Speeches and questions

9 November 2023, Reform Bill Committee

Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session on the electoral and boundary reform experience in Scotland

Obviously, you're a stand-alone body; you're not a body within the boundary commission in Scotland—

9 November 2023, Reform Bill Committee

Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session on the electoral and boundary reform experience in Scotland

[Inaudible.]—in this proposal of making sure that we have things on a statutory basis, rather than the sort of more informal basis at the moment. Can I just ask as well about the relationship of the Electoral Commission and the electoral management board?…

9 November 2023, Reform Bill Committee

Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session on the electoral and boundary reform experience in Scotland

And it's definitely strengthened the ability to undertake elections with efficiency and make sure that best practice is adhered to, et cetera.

9 November 2023, Reform Bill Committee

Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session on the electoral and boundary reform experience in Scotland

Pretty much.

9 November 2023, Reform Bill Committee

Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session on the electoral and boundary reform experience in Scotland

So, presumably, the chair of the board effectively undertakes that role.

9 November 2023, Reform Bill Committee

Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session on the electoral and boundary reform experience in Scotland

And I notice that, in your evidence, you refer to the fact that there is no chief returning officer in Scotland. Is that right?

9 November 2023, Reform Bill Committee

Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session on the electoral and boundary reform experience in Scotland

And in terms of the electoral management board's role, have there been any changes in the role since it was established?

9 November 2023, Reform Bill Committee

Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session on the electoral and boundary reform experience in Scotland

And can I just ask, in terms of the relationship between you and the boundary commission—obviously, there is engagement, I would assume—is there frequent engagement? Is it structured engagement? Is it set out in legislation?

9 November 2023, Reform Bill Committee

Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session on the electoral and boundary reform experience in Scotland

Presumably, they could haul you in and go through in detail your accounts, if they ever wanted to, in the way that any committee could do.

9 November 2023, Reform Bill Committee

Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session on the electoral and boundary reform experience in Scotland

Can I ask you some similar questions, Malcolm Burr, in relation to the electoral management board, and how that has a relationship, and who it is accountable to? Is it accountable to the Parliament or the Government?

9 November 2023, Reform Bill Committee

Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session on the electoral and boundary reform experience in Scotland

I suppose, ultimately, the Scottish Government's budget is confirmed by the Parliament, isn't it?

9 November 2023, Reform Bill Committee

Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session on the electoral and boundary reform experience in Scotland

Not the Parliament.

9 November 2023, Reform Bill Committee

Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session on the electoral and boundary reform experience in Scotland

And who sets your budget—the Government?

9 November 2023, Reform Bill Committee

Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session on the electoral and boundary reform experience in Scotland

That's not the Parliament.

9 November 2023, Reform Bill Committee

Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session on the electoral and boundary reform experience in Scotland

And that's with the Government, is it?

9 November 2023, Reform Bill Committee

Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session on the electoral and boundary reform experience in Scotland

And how about how you report to the Scottish Parliament on your activities and work? You produce an annual report, it's laid before the Parliament, annual accounts, and you can be called before committees et cetera. That's how it works.

9 November 2023, Reform Bill Committee

Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session on the electoral and boundary reform experience in Scotland

So, are you happy with the arrangements in this Bill for the way that Ministers must, effectively, respect and implement and deliver the outcome of the reviews without that sort of interference that you've suggested has been happening in Scotland?

9 November 2023, Reform Bill Committee

Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session on the electoral and boundary reform experience in Scotland

Too long. So, four years and renewable seems to work well, certainly for you guys in Scotland. And what about the relationship between—. You said—they were my words, I know—that you were leant on often by the political parties, trying to interfere…

9 November 2023, Reform Bill Committee

Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session on the electoral and boundary reform experience in Scotland

I suppose there's always a risk as well that you'll lose all of the experience around the table if everybody is appointed on day 1, and sort of—

9 November 2023, Reform Bill Committee

Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session on the electoral and boundary reform experience in Scotland

So, an eight-year term would seem to be a reasonable approach as far as this new body is concerned.

9 November 2023, Reform Bill Committee

Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session on the electoral and boundary reform experience in Scotland

And how about the length of term of office, and the churn, if you like, in terms of the appointments? Do you have any views on how that should be managed? Should it be a fixed term and then you finish, and never be allowed to sit on the commission again, or…

9 November 2023, Reform Bill Committee

Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session on the electoral and boundary reform experience in Scotland

Okay. From outside, 'leaning on', as it were.

9 November 2023, Reform Bill Committee

Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session on the electoral and boundary reform experience in Scotland

Yes, I understand. And what about any perception of political interference in the way that you work? So, for example, at the moment the Bill includes provisions to make sure that no Members of the Senedd can ever be members of the commission, quite rightly…

9 November 2023, Reform Bill Committee

Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session on the electoral and boundary reform experience in Scotland

And can I ask you as well—

9 November 2023, Reform Bill Committee

Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session on the electoral and boundary reform experience in Scotland

But you're managing with fewer.