, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
Well, we are—
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
I would remind Members again of the main purpose of doing all of this. All of the external evidence, the Laura McAllister report, focused on the need to improve scrutiny and not necessarily increase the size of Government.
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
Yes, in terms of proportionality—
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
All I would say about setting a minimum is that you could see a Government formed following a manifesto that said, 'We want to shrink the size of Government in Wales and we want fewer Ministers in order to improve the situation'. Then placing a high…
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
We'll conclude on this this morning with the fact that setting a maximum number in legislation is something that we should aim to, similar to the legislation that we currently have, and that that maximum should be possibly 19, which is a proportionate…
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
You're the one who said there shouldn't be a minimum, and I'm agreeing with you, Darren. I know that's unusual territory, but not unusual in the Business Committee, maybe. We don't have a minimum currently, remember, so we only currently have a maximum of 12…
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
Yes, which isn't the case in our current setup. That would be a means of confirming the number, then, as well as the names that would be given at that point, I'm guessing. I'm hearing that there is some support for a minimum of 16, but not by you, Darren. I…
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
Thank you for telling me that I was right in referring to Scotland and that there is some kind of voting process, or that the Government is voted in by the Parliament—yes?
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
Oh, we've seen quite a few. [Laughter.] Yes, Jane.
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
You never know, with independent-thinking Government backbenchers, what that vote might bring up.
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
Yes, you're right. The Welsh Government did say that as well.
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
Oh, it's on me. [Laughter.]
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
Yes, it's not meant to hit you, but if it does, we'll bring umbrellas. [Laughter.]
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
Yes, we know.
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
Oh, right, okay. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I was looking for some—
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
There's no limit, but they have a vote, do they? Or am I wrong there?
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
Yes, I think by—. The one thing I'd like to kind of tease out there is on automatically agreeing that there is a minimum of 16 and putting that in legislation, because that, obviously, is an increase of four irrespective of what happens: the next Government…
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
Yes. Lesley.
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
Okay. Do we think that we can agree on a maximum of 19? Or do we belive that that is too much? Yes, Darren.
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
Yes, if you'd like to. Yes, Siân.
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
Okay. I think it's also important to remind ourselves that there were submissions in the consultation that said that there was no case to be made for increasing the size of the Government, and that was an important piece of evidence from both Laura McAllister…
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
I'll just ask Richard to outline some of the key factors to focus on, especially those that have come from the written responses to us, and whether you just want to remind us quickly of some of those factors before we start our own discussion on the issue.
, Business Committee
Senedd Reform
Welcome to this public meeting of the Business Committee. We have agreed to meet in public session this morning in order to consider the Business Committee's response to four of the recommendations made by the Special Purpose Committee on Senedd Reform in the…
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Global impact of domestic consumption
I have selected the amendment to the motion, and I call on Janet Finch-Saunders to move amendment 1.
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Global impact of domestic consumption
The next item will be the Plaid Cymru debate on the global impact of domestic consumption, and I call on Delyth Jewell to move the motion.
