Order, Order.

We turn now to a Stage 3 Vote on WB145, the Government of Wales Amendment (Expanding the Senedd) Bill, in the name of Volt Cymru.

The Government of Wales Amendment (Expanding the Senedd) Act 2023

A

BILL

TO

Amend the Government of Wales Act 2006 to increase the size of the Senedd Cymru and for related purposes.

Having been passed by the Senedd Cymru and having received the assent of Her Majesty, it is enacted as follows–

Section 1 – Amendments

1. Replace Part 2 Section 2(4) of the Government of Wales Act 2006 with the following–

   (a) There are eight seats for each Senedd electoral region

Section 2

(1) The changes to the number of seats in an electoral region shall take affect upon the first time the Welsh Parliament dissolves for a general election after this Act is given Royal Assent.

(2) A motion may be passed in the Welsh Parliament delaying this for a maximum of one Parliamentary Term should the Senedd resolve that the infrastructure is not in place for an expansion of Senedd seats.

Section 3 – Short Title, Extent, and Commencement

1. This Act may be referred to by its Short Title the Government of Wales Amendment (Expanding the Senedd) Act 2023

2. This Act extends to Wales only.

3. This Act commences immediately after Royal Assent.

This Bill was authored by Sir /u/model-kyosanto KD OM CT MS on behalf of Volt Cymru

1. This Bill amends the (Government of Wales Act 2006)[https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/32/section/2)

Llywydd,

This is a simple Bill that seeks to expand the size of the Senedd to 96 members, this is following a strong community campaign to do so. We are the smallest of the devolved parliaments, and there are councils with more seats than us.

This is an overall drain on talent available to us, we are unable to adequately gain enough from such a small pool of people, and it is unfair with all the new devolved competencies we have since gained through merit a full-time representative body, not a glorified council. Time and time again, we have seen reports stating very clearly that we cannot adequately do the job we are expected to do by the Welsh people with just 60 Members of the Senedd.

Initially when Labour was in Government in the 1990s, they envisioned a Welsh Assembly with over 80 Members, this was only reduced to 60 as an effort to win the devolution referendum as asserted by James Griffiths et. al. (2023). This however goes onto the point that a 60 member assembly is simply unable to adequately hold a Government to account, nor does it allow for the proper accumulation of minor parties which better reflect the views of the people of Wales. The Richard Commission in 2004, and the Silk Commission in 2014 all came to similar conclusions that simply maintaining 60 members is inadequate for proper operation of a fully accountable Senedd Cymru. In the Richard Commission it was stated that “were the Assembly to gain the legislative powers it recommended, 80 members were essential if it was to discharge its roles of holding the Government to account, making laws for Wales effectively, and representing the people of Wales.” We are now beyond what has been devolved in the interim period of 2004 to the present day, we have more control over more areas of Government, and it is beyond time that we saw expansion in the face of it.

Professor of Welsh Governance Richard Wyn Jones in his report for the Electoral Reform Society ‘Size Matters: Making the National Assembly More Effective’ (2014) offers perhaps a counterpoint to what may come up as an argument against this reform by stating plainly “that more scrutiny and better accountability can potentially save taxpayers’ money” as well as the simple fact that it really will not cost a whole deal, while improving democratic representation beyond that of a mere council.

60 representatives for 3,136,000 people while Northern Ireland has 90 for 1,880,000 is inherently unfair. Which is why with this legislation, we would see the Senedd have 8 seats for each electoral region, and maintain the same number of constituency seats, which would increase proportionality while ensuring continuation of local members. All this would occur in time for the next election to be held under this system, and deliver better outcomes for Wales, Welsh democracy, and the people who we serve.

I hope that the Siambr may read these arguments and see that there is in fact benefit to be had in expansion, and I look forward to the support of others in favour of this common sense measure.

Diolch yn fawr.

Voting on this bill will end on Sunday 8th of October 10pm GMT