Meetings

Discussion

The Board discussed the updated assessment of the implications of an increase in the capacity of the Assembly and were asked to consider the issues that would need to be taken into account. Assessments had been provided by heads of service from across the Assembly.

The Board challenged the assessments and assumptions and considered whether they were reasonable, noting the difference between directly proportionate increases and those that were more speculative. It was agreed that further consideration should be given to the consistency of assumptions made across the piece and presenting the potential variations and risks that could impact those assumptions in future.

Actions: Anna Daniel to consult colleagues to further improve the information gathered.  

At the meeting on 17 November, Commissioners agreed to write to the Secretary of State for Wales in order to inform the anticipated St. David’s Day cross-party agreement setting out the future of Welsh devolution settlement. The Commission discussed the scope and content of a draft report on this matter, as well as arrangements for sharing the report with stakeholders.

The Commission agreed that matters relating to the size of the Assembly, and its system of election, should be devolved to the institution itself, rather than being legislated for in Westminster. They felt this should be done as soon as possible. Commissioners also discussed the size of the National Assembly and the implications, particularly financial, of various increases in the size of the Assembly.

The Commission agreed that the number of elected Members in the Assembly must be increased. Commissioners reasoning was driven by the desire to give Members a realistic opportunity to scrutinise the policy, administration, spending and legislative proposals of the Welsh Government as robustly as the people of Wales deserve. They felt that the outcomes and impacts of the work that Members do are significant and that it was important to focus their report on addressing the needs of the institution. Commissioners acknowledged that there are costs associated with democracy, and observed that the figures in the paper they received demonstrate the cost, even with an increase in the number of Assembly Members, as remaining a very small percentage of the Welsh block; they asked for this to be emphasised in the report.

Commissioners discussed that the expectations on Members today, let alone any extension of the Assembly’s powers and responsibilities, make the case for more Members compelling. They felt they would need to consider how to support Members to deliver their roles well in the period prior to an increase in Member numbers.

The Commission agreed to publish a report covering the themes of their discussions, and to write to the Secretary of State, and group leaders, sending a copy of the report. Commissioners felt it was important to focus their report on the facts and to make a useful contribution to the current constitutional debate. They agreed to make their report available to Members, the media and the public.

paper 2

Commissioners considered an update on key constitutional issues and their implications for the Commission.

The Commission’s objective is to ensure that the support provided to Members by Assembly services are prepared for the implications of constitutional change.

The work is focused around three strands:

·                     ensuring that legislation meets the needs of the Assembly (Wales Bill, any subsequent legislation to implement Silk II);

·                     readiness for change, including capacity planning and wider implications for the Assembly’s ways of working; and

·                     awareness raising about the changes to ensure the possibilities are taken into account in planning for the Fifth Assembly.

The Commission recognised that there is a degree of certainty about some of the issues being faced, whilst others remain more speculative at present.

On the subject of the Member capacity at the Assembly, Commissioners considered the resourcing and service implications of increasing the number of Members. They also discussed the increasing challenges faced by Members while there are only 60 Assembly Members.

The Commission agreed to return to this subject early in the new year and asked for more detailed information be compiled. In the meantime, they agreed to write to the Remuneration Board to ask them to consider options for additional support for Assembly Members in the fifth Assembly.

The Board received a paper that was due to be presented to the Commission on 17 November as an update on key constitutional issues, their implications and how staff were preparing for those changes.  Commissioners would be asked to endorse the approach being taken to ensure the right capacity was in place to support whatever constitutional change may take place and to provide a steer for any further work or advice needed.

The paper gave a good indication of the scale of change necessary, particularly around the potential increase in the number of Members, although some information was still speculative, meaning advice was tentative in some areas.  The Assembly has provided extremely high levels of support but an increase in Members would, in some areas, require decisions about whether to reduce support, increase costs or look at alternative ways of doing things. The Board agreed it would be helpful to seek Commissioners’ views on what Members would expect in terms of the levels of support.

Actions:

·           Anna Daniel to revisit costs annex to ensure it included all service areas and consider adding a timeline to the paper; and

·           Non Gwilym to prepare draft media lines if required.