I do broadly welcome this debate on the Commission-proposed Bill, the Welsh Parliament and Elections (Wales) Bill. However, I am disappointed we're not progressing with some of the recommendations the Commission consulted on. Recently, the Women's Equality Network wrote to the Llywydd urging the Commission to progress with the proposals in Laura McAllister's report, promoting job sharing opportunities for Assembly Members. Women's Equality Network Wales, WEN Wales, believes that the Assembly should lead the way on this and blaze a trail. As they've said, if you start job sharing in the institution that runs Wales, you're setting a precedent for business in the third sector, contributing to the more equal Wales that we all want to see, which is set out in the future generations Act.

So, I am disappointed the Commission hasn't included these proposals in this Bill, especially as the Welsh Government has responded positively to the Assembly's Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee's recent report, 'Work it out: parenting and employment in Wales', which recommends that the Welsh Government considers the case for changing legislation so roles such as Ministers, public appointees and councillors may be job-shared. And in its response to the report, Welsh Government does say it will consider the case for changing the legislation in relation to Welsh Government Ministers, alongside any consideration that the National Assembly may give to the introduction of job sharing for Assembly Members, and I welcome that. The more flexibility we offer our politicians, the more female candidates we attract, but this should also be attractive to male candidates as well.

We will be radical and far-sighted when we enfranchise 16 and 17-year-olds via this Bill. Their voices will be strong and clear in the direction we take in promoting equality and diversity in the Assembly, and this will be strengthened by the new Welsh Youth Parliament. In support of this Bill, I hope we can also be radical and far-sighted in our considerations of the wider features and recommendations of the McAllister report, the report that you commissioned—the Llywydd commissioned—by making this a Parliament that is fit for purpose and works for Wales. We're not there yet, but we are taking the first important steps today, and I support this Bill.