Concise Minutes - Reform Bill Committee


Meeting Venue:

Committee Room 1, Senedd
Meeting date: Thursday, 26 October 2023

Meeting time: 09.19 - 13.46
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/13775


Hybrid

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Attendance

Category

Names

Members of the Senedd:

David Rees MS (Chair)

Heledd Fychan MS

Darren Millar MS

Sarah Murphy MS

Jane Dodds MS

Witnesses:

Professor Laura McAllister, Expert Panel on Assembly Electoral Reform

Professor Alan Renwick, Expert Panel on Assembly Electoral Reform

Rt. Hon. Elin Jones MS, Llywydd, Llywydd

Manon Antoniazzi, Chief Executive and Clerk

Siwan Davies, Deputy Chief Executive and Clerk and Director of Senedd Business

Alun Davidson Clerk, Constitutional Change / Parliamentary Business Strategy Team

Professor Diana Stirbu, London Metropolitan University

Committee Staff:

Helen Finlayson (Clerk)

Georgina Owen (Second Clerk)

Catherine Roberts (Deputy Clerk)

Samiwel Davies (Legal Adviser)

Josh Hayman (Researcher)

 

<AI1>

1       Introductions, apologies, substitutions, and declarations of interest

There were no apologies, substitutions or declarations of interest.

The Chair welcomed Jane Dodds MS, who was attending in accordance with Standing Order 17.49.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2       Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Expert Panel on Assembly Electoral Reform

The Committee received evidence from the Expert Panel on Assembly Reform.

</AI2>

<AI3>

3       Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Llywydd and the Senedd Commission

The Committee received evidence from the Llywydd and the Senedd Commission.

The witnesses agreed to provide further information about:

-        The Senedd Commission’s role in producing the cost estimates included by the Expert Panel on Assembly Electoral Reform in its 2017 report, A parliament that works for Wales, and the assumptions upon which those estimates were based.

-        The public appointments made by the Senedd, in particular their terms of office and the potential impact of any change in the length of Senedd terms on such appointments.

</AI3>

<AI4>

4       Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with parliamentary academics

The Committee received evidence from Professor Diana Stirbu.

</AI4>

<AI5>

5       Papers to Note

</AI5>

<AI6>

5.1   Letter from the Petitions Committee regarding Petition P-06-1334 Make the Senedd More Representative of the Welsh Population - 2 October 2023

The Committee noted the letter.

</AI6>

<AI7>

5.2   Response from the Reform Bill Committee to the Petitions Committee regarding Petition P-06-1334 Make the Senedd More Representative of the Welsh Population - 3 October 2023

The Committee noted the letter.

</AI7>

<AI8>

5.3   Letter from the Petitions Committee regarding Senedd reform petitions - 3 October 2023

The Committee noted the letter.

</AI8>

<AI9>

5.4   Response from the Reform Bill Committee to the Petitions Committee regarding Senedd reform petitions - 5 October 2023

The Committee noted the letter.

</AI9>

<AI10>

5.5   Letter to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution regarding the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill - 16 October 2023

The Committee noted the letter.

</AI10>

<AI11>

5.6   Letter to the former Chair of the Special Purpose Committee on Senedd Reform regarding the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill - 16 October 2023

The Committee noted the letter.

</AI11>

<AI12>

6       Motion under Standing Order 17.42 (ix) to resolve to exclude the public for the remainder of the meeting

The Committee agreed the motion.

</AI12>

<AI13>

7       Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Consideration of evidence

The Committee considered the evidence received.

</AI13>

<AI14>

8       Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Technical briefing

The Committee noted the additional background briefing.

</AI14>

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