Members of the National Assembly for Wales have been raising issues of topical interest in new 90-second slots in Plenary.
The move, proposed by Llywydd Elin Jones AM, and adopted by the Business Committee, means that a five minute slot is set aside each Wednesday for at least three Assembly Members to make a statement.
The Assembly is be the first legislature in the UK to introduce this mechanism which is already in operation in other parliaments such as Australia and Canada.
Any Member may make a 90-second statement on any subject of concern and can use the statements to, for example:
- raise matters of pressing concern to their constituents;
- draw attention to local issues;
- mark anniversaries or significant dates;
- pay tributes.
In the event of the item being over-subscribed, the Llywydd uses her discretion to select at least three statements based on the information provided.
This week's statements were made by, Neath AM Jeremy Miles, who spoke on the Neath Abbey Ironworks (Video):
Newport East AM John Griffiths, who spoke on the 177th anniversary of the Chartist Uprising (Video):
South Wales West AM Caroline Jones, who spoke on Sandville Self Help Centre in Ton Kenfig near Bridgend (Video).
"One of my key aims since being elected Llywydd has been to inject greater vibrancy into Plenary proceedings by allocating time for new types of business," the Llywydd said.
"I have already secured the agreement of the Business Committee to introduce statements from committee chairs at an early stage of committee inquiries to raise awareness and engagement.
"Members' Statements are used widely in other Commonwealth parliaments, primarily to provide Members with an opportunity to make short statements, without notice, on a current issue or matter of interest to their constituents or the general public."
"The Assembly is a modern democratic institution and we should always be looking to make our work more relevant to, and inclusive of, the people of Wales."