6. Statement by the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution: Interim Report of the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:07 pm on 31 January 2023.

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Photo of Rhianon Passmore Rhianon Passmore Labour 5:07, 31 January 2023

Thank you very much, and I also welcome the statement today. Earlier this month, I spoke to my Labour Party membership in Islwyn regarding the work of the commission and the interim report, and my sense from that meeting and wider discussions is that there's still much to be done in totality to communicate the work of the independent commission on the constitutional future of Wales. Because people are understandably trying to get by in the cost-of-living crisis and the pandemic, there is not much space for many in terms of understanding the ins and outs of a theoretical constitutional reform. However, this does affect all of us across Wales, and never a bigger impact on the citizens of Wales with its final conclusion—we cannot underestimate the importance of that. 

I noted that there exists confusion between the work of the independent commission and the well-publicised Welsh Government discussion of Senedd reform, and now the Gordon Brown reportage. I note that there have been 2,000 responses, which is a healthy start, but Wales having a population of three million demands the question: how do we ensure that this is a meaningful local and national conversation? I know that the Llywydd is looking at me.

You stated that the commission has indicated that their intention is, in the next phase of their work, to extend that conversation to the people of Wales, and that's to be welcomed, but that has to be a real and important conversation that stretches across Wales and across our valleys. So, Counsel General, how will this actually manifest itself in reality, as there is a need for that greater dialogue, for the engagement that we all want and that Wales deserves?