Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill

A Welsh Government Bill, introduced by Jane Hutt MS, Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip. The Business Committee referred the Bill to the Reform Bill Committee for Stage 1 scrutiny of the general principles.

Following the appointment of the First Minister on 20 March 2024, and appointment of the new Cabinet, Jane Hutt MS, Trefnydd and Chief Whip was authorised as Member in Charge of the Bill by the First Minister in accordance with Standing Order 24.4(ii).

About the Bill

If passed, the Bill will:

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>>>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).

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Further detail about the Bill can be found in its accompanying Explanatory Memorandum.

Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill, as introduced (PDF, 149KB)

Explanatory Memorandum (PDF, 893KB)

Further information and analysis is available in a Senedd Research article including a summary of the Bill.

Committee reports

The Reform Bill Committee laid its report on 7 June 2024. The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee laid its report on 7 June 2024. The Reform Bill Committee also published a summary of its recommendations.

Current Stage

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An explanation of the various stages of Senedd Bills is available in the Guide to the Stages of Public Bills and Acts.

Record of Passage in the Welsh Parliament

The following table sets out the dates for each stage of the Bill’s passage through the Senedd.

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¬¬¬Stage 2, Committee consideration of amendments (17 July 2024 – 24 September 2024)

On 16 September 2024, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice issued a written statement outlining the Welsh Government's intention to seek the withdrawal of the Bill. The Bill was withdrawn with the agreement of the Senedd on 24 September 2024, in accordance with Standing Order 26.79.

On 17 July 2024, in accordance with Standing Order 26.17(iii), the Senedd agreed that Stage 2 proceedings of the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill would be considered by a Committee of the Whole Senedd.

Stage 2 consideration was scheduled to take place during the Committee of the Whole Senedd on 1 October 2024. The deadline for tabling amendments was 24 September 2024.

In accordance with Standing Order 26.21, amendments would be disposed of in the order in which the sections arose in the Bill.

Notice of Amendments: 19 July 2024

Notice of Amendments: 16 September 2024

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¬¬¬Financial Resolution (16 July 2024)

In accordance with Standing Order 26.68 the Presiding Officer indicated that a financial resolution was required for this Bill. Further information about financial resolutions is available in section 3 of the Guide to the scrutiny stages for Public Bills.

A Financial Resolution in relation to the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill was agreed in Plenary on 16 July 2024.

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¬¬¬Stage 1 (11 March 2024 – 16 July 2024)

A debate took place in Plenary on 16 July 2024. The motion to agree the general principles of the Bill was agreed.

The Reform Bill Committee considered its approach to Stage 1 consideration on 13 March 2024.

The Committee's consultation on the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill closed on 12 April 2024.

Committee dates

The Reform Bill Committee considered the Bill on the following dates:

Date and Agenda	Purpose of meeting	Transcript	Senedd.TV
13 March 2024	Consideration of approach to Stage 1 scrutiny	(private)	(private)
13 March 2024	Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip	Transcript	View meeting
21 March 2024	Evidence sessions	Transcript	View meeting
18 April 2024	Evidence sessions	Transcript	View meeting
24 April 2024	Evidence sessions	Transcript	View meeting
1 May 2024	Evidence Session with the Chief Whip and Trefnydd	Transcript	View meeting
22 May 2024	Consideration of draft report	(private)	(private)

The Reform Bill Committee laid its report on 7 June 2024. A summary of the recommendations is also available in PDF and as a web version.

Responses to the report

Response from the Senedd Commission - Stage 1 Report (PDF,

107 KB) – 14 June 2024

Letter from the Trefnydd and Chief Whip regarding the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill - 14 June 2024 (PDF, 147 KB)

Response from the Trefnydd and Chief Whip - Stage 1 Report - 10 July 2024 (PDF, 215KB)

Correspondence

Correspondence with the Llywydd

Letter from the Llywydd regarding the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill - 11 March 2024 (PDF, 242KB)

Letter from the Llywydd regarding the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill - 15 March 2024 (PDF, 370KB)

Letter to the Llywydd regarding the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill - 22 March 2024 (PDF, 172 KB)

Letter from the Llywydd regarding the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill - 15 April 2024 (PDF, 268 KB)

Letter to the Llywydd regarding the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill - 7 June 2024 (PDF, 128 KB)

Correspondence with the Finance Committee

Letter from the Finance Committee to the Senedd Commission regarding the financial implications of the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill – 18 March 2024 (PDF, 197 KB)

Letter from the Finance Committee to the Trefnydd and Chief Whip regarding the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill - 16 May 2024 (PDF, 221 KB)

Correspondence with the Petitions Committee

Letter from the Petitions Committee regarding Petition P-06-1334 Make the Senedd More Representative of the Welsh Population - 16 May 2024 (PDF, 172 KB)

Correspondence with the Member in Charge

Letter from the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip to the Reform Bill Committee regarding the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill - 19 March 2024 (PDF, 270 KB)

Letter to the Trefnydd and Chief Whip regarding the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill - 2 May 2024 (PDF, 71.1KB)

Letter from the Trefnydd and Chief Whip regarding the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill - 10 May 2024 (PDF, 563 KB)

Letter to the Trefnydd and Chief Whip regarding the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill - 7 June 2024 (PDF, 114 KB)

Correspondence with the Independent Remuneration Board of the Senedd

Letter to the Independent Remuneration Board of the Senedd regarding the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill - 22 March 2024 (PDF, 304 KB)

Letter from the Independent Remuneration Board of the Senedd regarding the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill - 12 April 2024 (PDF, 332 KB)

Correspondence from the First Minister

Letter from the First Minister to the Llywydd in relation to Members in Charge of Welsh Government Bills - 5 April 2024 (PDF, 192 KB)

Additional information

Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Research by

Dr William T Daniel, University of Nottingham and Dr Andrea S Aldrich, Yale University (PDF, 3MB)

Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: YouGov survey findings (PDF, 150KB)

Additional information provided by Diverse 5050 following the evidence session on 24 April (PDF, 168KB)

Additional information provided by Rhianon Passmore MS following the evidence session on 24 April (PDF, 778KB)

Additional information provided by Dr Sofia Collignon (PDF, 122KB)

Additional Information Provided by Wales Electoral Coordination Board following the evidence session on 21 March 2024 (PDF, 125KB)

Letter from Women's Rights Network regarding the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill - 14 July 2024 (PDF, 159 KB)

The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee will consider the Bill on the following dates:

Date and Agenda	Purpose of meeting	Transcript	Senedd.TV
29 April 2024	Evidence Session with the Chief Whip and Trefnydd	Transcript	View meeting

The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee laid its report on 7 June 2024. The Welsh Government responded to the report on 10 July 2024.

The Finance Committee will consider the Bill on the following dates:

Date and Agenda	Purpose of meeting	Transcript	Senedd.TV
24 April 2024	Evidence Session with the Chief Whip and Trefnydd	Transcript	View meeting