Item 6 is next, namely the Representation of the People (Amendment) (Wales) (Coronavirus) (No. 2) Regulations 2021. I call on the Minister for Finance and Local Government to move the motion. Rebecca Evans.

Motion NDM7821 Lesley Griffiths

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

1. Approves that the draft The Representation of the People (Amendment) (Wales) (Coronavirus) (No. 2) Regulations 2021 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 26 October 2021.

Motion moved.

Diolch, Llywydd. Elections are essential to our democracy. Anything that impacts them should be taken seriously, so I am pleased to bring these regulations before you and to hear the views of colleagues in the Chamber today on the Representation of the People (Amendment) (Wales) (Coronavirus) (No. 2) Regulations 2021.

I want to ensure that local by-elections are conducted safely and in a way that maximises the opportunity for everyone to cast their vote. Proxy votes allow people who cannot vote in person to have a trusted person vote on their behalf. In addition, emergency proxy votes are available up to 5 p.m. on the day of the election for certain medical reasons. The Representation of the People (Amendment) (Wales) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2021, which came into force on 25 February this year, expanded these reasons to include those who are self-isolating or following Government advice in relation to COVID-19. This ensured that emergency proxies were available to all electors who were required to self-isolate but who also wished to participate in local government by-elections. Without those amended regulations, a group of people might be disenfranchised for following Government advice, meaning that they will not be able to leave the house to vote in person. The emergency proxy votes for reasons of COVID-19 were also made available at the Senedd elections. The Electoral Commission's report on the May 2021 elections, which included some by-elections, reported that of all proxies appointed, 5 per cent were emergency proxies and 2 per cent were due to COVID-19, and that this option is an important part of elections whilst requirements to isolate remain.

The Deputy Presiding Officer took the Chair.

The Representation of the People (Amendment) (Wales) (Coronavirus) (No. 2) Regulations 2021 temporarily extend these provisions to 28 March 2022. After this date, no local by-elections of any kind may be held before the ordinary local elections in May. We will consider separately what arrangements will need to be in place for the local government ordinary elections in May next year. I am grateful to the Members of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for their expedited consideration of these regulations and I look forward to hearing the views of Members.

I call on the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, Huw Irranca-Davies.

Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. We considered these regulations at our meeting yesterday, following a request from the Welsh Government to expedite our scrutiny, and our report to the Senedd contains two merits reporting points.

As the Minister has already said, these regulations allow for electors to apply for an emergency proxy vote at certain local government by-elections held between the coming into force of these regulations and 28 March 2022. This will allow the electors to comply with the relevant legislation, Welsh Government advice, or the advice of a registered medical practitioner in relation to coronavirus.

Our first reporting point is that there has been no formal consultation on these regulations due to their emergency nature and the expedited timetable, and we have drawn attention to the relevant extracts from the explanatory memorandum accompanying the regulations relating to this.

Our second reporting point highlighted inconsistencies between the English and Welsh language explanatory memoranda, which may have caused confusion about the effect of the regulations. And we do note that these errors have now been corrected and that a revised explanatory memorandum has been laid. Diolch, Gweinidog a diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd.

There are no other speakers. Minister, do you want to make a further contribution?

Thank you. I would just like to—I think I'm—. I'm not on mute—apologies. I'd just like to thank again the committee for their work in this area, and stress how important these regulations are, because there are a small number of local by-elections taking place in the autumn for recently announced vacancies, so these regulations will help people to have their say in those elections. Diolch yn fawr.

Thank you, Minister. The proposal is to agree the motion. Does any Member object? No. The motion is therefore agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.