Experts call for increase in size of Assembly

LEADING Welsh organisations have joined together to ask decision-makers to back increasing the size of the National Assembly.

The organisations, led by the Electoral Reform Society in Wales (ERS Cymru) have published an open letter outlining their concerns around capacity issues at the Senedd.

Tomorrow an expert panel will publish its recommendations about AM numbers and the kind of electoral system that should be used to elect them from 2021,

The letter argues that a strain on the Assembly is having direct consequences on the working of the Senedd, stating: “The Assembly’s limited capacity is becoming increasingly evident and is directly impacting AMs’ ability to properly scrutinise laws, which themselves have a direct effect on the services provided to the people of Wales.”

Jess Blair, ERS Cymru Director, said: “As organisations working in civil society in Wales, we are noticing a serious strain on the Assembly in terms of being able to have the impact it should.

“We have to remember that the Assembly has changed immeasurably from the institution that was established in 1999, with a raft of new powers, the ability to legislate and to raise its own finances.

“With Wales losing all of its MEPs in 2019, and many European laws headed for Cardiff Bay, Wales will have more powers but with fewer representatives for voters.

“Brexit therefore presents a challenge for the Senedd which must be met. We are writing to decision-makers because a stronger, more effective Assembly is vital in order to give our Welsh Parliament the capacity it needs to improve the lives of people in Wales.”

The letter has been sent to all Welsh AMs, MPs and other decision makers.