
This is an interesting area, isn't it, that you would want to look at a system where the candidates—they make a declaration, and maybe you would want them to define what their electoral registration code was for that. And, of course, it would be the case that…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Ministerial evidence session
Well, what I'm satisfied with is, if someone's on the electoral register and they're entitled to vote within Wales, then it seems logical that if you are entitled to vote, you're entitled to actually be a candidate. It seems to me that that's about the…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Ministerial evidence session
Well, if they're on the register, then, they will be.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Ministerial evidence session
You raise an important point about it being an important part of the consideration of the residency issue. You start off with the common principle that people who are elected to the Senedd, you want them to be resident within Wales and you want them to be…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Ministerial evidence session
I think you just have to look at the practicalities of what might happen. You might have, for example—. Let's take, for example, the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee and what is being said in terms of a Government that's dependent on a…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Ministerial evidence session
Can I just come back on that? I think the core reason is actually the responsibility, the growth of existing responsibilities and the potential for future responsibilities. Those are the purposes to it. In terms of how politics might operate in the future and…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Ministerial evidence session
Because it's just one realism of politics within this Senedd, where no party has ever had or is likely to have an overall majority, that it might form part of those sort of arrangements. If that were to happen—and this is not the primary reason for it to…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Ministerial evidence session
Well, I think the main function is actually the additional responsibilities that are there and the ability to do that—
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Ministerial evidence session
No, I accept that. And the position with regard to the issue of coalitions, I think that is part of the capacity to actually form stable Governments. In this Senedd there has never been one party that's had an absolute majority in it—I'm sure someone will…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Ministerial evidence session
Yes.
