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.

SCME439 Ymateb gan: | Response from: Jane Sullivan
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I am writing to express my views on the proposed changes to the Senedd membership.

1) Cost. At a time when government budgets are being stretched the expense of expanding the Senedd should not be a priority. I live in Pembrokeshire. We are told there is not enough money to fund a much needed rail link at St Clears, our bus services have been cut to the bone, our local hospital is in need of urgent refurbishment due to the faulty concrete concerns, the M4 needs resurfacing and is dangerous, our local GP services are overstretched... these are the priorities for voters, not an extra 36 Senedd members that will cost £120 million. 

2) Gender quotas. I understand that the Senedd aims to increase the number of female members to make the Senedd more effective and more representative. However, I recently read in the national and local press that the Senedd regards males who identify as female as women which could lead to men taking the place of women in the Senedd. This is unacceptable. Gender quotas should be renamed sex quotas and any quota should be introduced based on biological sex not the gender identity of the person. This is a form of Gender self-ID by the back door. 

3) Voting system. It is not clear whether voters will be voting for the candidate of their choice or if the votes will be transferred to other candidates during the election process. I want to vote for the candidate that is listed on my ballot paper. A new system should be subjected to a very high level of scrutiny by the whole of the UK not just introduced in Wales.

In short, the proposed changes are a waste of money and will not improve democracy in Wales.

Jane Sullivan