The Senedd and Election (Wales) Act 2020 was passed by the Senedd earlier this year. It made the Electoral Commission accountable to the Senedd for the work it does in relation to devolved Welsh elections and referendums and made provisions for the funding of such work from the Welsh Consolidated Fund (Wales’ bank account).
The Act required the Senedd to establish the Llywydd’s Committee. to scrutinise the Commission’s financial estimate and its planned activities relating to devolved Welsh elections and referendums.
You can read more about the other provisions of the Senedd and Election (Wales) Act 2020 in our previous article.
What did the Llywydd’s Committee find?
The Committee published its report on 20 November. Overall, it was satisfied with the Commission’s financial estimate for 2021-22 and its five-year plan.
However, the report highlighted that the Electoral Commission’s financial estimate was less detailed than other bodies already funded by the Welsh Consolidated Fund such as Audit Wales. The report noted:
The estimate submitted included broad headings and costs, with limited explanation of the specific costs included in each budget line.
The Committee asked for more detailed estimates to be submitted in the future.
The Committee noted that the Electoral Commission’s corporate plan for 2021-25 was “prepared prior to the devolution of the Commission’s funding and accountability arrangements taking effect and that a new plan will be prepared soon”. It highlighted:
The plan submitted does not include details of how the EC’s functions in relation to devolved Welsh elections and devolved Welsh referendums will be carried out.
The Committee recommended that the Electoral Commission’s new corporate plan should include:
- detailed information on its planned activities relating to devolved Welsh elections and referendums; and
- performance measures specific to its Welsh activities.
What happens next?
The Electoral Commission’s financial estimate laid by the Committee will be included in the Annual Budget Motion to be agreed by the Senedd.
The Committee will also input into the Commission’s new corporate plan which will be submitted during the second half of 2021.
Article by Christian Tipples, Senedd Research, Welsh Parliament
