, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session on the electoral and boundary reform experience in Scotland
So, you think we could get away with having fewer than the up to seven that is currently on the face of this Bill.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session on the electoral and boundary reform experience in Scotland
Can I just ask about the governance arrangements for both organisations, if that's okay? So, as I understand it, you have a smaller number of commissioners that can be appointed to the commission in terms of its size in Scotland than is proposed in the…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with electoral reform organisations
Because, Alberto, what you were suggesting was that parties might retreat, if you like, from certain areas, focus their attention in a smaller number of areas where they think they might get over the 12 per cent threshold. But that would really disenfranchise…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with electoral reform organisations
Yes. So, I'm just saying, if it was 16 higher, then the threshold would be lower, wouldn't it, in order for people to get over?
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with electoral reform organisations
Just one follow-up question. So, as you know, my party's view is that we don't want an increase in the number of people elected into the Senedd, but do you think that the number of 96 is the right number? Because, if you added another 16, you'd get a much…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with electoral reform organisations
Alberto.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with electoral reform organisations
—rather than just set up another talking shop, perhaps, in 2026.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with electoral reform organisations
So, you think that this would be better tackled by a committee in the current Senedd term, perhaps with not a view to legislating immediately, because of the timetable et cetera, but at least it would get the work on the road—
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with electoral reform organisations
Okay, thank you. There are obviously other provisions in the Bill around the need to review job sharing arrangements. What are your views on the proposals in the Bill around that?
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with electoral reform organisations
Okay. Alberto.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with electoral reform organisations
So, do you think that voters should be referenced on the face of the Bill—you know, that the views of voters must be considered by that committee as part of the review process?
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with electoral reform organisations
You both touched on this earlier, especially you, Jess. Obviously, it's wise to make sure that there's a review mechanism to see how any changes have bedded down and been received by the public and the impact that that might have had on turnout and all sorts…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with electoral reform organisations
Can I turn to the review of provisions issue?
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with electoral reform organisations
And, of course, we've had parties fold after having people elected, as well.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with electoral reform organisations
Thank you. Yes, thanks.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with electoral reform organisations
And, Jess, just to come back on this issue of recall, obviously, there are things that Members of the Senedd can be disqualified from being a Member of the Senedd for, but there are other things that may be perceived as just as serious by the public that…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with electoral reform organisations
And how about you, Alberto?
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with electoral reform organisations
But you accept that if a vacancy arises because of an independent candidate passing away or stepping down for whatever reason, then there is a possibility of that area not having its full representation in terms of the number of voices in the Senedd.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with electoral reform organisations
Can I just ask a little bit further on this issue of recall and by-elections when a vacancy might arise? So, we just had evidence a few moments ago from—forgive me, I'll get his name on here—Professor Alistair Clark. He suggested that it would potentially be…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with electoral reform organisations
Yes, okay. Diolch.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with electoral reform organisations
Yes, please. Thank you.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with electoral reform organisations
The only reason I ask is that, obviously, again, there could be this challenge with a two thirds threshold then, perhaps placing barriers in the way of further diversity measures that the Senedd may want to take in the future. So, isn't is better to get it…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with electoral reform organisations
It sounded like you'd already had a copy of my question in advance. But a very good answer. Okay—so, we're not sure.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with electoral reform organisations
And can I just check, Chair—this is probably a question for our legal team—when the gender quotas Bill comes forward, does that require a two thirds majority in order to—? Or is it a straight majority?
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with electoral reform organisations
And what about these other aspects of diversity? Why focus on gender? What about faith, what about race, what about disability? What about all these other aspects of diversity that we're not proposing to have quotas for?
