The next item, therefore, is the Local Authorities (Amendments Relating to Publication of Information) (Wales) Regulations 2022. I call on the Minister for Finance and Local Government to move the motion. Rebecca Evans.

Motion NDM7966 Lesley Griffiths

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

1. Approves that the draft The Local Authorities (Amendments Relating to Publication of Information) (Wales) Regulations 2022 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 8 March 2022.

Motion moved.

Diolch, Llywydd. I welcome the opportunity to bring forward these amending regulations today. The Local Authorities (Amendments Relating to Publication of Information) (Wales) Regulations 2022 will remove the requirement to make members of principal councils' addresses available to the public. As part of our approach to ensure the safety of elected members in local government, we are committed to replace the requirement for home addresses to be publicised in favour of an official address.

Section 100G(1)(a) of the Local Government Act 1972 requires a principal council to maintain a register, stating the name and address of every member of a council. Similar provision exists in section 100G(1)(b) in respect of members of a committee or sub-committee. Section 100G(4) requires this register to be open for inspection by the public at the offices of the council. Regulation 12 of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Decisions, Documents and Meetings) (Wales) Regulations 2001 contains a similar requirement with respect to members of the executive of county and county borough councils, including members of committees and sub-committees of the executive.

To deliver on our commitment, section 43 of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 places a duty on principal councils to publish an electronic and postal address for correspondence for each council member. This does not have to be a home address. This provision will come into force from 5 May 2022. For consistency in our approach, these regulations will amend section 100G of the 1972 Act and regulation 12 of the 2001 regulations to provide that the information open to inspection must not include a member's address included in the registers.

We know these changes will not in themselves resolve issues of safety. They are, however, part of a wider set of arrangements that aim to reinforce the importance of protecting members' rights to have a private life free of harm and harassment. I ask Members to approve these regulations today and, Llywydd, I'm grateful to colleagues from across the Chamber for indicating to me that they are keen to support them. Diolch.

Indeed, there's nobody else who wants to contribute in this debate on this particular issue, so I take it that the Minister doesn't want to respond, so I'll ask the question. The proposal is to agree the motion. Does any Member object? No, there is no objection. Therefore, the motion is agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.