Political Defections

Part of 3. Questions to the Assembly Commission – in the Senedd at 3:09 pm on 6 March 2019.

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Photo of Elin Jones Elin Jones Plaid Cymru 3:09, 6 March 2019

(Translated)

Well, as I said in my response, no assessment has been undertaken to date on this issue. The Senedd and Elections (Wales) Bill has been introduced in the past few weeks. There was no mandate from this Assembly or any of its committees, nor was this issue included in the remit for the independent review undertaken by Laura McAllister. But, it is an issue, of course. It is raised here, perhaps for the first time, or one of the first times. It's an issue that perhaps the committee that scrutinises the Bill that at the moment is before the Assembly will want to consider or it's an issue for Assembly Members in this place, now that the powers are held in this place since the Wales Act 2017 for us to be legislating on our own electoral systems. So, may I encourage, if there's interest in this place, you to be discussing this and to be bringing forth any proposals? But, until those proposals come before us there will be no mandate for the Commission to be pursuing legislation to this end.