Written question WQ85678
- Asked by
- Andrew RT DaviesConservative
- To be answered by
- First Minister
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 9 days
Question
What assessment has the First Minister made of the benefits or otherwise of holding a referendum on the Welsh Government's Senedd reform plans?
Answer
Answered by First Minister (Mark Drakeford)
A commitment to Senedd reform was an explicit part of the manifestos of both Labour and Plaid Cymru in last year’s election. Legislating for Senedd reform is being carried out in collaboration as part of the Co-operation Agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru.
The Senedd has endorsed the recommendations of the Special Purpose Committee on a scale needed to pass the two-thirds majority required to implement these changes.
There are many precedents for changes to the number of elected members being made without referendums, including the boundary review changes for the UK Parliament that will see a reduction in the number of MPs that Wales returns to Westminster from 40 to 32.
The powers needed to take forward Senedd Reform were set out in the Conservative Government’s Wales Act 2017. Neither that Act, nor the Government of Wales Act 2006 as amended, makes provision for a referendum in relation to Senedd Reform.