Inquiry into Individual Member Accountability

The Standards of Conduct Committee (the Committee) is undertaking an inquiry into Individual Member accountability and the potential for it to be strengthened.

There are several ways that individual Members of the Senedd are held to account:

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>>>Once elected, a Member is accountable to their constituents and ultimately, a Member who stands for re-election is held to account by the public at each election.

>>>Members can be disqualified and removed during a Senedd term for specified reasons including if convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to a custodial sentence of 12 months or more.

>>>Members are also expected to meet the standards of behaviour and rules set out in the Senedd’s Code of Conduct, and may face sanctions for breaches of these rules.

>>>However, there is no provision the Senedd itself to recommend the removal of a Member during the Senedd term.

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As part of the Senedd scrutiny of the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024, the Standards of Conduct Committee was invited to consider ways of strengthening the individual accountability of Members by the Reform Bill Committee, in light of the evidence which they have received. The Counsel General has also specifically invited the Committee to consider the introduction of a process of Recall and how to regulate Members and candidates who seek to deceive, following proceedings on the Elections and Elected Bodies Bill.

The Committee will seek to present its conclusions to the Senedd with a view to informing any legislative proposals which Welsh Government may bring forward ahead of the 2026 elections.

This consultation is seeking views on potential options for improving the accountability of Members, including in the following areas:

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>>>The introduction of a mechanism for the Recall of Members (some form of public poll in the relevant areas between elections that gives electors an option to remove a Member from the Senedd when a complaint of misconduct has been upheld);

>>>Reasons for which Members may be disqualified during a Senedd term;

>>>The merits of the introduction of an offence of deception;

>>>Increasing the available sanctions for breaches of the Code of Conduct.

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The Committee would welcome your views on the questions posed in this consultation by Friday 27 September 2024. Please submit your response in English or Welsh via the online form.

Providing Written Evidence

The Senedd has two official languages, Welsh and English.

In line with the Senedd’s Official Languages Scheme, the Committee welcomes contributions in both or either of our official languages, and we ask organisations that are subject to Welsh Language standards or schemes to respond in line with their own obligations. Please inform the Committee when submitting responses if you intend to provide a translation at a later date.

Please see guidance for those providing evidence for committees.

Disclosure of information

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