I fully support the principles of amendments 158 and 159, and I agree that there is a need for further work with the entire electoral community around ensuring that the Welsh and English languages are treated equally throughout the elections process. 

The Bill already contains provision to improve the accessibility of electoral documents, including in Welsh, and, separately, I am bringing forward regulations to exclude Welsh and English language translation costs from candidates' expenditure limits. However, what is being proposed in this amendment is part of a much wider piece of work that is already under way, which relates to the technical electoral administration Bill that will need to be introduced in the next Senedd. It is important that we continue discussions with returning officers, the Welsh Language Commissioner and the electoral community to ensure that the entire candidate and voter experience for devolved elections is the same in Welsh and English. I want to make sure that we get this right by taking the time to ensure that all necessary matters are considered before we start making legislative provision. In the meantime, for the 2021 elections, I will ask my officials to raise the matter during their regular discussions with the electoral community.

I also recognise and agree with the intent behind amendments 165 and 166 in respect of corporate joint committees. However, these amendments are not necessary nor in line with the approach being taken in this instance. The Bill provides the framework for the establishment of CJCs; the details that support their operation will be set out in regulations. This approach is outlined in the consultation on the draft regulations establishing CJCs, launched last month.

I already intend to ensure that corporate joint committees are subject, where appropriate, to the same rules and procedures as principal councils and it's my intention to apply the same Welsh language standards to CJCs as apply to principal councils. My officials have been in discussion with the office of the Welsh Language Commissioner to ensure that the regulations achieve this.

The Welsh language standards will be addressed as part of the general regulations that were referred to in the CJC consultation. Work is already under way to develop these regulations, and it's my intention to ensure that they're in place before the CJCs are required to meet for the first time. On this basis, Llywydd, I ask Members to reject all the amendments in this group. Diolch.