Contents
— Overview
— Attending a committee meeting as a witness
Preparing to be a witness
Reading through this guide is one of the best ways to prepare for a committee meeting.
Before the meeting you can contact the committee clerking team who can:
- talk you through how committees work
- explain why you’ve been invited to be a witness
- give information about who else has been invited
Before the meeting you can also:
- look at the work a committee has already done
- watch other witnesses give evidence to committees on Senedd.tv
Who is at a committee meeting?
You’ll see a number of people in the meeting, or in the public gallery if you attend a committee meeting on site.
Members of the Senedd: from different political groups, one of the Members chairs the committee. Find out which Members of the Senedd belong to the committee you’re attending.
Clerks: responsible for preparing and organising meetings, and the overall running of committees. They’re your main point of contact.
Researchers: impartial subject experts who support committee members and committees.
Legal advisers: advise on points of law and any legal issues.
Record of Proceedings officials: produce a full transcript of what is said in committee.
Translators and broadcasting engineers: provide translation from Welsh to English (or other languages, if requested in advance,) and make sure the technology runs smoothly.
Public (including journalists): can watch in the public gallery.
Security officers: if you join the meeting onsite.
Can other people attend committee meetings?
Whatever the format of the meeting, witnesses usually give evidence in public.
This means that members of the public can sit in the public gallery for any meetings held on-site or in hybrid format, or can watch live or later on Senedd.tv.
What should I do if I don’t want to be a witness?
Your welfare
Your welfare is important to us. If you have any concerns about giving oral evidence, contact the committee staff who invited you. We can discuss your concerns with you and advise on next steps.
Privacy
Committees try to be as open and transparent in their work as they can be. However, if you have specific reasons why you want to protect your identity or particular concerns about your privacy, please contact the committee clerking team who invited you. They can discuss this with you and consider possible arrangements.
Claiming expenses
If the cost of attending committee is a barrier for you, get in touch with the committee clerking team to discuss options for support.