Contents

Executive Summary  

a) Conclusions

The Size of the National Assembly – With No Change in Function.  

1.

Most AMs do not have the capacity, knowledge and the expertise to reach all sections of the Constituency/Region they represent.

2.

Community Groups, especially the disadvantaged ones are not empowered enough to access the AMs, this is largely due to a lack of knowledge and understanding of the system.

3.

The quality and the depth of debate in the NAfW is insufficient to take account of all the equality strands that have to be considered.

4.

There is limited strategic approach towards diversity and multi-culturalism within the Welsh Assembly Government.

5.

Large swathes of work need to be done within the WAG and the NAfW that is impossible to fulfil, given the small size (60) of the NAfW’s composition.

6.

Representation is crucial for equality considerations to be successfully implemented and embedded within the psyche of the WAG and the NAfW.

The Size of the Assembly – With Acquisition of Further Powers  

1.

AWEMA’s current engagement with the WAG through consultation documents is having little or no impact. This is due to the fact that powers have not been properly devolved.

2.

As a result of devolution, Government Departments have tended to ignore BME communities’ issues in Wales. This has left the BME Communities of Wales further marginalized.

The Assembly’s Electoral System

1.

Wales is worse off based on the Member: Population ratios when compared to Scotland and Northern Ireland.

2.

If the BME population of Cardiff [as the home to the Assembly] at 8.4% was to be applied to the composition of the Assembly Members, we would have at least 5 BME Assembly Members.

3.

Wales remains hesitant as a nation and lacks confidence even in trying to find its own voice.

4.

Although ‘Communities of Interest’ are recognised in the consultation document, the present system has failed in delivering their participation and contribution to the decision-making processes of the Assembly.

5.

The present Assembly was never meant to include BME communities in its concept of inclusivity.

1.

If the Commission considers that on balance increasing the number of AMs is not the preferred route, AWEMA recommend that an Assembly Sponsored Public Body (ASPB) is established that would consider the eight equality strands in all deliberations of the WAG and the NAfW. This may also be achieved through the strengthening of the EPU and the proposed Single Equalities Body (SEB) being considered by the current Home Secretary.

2.

Due account still needs to be taken of transparency and accountability. This is only possible through (political) representation in the NAfW.

3.

AWEMA would recommend that at a minimum, the size may be increased to 100 members. This is an increase of 40, which could be based on two AMs per constituency plus the 20 "list" members.

4.

AWEMA would however, state that this would only be its recommendation if at least 10% i.e. 10 of the 100 AMs reflect the BME ‘Communities of Interest’.

The size of the Assembly – With the Acquisition of Further Powers

1.

AWEMA would strongly urge the Commission against maintaining the status quo, as far as the present number of Members in the Assembly is concerned. We make this recommendation on the basis that the Members cannot cope with the current level of work.

2.

AWEMA is not confident that the current work or arrangements can be effectively changed to accommodate the extra responsibilities we would propose.

3.

AWEMA recommends that consideration could be given to delegating some of the specific responsibilities to the creation of a new Assembly Sponsored Public Body (ASPB). This could be one that has specific responsibility in ensuring that the "marginalized" strands of equality are effectively embedded in the WAG’s strategies and policies.

4.

AWEMA believes that there is a case for increasing the number of Members if additional powers were conferred on the Assembly. We believe that the size should be determined in reference to the Scottish and Northern Ireland models that would resemble much more closely with the proportions between the Members and the Population.

5.

AWEMA further recommends that when considering an increase in the numbers, that safeguards are in-built to take account of the absence of the ‘Marginalized Equality Strands’ i.e. race, minority religions, and minority languages.

The Assembly’s Electoral System

1.

Whichever system is proposed, it really must ensure that the BME communities are also the decision makers.