Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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| What is the
Commission for? |
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The Commission on the Powers and Electoral Arrangements
of the National Assembly for Wales (the Richard Commission)
was appointed in July 2002. Our job is to examine the
powers and electoral arrangements of the Assembly. We
will produce an independent report, and this report
will contribute to decisions on the future of the National
Assembly and the way Wales is governed in the future.
Click here to read
the full Terms of Reference
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| What issues
is the Commission looking at? |
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The Commission’s brief is to look at the powers and
electoral arrangements of the National Assembly for
Wales. The issues the Commission will be looking at
include three distinct elements:
Whether the size of the Assembly is adequate to its
present job
Whether the present electoral system is sufficiently
representative
Whether any changes would be needed if the Assembly
were to acquire further powers.
Click here
to read The Powers of the National Assembly for Wales
- issues and questions for consultation
Click here
to read the Electoral Arrangements of the National Assembly
for Wales - issues and questions for consultation.
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| How is the
Commission going about its work? |
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The Commission is keen to take a very practical approach
- focusing on detailed examples of how things work at
the moment and how they could be improved. It intends
to base its conclusions on evidence of the practical
implications of the powers currently delegated to the
Assembly and to provide workable solutions to improve
the way Wales is governed.
To achieve this, we are consulting extensively - inviting
written submissions and taking oral evidence from the
public, the political parties, public bodies, business,
the voluntary sector, local government and other institutions
including the Scottish Parliament and Westminster.
Click here
to read progress so far.
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| Who are
the members of the Commission? |
| Chair:
Members:
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Rt Hon Lord Richard of Ammanford
QC
Eira Davies
Tom Jones
Dr Laura McAllister
Peter Price
Ted Rowlands
Vivienne Sugar
Huw Thomas
Sir Michael Wheeler-Booth KCB
Paul Valerio
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Click here
to read further details
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| How were
the members selected? |
In his statement
announcing the establishment of the Commission under Lord
Richard’s chairmanship on 18 April the First Minister
explained that the appointment process would comprise
the selection of:
a. political nominees nominated by the four political
parties in the Assembly; and
b. public appointees chosen through the public appointment
process following public advertisement.
Click here to
read the First Ministers statement
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| Are the
proceedings of the Commission held in public? |
| Yes. The Commission’s
Terms of Reference state that it should meet in public
unless those giving evidence request otherwise or unless,
in exceptional circumstances, the Commission resolves
to meet in private.
Click here
to read the full Terms of Reference
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| Where
does the Commission meet? |
| The Commission
meets in a variety of locations across Wales. Meetings
may also be held outside Wales, eg. In London and Edinburgh,
where key witnessed may be based.
Click here
to read the Calendar of Events
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| Can anyone
give evidence to the Commission, and if so, how? |
| Yes. Anyone wishing
to give evidence to the Commission is asked to send us
a written submission setting out their views and opinions.
Contributors may then be invited to come along and give
further evidence to the Commission in a formal evidence
session, held in public.
Alternatively, those wishing to give evidence may do
so at one of the series of public meetings being held
across Wales.
Click here
to read the Calender of Events
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| Can I
see the evidence that has been presented to the Commission,
and if so, how? |
| Yes. All evidence
submitted to the Commission is published on the website,
unless contributors have indicated that they would prefer
their evidence to remain private. Copies of the evidence
can also be sent to you upon request.
Click here
to read the Library of Evidence
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| When is
the Commission due to report? |
The Commission
is planning to report on its deliberations, including
its recommendations in early 2004. This is slightly later
than originally envisaged, to allow the Commission time
to consider some new issues that will be created as a
result of the recently announced constitutional changes.
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| How can
I contact the Commission? |
You can contact
us in the following ways:
- E-mail richard.commission@wales.gsi.gov.uk
- Telephone 029 2034 4274
- Fax 029 2039 5792
- By writing to the Richard Commission, Caradog House,
1-6 Saint Andrews Place, Cardiff, CF10 3BE
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