That brings us to item 7, the Representation of the People (Election Expenses Exclusion) (Wales) (Amendment) Order 2020, and I call on the Minister for Housing and Local Government to move the motion—Julie James. 

Motion NDM7468 Rebecca Evans

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5:

1. Approves that the draft The Representation of the People (Election Expenses Exclusion) (Wales) (Amendment) Order 2020 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 7 October 2020.

Motion moved.

Diolch, Llywydd. I'm very pleased to bring this Order before you today, which will exclude from elections expenses costs that relate to a candidate's disability and Welsh translation of campaign materials.

Currently, any expenses incurred by a candidate, or a political party, as a result of reasonable adjustments relating to an impairment, such as the need for the provision of a British Sign Language interpreter, are included in either the candidate's expenses or the political party's overall campaign expenditure limits. By introducing this Order for Senedd and local government elections in Wales, disabled candidates will no longer be disadvantaged by having to declare the costs of their necessary support against their expense limits. The Order will also exclude from the expenses regime the cost of translating campaign materials to or from Welsh for candidates or political parties campaigning in devolved elections in Wales. This will support existing Welsh language legislation in ensuring that English and Welsh are treated equally.

The Welsh Government has considered many different sources of evidence in developing this policy, including its own Diversity in Democracy programme, the Senedd Commission's consultation paper 'Creating a Parliament for Wales' and UK and Scottish Government funding schemes for disabled candidates. Alongside our recently announced pilot access to elected office fund, which will support disabled candidates in Wales to stand for election, this Order will facilitate a more diverse democratic representation. More disabled candidates may be inclined to stand for election if spending on reasonable adjustments does not have to be included within their expenses limits.

This Order contributes to the well-being of future generations in Wales. It promotes equality, ensuring that elected representatives can reflect the diversity of the area that they serve. It supports the goal of a thriving Welsh language, by ensuring that translation costs are no longer a barrier to candidacy and bilingual campaigning. So I'm very pleased to bring this Order before you today, so that we might better support disabled candidates, improve democratic representation in the future, and facilitate the use of Welsh in the democratic process. Since laying the Order, we have been made aware of a minor non-operative correction that is required. Assuming the Order is passed today, the correction will be carried out before the Order is made. Therefore, it will not be incorrect when put into effect. I look forward to hearing the views of Members. Diolch.

The Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, Mick Antoniw.

Mick Antoniw. Can the microphone be unmuted? Yes. There you go.

There was a delay in the sign coming up. Diolch, Llywydd. The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee considered the Order at our meeting on 19 October and our report contains only one merits point. As the Minister has outlined, the Order makes amendments to three items of election-related legislation. The amendments being made have the effect of exempting expenses relating to a candidate's disability, as she indicated, from a candidate's election expenses, for local government and for Senedd elections. The amendments also have the effect of excluding the costs incurred by or attributable to the translation of anything from English to Welsh, or vice versa, from both the candidate's expenses and a political party's campaign expenditure limits. This is in accordance with the principle that Welsh should be treated no less favourably than English, as provided by the Welsh Language Act 1993. Our merits point, a reporting point, noted the range of consultation undertaken by the Welsh Government on this Order, in particular the Government's consultation with the Electoral Commission. Diolch, Llywydd.

I have no other speakers on this item. Does the Minister wish to respond?

No.

Okay. The proposal is we agree the motion. Does any Member object? I see no objections, and therefore the motion is agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.