Engagement in Local Democracy

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:08 pm on 14 May 2019.

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Photo of Mark Drakeford Mark Drakeford Labour 2:08, 14 May 2019

Well, Llywydd, I don’t think the basic premise of the supplementary question is true, because, in fact, the number of councillors in Wales has gone down as a result of changes brought about by the independent organisation that reviews these matters on our behalf. But I don’t accept myself the basic premise of what the Member said. I don’t think Wales is overrepresented. In fact, there are many studies that demonstrate that, compared to other and very successful parts of Europe, we have less of a representative democracy here in Wales, and it’s my view—it isn’t shared by all Members, I understand—that, 20 years into devolution, the responsibilities that this body now discharges on behalf of people in Wales mean that going on trying to do that successfully with 60 Members, the number we started with when the responsibilities, the range and depth of responsibilities, was so different that it no longer measures up to the responsibilities that are carried out on behalf of people here in Wales, and that the case made in the McAllister review for an increase in Assembly Members was well made and doesn’t depend, I believe, on reducing other forms of representation in Wales in order to achieve that.