2. 2. Business Statement and Announcement

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:21 pm on 27 September 2016.

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Photo of Jane Hutt Jane Hutt Labour 2:21, 27 September 2016

Well, Julie Morgan raises a very important point and she’s raised this on previous opportunities. I think—of course, the boundary commission proposals are out for consultation—it will have a major impact in terms of how our Welsh communities will be represented and we will be making our views in terms of disadvantage that could be caused by proposed changes. Of course, it has an impact on the Assembly and on us as Assembly Members and elected representatives in terms of how our constituents are represented in Parliament. Of course, those issues are going to be—in respect of Assembly elections—included in the Wales Bill currently before the Lords and should come into effect from Easter 2018, if that Bill becomes law. But I think the issues around political representation and around—and you raised issues about our representation in this Chamber—changes to parliamentary and European representation as well, the loss of MEPs, and significant expansions of our responsibilities as well from the Wales Act 2014 and potential changes from the current Wales Bill, all make this a very worthy and important area for debate and discussion.