New committee structure strengthens scrutiny in the National Assembly for Wales
22 June 2011
The National Assembly for Wales approved a new committee structure today during its Plenary meeting (22 June 2011).
The structure includes five committees which will have a dual role of looking at both policy and legislation.
These committees will look at the following broad subject areas: Children & Young People; Environment & Sustainability; Health & Social Care; Communities, Equality & Local Government; and Enterprise & Business.
In addition, there will be a Petitions Committee, Public Accounts Committee, Finance Committee, Standards Committee and a committee overseeing Constitutional and Legislative Affairs.
“The new committee system means that the detailed subject knowledge of individual Members will be brought to bear on the scrutiny of legislation as well as government policy. And so, at the same time as simplifying the system, the Assembly is also creating the structure and environment for better scrutiny of Bills, policy and finance.” said Presiding Officer, Rosemary Butler AM.
“I am confident that this change will make it easier for the people of Wales to engage with the Assembly’s proceedings. It will provide the window for smaller organisations to get involved in our work and so better reflect the interests and needs of Welsh voters.
Titles |
Members |
Chair |
|---|---|---|
Children and young people (10 members) |
Labour: Christine Chapman, Keith Davies, Julie Morgan, Lynne Neagle and Jenny Rathbone Conservatives: Angela Burns and Suzy Davies Plaid Cymru: Simon Thomas, Jocelyn Davies Liberal Democrats: Kirsty Williams |
Labour: Christine Chapman |
Environment and sustainability (10 members) |
Labour: Mick Antoniw, Rebecca Evans, Vaughan Gething, Julie James and David Rees Conservatives: Antoinette Sandbach and Russell George Plaid Cymru: Dafydd Elis-Thomas, Llyr Huws Gruffydd Liberal Democrats: William Powell |
Plaid: Dafydd Elis-Thomas |
Health and social care (10 members) |
Labour: Mick Antoniw, Mark Drakeford, Rebecca Evans, Vaughan Gething and Lynne Neagle Conservatives: Darren Millar and Janet Finch-Saunders Plaid Cymru: Elin Jones, Lindsay Whittle Liberal Democrats: Kirsty Williams |
Labour: Mark Drakeford |
Communities, equality and local government (10 members) |
Labour: Mike Hedges, Ann Jones, Gwyn Price, Ken Skates and Joyce Watson Conservatives: Mark Isherwood and William Graham Plaid Cymru: Rhodri Glyn Thomas, Bethan Jenkins Liberal Democrats: Peter Black |
Labour: Ann Jones |
Enterprise and Business (10 members) |
Labour: Keith Davies, Julie James, David Rees, Ken Skates and Joyce Watson Conservatives: Andrew RT Davies and Byron Davies Plaid Cymru: Alun Ffred Jones, Leanne Wood Liberal Democrats: William Powell |
Conservatives: Andrew RT Davies |
Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee (1 from each party + Deputy Presiding Officer) |
Labour: Julie James Conservatives: Antoinette Sanbach Plaid Cymru: Simon Thomas Liberal Democrats: Peter Black |
Deputy Presiding Officer: David Melding |
Finance (8 members) |
Labour: Christine Chapman, Julie Morgan, Ann Jones Mike Hedges Conservatives: Nick Ramsay Plaid Cymru: Ieuan Wyn Jones, Jocelyn Davies Liberal Democrats: Peter Black |
Plaid: Jocelyn Davies |
Public Accounts Committee (8 members) |
Labour: Mike Hedges, Gwyn Price, Jenny Rathbone Julie Morgan Conservatives: Darren Millar and Mohammad Asghar Plaid Cymru: Leanne Wood Liberal Democrats: Peter Black |
Conservatives: Darren Millar |
Petitions (4 members) |
Labour: Joyce Watson Conservatives: Russell George Plaid Cymru: Bethan Jenkins Liberal Democrats: William Powell |
Liberal Democrats: William Powell |
Standards (4 members) |
Labour: Mick Antoniw Conservatives: Mark Isherwood Plaid Cymru: Llyr Huws Gruffydd Liberal Democrats: Kirsty Williams |
Labour: Mick Antoniw |