Electing a more diverse Senedd

Electing a more diverse Senedd

The Committee on Senedd Electoral Reform undertook an inquiry to examine the recommendations of the Expert Panel on Assembly Electoral Reform relating to voluntary and legislative measures to encourage the election of a more diverse Senedd, by:

*        Exploring whether political parties should be required to publish anonymised diversity information about their Senedd election candidates, and the practical implications to which this would give rise;

*        Considering the principles and the practical implications of the Panel's recommendation that legislative candidate gender quotas should be integrated into the Senedd's electoral system, and any voluntary steps parties could take to increase the diversity of their electoral candidates across the full range of protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010;

*        Examining issues relating to the Panel's recommendation that people should be allowed to stand for election on the basis of job sharing, including implications for democratic accountability and any practical considerations which would need to be addressed.

Committee report

The Committee published its report, Senedd reform: The next steps (PDF, 5MB) in September 2020. It also published a summary of its recommendations (PDF, 113KB).

Evidence from the public

The Committee held a consultation as part of its inquiry between 11 March 2020 and 21 May 2020.

Engagement activity

The Committee undertook a stakeholder event on 10 February 2020. A note of the issues discussed (PDF, 132KB) has been published.

Oral evidence

Evidence session

Date, agenda and minutes

Transcript

Video

1. Senedd Commission

Elin Jones MS, Llywydd

Manon Antoniazzi, Chief Executive and Clerk of the Senedd

Anna Daniel, Senedd Commission

Matthew Richards, Senedd Commission

2 December 2019

Read the transcript

Watch on Senedd.tv

2. Equality and Human Rights Commission in Wales

Ruth Coombs, Head of the Commission in Wales

13 January 2020

Read the transcript

Watch on Senedd.tv

3. Academics

Professor Rosie Campbell, Kings College London

Dr Nicole Martin, The University of Manchester

13 January 2020

Read the transcript

Watch on Senedd.tv

4. Remuneration Board

Dawn Primarolo, Chair of the Remuneration Board

Anna Daniel, Senior Advisor to the Remuneration Board

20 January 2020

Read the transcript

Watch on Senedd.tv

5. Welsh Government

Rebecca Evans MS, Minister for Finance and Trefnydd

Lisa James, Deputy Director, Local Government Democracy

Elaina Chamberlain, Head of Democracy, Diversity and Remuneration

27 January 2020

Read the transcript

Watch on Senedd.tv

6. Job-sharing opportunities for elected representatives

Professor Sarah Childs, Birkbeck, University of London

Councillor Mary Sherwood, City and County of Swansea Council

Dr Bob Watt

3 February 2020

Read the transcript

Watch on Senedd.tv

 

Business type: Committee Inquiry

Reason considered: Senedd Business;

Status: Complete

First published: 08/01/2020

Documents

Consultations