Cyflwynwyd yr ymateb hwn i ymgynghoriad y Pwyllgor Biliau Diwygio ar Fil Senedd Cymru (Aelodau ac Etholiadau).

This response was submitted to the Reform Bill Committee consultation on the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill.

SCME68 Ymateb gan: | Response from: Tracy Tappenden
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I totally disagree with the following 5 proposals of the reform bill. 

1. Increase the size of the Senedd to 96 Members.

This is not required. We do not need more members. We have a good working democracy. The cost can NOT be justified.

2. Decrease the length of time between Senedd ordinary general elections from five to four years.

This is a waste of tax payers money. It will increase costs considerably and make policies even shorter term in their focus.

3. Increase the maximum number of Deputy Presiding Officers from one to two.

This is not required and is a waste of money

4. Increase the legislative limit on the size of the Welsh Government to 17 (plus the First Minister and Counsel General), with power to further increase the limit to 18 or 19.

Increases are not required. Another waste of tax payers money.

5. Provide a mechanism for the Seventh Senedd’s consideration of job-sharing of offices relating to the Senedd (by requiring the Llywydd in the Seventh Senedd to propose the establishment of a Senedd committee to review specified matters).

Job sharing results in duplication and wasting of time/resource. Expensive and not justified.

These proposals need greater information about their purpose and MOST IMPORTANT their cost: 

1. Repurpose and rename the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales; provide the renamed Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru (DBCC) with the functions needed to establish new Senedd constituencies and undertake ongoing reviews of Senedd constituency boundaries; and provide instructions for the DBCC to follow when undertaking boundary reviews.

Why is this required? What problem is it fixing? What cost savings will it make?

2. Provide for review of the operation and effect of the new legislative provisions following the 2026 election (by requiring the Llywydd after the election to propose the establishment of a Senedd committee to review specified matters).

Reviews are only good if they make an improvement and save costs. All too often in WAG a review is used to DO NOTHING CONSTRUCTIVE and so spends money for no benefit.

Yours sincerely

Dr Tracy Tappenden

Carmarthenshire