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.

SCME223 Ymateb gan:  | Response from: Helen Hunter
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Dear Sirs,

As a passionate resident of Wales I would like to make it known that I consider the Senedd reform proposals to be inappropriate.

As you are well aware the country is in a considerable amount of debt approx £600 million, it has already been reported that vital services including mental health spending is to be cut to help balance the books. Together will the non democratic roll out of the speed reduction in many areas costing around £33 million. I find that the reported £87 million to increase the Senedd numbers would therefore be inappropriate and unjustified, when the money could be better spent on many other vital services that have received much reduced Senedd funding. This also would lead to potential loss of life our NHS is at breaking point and ambulances are held up in A&E departments because of the lack of NHS staff to attend to the emergencies.

I would also like to draw your attention to the cut in mental health services, suffering myself from anxiety and depression. I feel if this financial support is reduced to further balance the Senedd’s books then more lives through suicide would possibly occur.

The process of increasing the number of AMs would also be a non democratic procedure, thus leading to one party or coalition having the majority control. This is not good for the democracy of out beautiful country and lead to much or further distrust in the whole voting system.

Lastly with local councils having to reduce their services, an increase of council tax year on year over the inflation rate throughout Wales and the proposed tourism tax to be bought in by 2027, I feel we in West Wales and other rural communities that survive on tourism trade and that the implementation of such a tax would have a detrimental impact on not only people’s lives but also much needed income to the area.

I therefore feel it would be unacceptable for more money to be spent on the Senedd reform.

Regards

Helen Hunter