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Response from Usk & District Labour Party to the
Richard Commission
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The Branch discussed the questions raised
by the Commission, at its meeting on 24th June
and wishes to comment as follows.
- Some of the issues raised are matters for those
with a close working knowledge of the Assembly and
the Branch felt that it could not usefully comment
on these.
- The Branch strongly disapproves of the additional
member system. The additional members do not have
constituency responsibilities and it is difficult
to see that they have a useful role. It is particularly
unfortunate when candidates who are rejected by the
electors have a second bite of the cherry by virtue
of being on the list and this possibility should be
closed off. If the system is abandoned and an element
of PR is sought, this could be achieved by the single
alternative vote but the Branch did not wish to exclude
other ways of doing so.
- The Branch did not see the need for a greater number
of AMs.
- Some of the high visibility policies adopted by
the Assembly (e.g., abolition of 7 year old SATs and
free buses for the over 60s) were welcomed. The Branch
had the impression that existing powers were used
effectively but it did not have detailed information.
The Branch would favour, at some future stage, the
granting of tax raising powers and responsibility
for primary legislation but did not feel that the
Assembly was ready for this immediately.
David Collard
Branch Secretary
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