2. Will the Commission confirm why, unlike the Scottish Parliament, Her Majesty the Queen has not been invited to the Assembly to mark celebrations of 20 years of devolution? OAQ54309

The Commission agreed its programme of events to mark 20 years of devolution in March 2019. The programme provided opportunities to reflect on the anniversary and for the people of Wales to discuss their future and that of Welsh democracy. There are no royal visits planned for this year.

I do think there's been a missed opportunity that the invitation was not extended. Sorry, my translation device fell out of my ear just as you were saying your opening remarks. But I think I am correct in saying that no invitation was extended to the head of state to come to this legislature, this Parliament, which is an important part of the democratic make-up of the United Kingdom, and I do think that's been a missed opportunity on behalf of the Commission.

I appreciate we're coming to the back end of the year now, it's most probably far too late to issue such an invitation, but irrespective of whether you're a republican or a monarchist, it is a fact that we live in a constitutional monarchy, and I do think we are the poorer for not having the head of state to address us in our twentieth year, which has been rightly celebrated by the Commission. And I would ask the Commission maybe to reflect on this for future events, key events, that the head of state is considered a guest that we would want to have within our midst and address us as the Parliament of Wales.  

Yes, of course, the Queen did attend the events in the Scottish Parliament as part of her Holyrood week in early July. I can confirm that no invitation was sent or any discussion held at the Commission on this particular issue. Of course, the head of state is asked in every Assembly to attend the opening and be part of the opening ceremony of the Assembly, as she was three years ago. I'll reflect on the view that you've expressed. Obviously, it's late in the day now. There will be celebrations, hopefully, well into the future where the head of state will need to be considered as to whether that invitation is offered or not. That will be a matter probably now for future Commissions in celebrating other celebrations that we will have in the future, but I accept that that view is one that you've expressed to me now. As I said, our decisions on this were taken in March of this year, but I thank you for expressing that view and for noting it, and it'll certainly be something that future Commissions will need to be reminded of. 

Question 3, Janet Finch-Saunders.

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. These might have been paired, actually, so I'm sorry to come across as a little repetitive.