3. Statement by the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution: The Legislative Programme

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:13 pm on 6 July 2021.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Jenny Rathbone Jenny Rathbone Labour 3:13, 6 July 2021

I just wanted to press you a little bit on how we could improve and enhance electoral registration, because it seems to me that one of the most important things is that everybody is entitled to take part in elections, because if we have a large number of people not taking part, it really does undermine the democratic mandate of whoever is elected. So, this seems to me to be absolutely crucial to ensure that it’s made easy. If only we could cross-reference who’s on the electoral register with other bureaucratic transactions that citizens have to conduct, for example relating to renewing their driving licence and things like that. It would certainly enhance our ability to have accurate electoral registration, because I know, in my constituency, at least 20 per cent of the register is no longer at the place that they’re registered. So, it’s a huge problem, but one that we really do need to address.

On the business about clean air, I am also disappointed, certainly, because I really want to test the enthusiasm of the opposition parties to really want to go ahead with clean air. There are two issues here, two contributors: one is industry—