Diolch, Llywydd. I want to put on record this afternoon my extreme disappointment at the changes that are taking place in relation to the reallocation of committee Chairs following Mark Reckless’s decision to leave the UKIP group and join the Welsh Conservative group. Now, the Presiding Officer—[Interruption.] Now, the Presiding Officer made it quite clear—[Interruption.] The Presiding Officer made it quite clear in her determination that Mark Reckless is indeed a member of the Welsh Conservative group, and that means that the number of members of the opposition now stands at 12 for the Welsh Conservative group, 11 for Plaid Cymru, and five for UKIP. It’s my view that the Assembly should honour and respect the Presiding Officer’s determination, and, indeed, the decision of the Member to join another political group. And, therefore, the Welsh Conservative group should be allocated three committee Chairs and Plaid Cymru two committee Chairs, not the other way around. However, it has become clear in this morning’s Business Committee meeting that the other political parties in this place do not share my view. It is unacceptable and frankly worrying that the National Assembly for Wales proposes to operate in this manner. We on this side of the Chamber are objecting to this motion as a matter of principle, given that this particular change is taking place without due regard for the entire political balance of this Assembly. In fact, Standing Order 17.2R quite clearly states, and I quote:

‘Where the position of chair becomes vacant, the Business Committee:

‘(i) must consider the effects of that vacancy on the balance of committee chairs between political groups’.

Therefore, it’s clear that the decision to allow Plaid Cymru to continue with three committee Chairs versus our two breaks that Standing Order. It is not right that an opposition party in this institution with fewer members now has more committee Chairs, and this could have serious implications in the future for this institution. This sends the message that it doesn’t manner how many Members your group has in this place, all that matters is your ability to make deals regardless of any political balance. If this motion is passed—[Interruption.] If this motion is passed without due regard for the entire political balance, then it has become clear that two thirds of the Assembly no longer—