Senedd members vote to let themselves keep working from home

SENEDD members last night voted to let themselves continue working from home.

During the Covid pandemic, sessions moved online, but MSs have returned to Cardiff Bay – at least part of the time – since restrictions have been lifted.

Last night’s motion allowing hybrid working passed with 38 votes in favour and 14 against. There were no abstentions.

The UK Government has told staff they need to return to offices as the provisions that allowed MPs to participate virtually in the House of Commons chamber and select committees lapsed on July 22, 2021 and have not been renewed.

There is backing for the Senedd to remain as a hybrid workspace.

In plenary on Tuesday, a number of MSs took advantage of hybrid working including Plaid Cymru’s Delyth Jewell, Labour’s John Griffiths and Conservative Paul Davies.

Plaid Cymru’s Heledd Fychan spoke in favour of the proposals.

She said she wasn’t backing it for herself but “for those who would never consider that it was a possibility for them to become a Member of the Senedd – people with caring responsibilities, for example, not only with children, but perhaps with an elderly parent or a partner who needs their support; disabled people who think that they could never be here regularly because of their conditions, and the fact that the need to be in Cardiff is a barrier to them thinking that they could be a representative of their region or constituency; and those who live far away too”.

She said hybrid working in the pandemic had helped her when her son had been ill as it allowed her to be a parent, but also represent her constituents.

“There were so many times when I was a county councillor when I was criticised if I missed one meeting because it wasn’t possible to participate in a hybrid manner, as compared to a man who was perhaps retired who could attend all meetings,” she said. “Did that mean that I was a lesser representative of my community because I missed that one meeting?

“The fact that I was then able to be there, with my child at home, while also representing my community, that made a very real difference, because people do use that against you, if you look at just the record of attendance.

“That doesn’t mean that you are not an effective representative.

However, the Conservatives insisted remote working should be ended.

Welsh Conservative Business Manager Darren Millar MS said: “The people of Wales elect people to represent them in the Senedd, not to represent them from their sofa.

“There is no reason for maintaining hybrid meetings of the Senedd or its committees now that the pandemic has subsided.

“If parliaments elsewhere in the UK and around the world are able to meet fully in person then we should too.

“The pairing system between political parties has always been able to accommodate absences from parliaments for those who are ill, bereaved or have caring responsibilities. We don’t need changes to the rules to enable these.”

To draw up the proposal MSs will vote on today, evidence was taken from 35 MSs and two political groups and others. A majority of responses to the survey supported members’ ability to participate remotely continuing in all Senedd proceedings.

Written submissions received from the Labour and Plaid Cymru Senedd groups both supported the continuation of hybrid proceedings for Plenary and committee meetings.

Members stating that remote participation should not continue felt it affected the quality of debates and scrutiny.