| WRITTEN RESPONSES TO RICHARD
COMMISSION CONSULTATION |
| |
Letter received from Gareth Williams
dated 28 July 2003
|
| Personal Submission
to the Richard Commission |
| "On the Question of
the powers of the WAG" |
| I have seen no evidence in
the past 4 years that the Assembly, has got to grips with
proper utilisation of the power and authority that has
been already been devolved to the Assembly following the
referendum. |
| I believe that any
extension of these powers yet, including that of Primary
Legislation and Taxation, would be premature, and unnecessary. |
| I submit that there
is no need or demand for any increment to the existing
powers . |
| "On the question of the Number
of Assembly Members" |
| I am not convinced that there
is enough business to fully occupy the time of the existing
members. I note that those directly elected members perform
a function as Constituency representatives, and have responsibilities
arising from their constituency, and a workload from that
constituency responsibility.. |
| I further note that
the "list" members have no automatic constituency duties,
and that they are in a position to pick and choose what
matters they take up, and what time they devote. It seems
to me an injustice that these "list" members have the
same administration allowances, as the directly elected
members. In practical terms it would appear that in the
case of the "list" members, public money is subsidising
their Political and "Leadership" ambitions.. |
| I submit that the
members of the WAG be reduced to 40. |
| "On the question
of proportional representation" |
| I have seen no evidence that
the "top up" members "elected under the present system
of proportional representation perform any useful function
in the WAG, or in the general political life of Wales. |
| I am also concerned that the
present top up list system (D'Hont) returns members disproportional
to the declared wishes of the electorate. There would
not appear to be any justice, logic, or proportionality
in this system. |
| The present system
is not proportional, and hinders the proper utilisation
of the Assembly Powers, and the Governance of Wales. I
submit that there is no desire for, or equity in, the
present D'Hont system of Proportional representation,
and that this should be removed. |
| I further draw your attention
to the efforts of Wayne David MP for Caerphilly, who is
seeking to change the law governing nomination to the
National Assembly. Wayne is seeking Parliamentary powers
to force candidates for the WAG to opt to stand either
as a constituency candidate, or as a "list" candidate,
but not for both at the same Assembly Election |
| Gareth Williams |
| |
|
|
