Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill
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 has 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:
>>>>
>>>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.
Current Stage
BillStage1
The Bill is currently at Stage 1. 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.
¬¬¬Stage 1 (Current)
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 will consider the Bill on the following dates:
Date and Agenda |
Purpose of meeting |
Transcript |
Senedd.TV |
Consideration of approach to Stage 1 scrutiny |
(private) |
(private) |
|
Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip |
|||
Evidence sessions |
|||
Evidence sessions |
|||
Evidence sessions |
|||
Evidence Session with the Chief Whip and Trefnydd |
|||
Consideration of draft report |
(private) |
(private) |
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 from the Llywydd regarding the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill - 15 April 2024 (PDF, 268 KB)
Correspondence with the Finance Committee
Correspondence with the Member in Charge
Correspondence with the Independent Remuneration Board of
the Senedd
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: 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)
The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee will consider the Bill on the following dates:
Date and Agenda |
Purpose of meeting |
Transcript |
Senedd.TV |
Evidence Session with the Chief Whip and Trefnydd |
The Finance Committee will consider the Bill on the following dates:
Date and Agenda |
Purpose of meeting |
Transcript |
Senedd.TV |
Evidence Session with the Chief Whip and Trefnydd |
Correspondence
The Finance Committee wrote to the Trefnydd and Chief Whip on 16 May 2024 (PDF 129KB)
Letter
to the Senedd Commission regarding the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists)
Bill – 18 March 2024 (PDF, 108KB)
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¬¬¬Bill introduced (11 March 2024)
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill, as introduced (PDF, 149KB)
Explanatory Memorandum (PDF, 893KB)
Presiding Officer’s Statement: 11 March 2024 (PDF, 97KB)
Written Statement: Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill – 11 March 2024
Statement of Policy Intent (PDF, 313KB)
Business Committee’s Report on the timetable for consideration of the Bill – 13 March 2024 (PDF, 27KB)
Oral statement: Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill – 12 March 2024
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Contact information
Clerk: Georgina Owen
Phone:0300 200 6565
Postal address:
Welsh Parliament
Cardiff Bay
Cardiff CF99 1SN
e-mail: SeneddReform@senedd.wales
Business type: Bill
Reason considered: Senedd Business;
First published: 11/03/2024
Documents
- Statement of Policy Intent (PDF, 313KB) PDF 313 KB
- Hide the documents
- Letter to the Trefnydd and Chief Whip from the Finance Committee - 16 May 2024 PDF 130 KB
- Letter to the Chair of Finance Committee: Financial implications of the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill - 16 April 2024 PDF 157 KB
- Letter to the Senedd Commission regarding the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill PDF 104 KB
- Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol): Canfyddiadau arolwg YouGov PDF 150 KB
- Gwybodaeth ychwanegol a ddarparwyd gan 5050 Amrywiolyn dilyn y sesiwn dystiolaeth ar 24 Ebrill 2024 [Saesneg yn unig] PDF 168 KB
- Gwybodaeth ychwanegol a ddarparwyd gan Rhianon Passmore AS dilyn y sesiwn dystiolaeth ar 24 Ebrill 2024 [Saesneg yn unig] PDF 778 KB
- Gwybodaeth ychwanegol a ddarparwyd gan Dr Sofia Collignon [Saesneg yn unig] PDF 122 KB
- Additional Information Provided by Wales Electoral Coordination Board following the evidence session on 21 March 2024 PDF 125 KB
Consultations
- Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill (completed)