Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill

The Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill has been referred to the Reform Bill Committee for Stage 1 scrutiny of the general principles of the Bill.

Terms of reference

To help inform its scrutiny, the Committee asked for views on:

>>>> 

>>>The general principles of the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill and whether there is a need for legislation to deliver the Bill’s stated policy objective, which is to make the Senedd a more effective legislature by ensuring it is broadly representative of the gender make-up of the population (see below for further information about the Bill).

>>>The system of enforcement and potential sanctions for non-compliance.

>>>Any potential barriers to the implementation of the Bill’s provisions, and whether the Bill and accompanying Explanatory Memorandum and Regulatory Impact Assessment take adequate account of them.

>>>Whether there are any unintended consequences arising from the Bill.

The Welsh Government’s assessment of the financial and other impacts of the Bill as set out in Parts 2 of the Explanatory Memorandum.

>>>The appropriateness of the powers in the Bill for Welsh Ministers to make subordinate legislation (as set out in Part 1: Chapter 5 of the Explanatory Memorandum).

>>>Matters relating to the competence of the Senedd including compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights.

>>>The balance between the information contained on the face of the Bill and what is left to subordinate legislation.

>>>Any matter related to the quality of the legislation.

>>>Any other matter related to the constitutional or other implications of the Bill.

<<< 

The deadline for submissions to this consultation was Friday 12 April 2024.

Information about the Bill

If passed, the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill will:

>>>> 

>>>Introduce an integrated statutory gender quota to the Closed List Proportional Representation electoral system expected to be introduced by the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill.

>>>Where a registered political party chooses to submit a list or lists of candidates for election to the Senedd, require that those lists comply with quota rules set out in the Bill.

>>>Require at least half of the candidates on a party’s list in each Senedd constituency to be women (in cases where the list contains two or more candidates). In addition, require that a list must be ordered such that a candidate on a list who is not a woman must be followed immediately by a candidate who is a woman (unless they are last on the list). This is known as the vertical placement criteria.

>>>Require the first or only candidate on at least half of the lists submitted by a party to be a woman (in cases where a party has submitted lists in two or more Senedd constituencies). This is known as the horizontal placement criteria.

>>>Provide for the creation of a National Nominations Compliance Officer to oversee compliance with the horizontal placement criteria.

>>>Require all candidates on a party’s list to state either whether they are, or are not, a woman.

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

<<<