| Written Responses To Richard Commission Consultation |
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Letter received from Gareth Williams
dated 28 July 2003
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| 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 |
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