This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-40263684
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Assembly set to be renamed Welsh Parliament | Assembly set to be renamed Welsh Parliament |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The National Assembly for Wales is set to be renamed the Welsh Parliament after it was backed in a consultation. | The National Assembly for Wales is set to be renamed the Welsh Parliament after it was backed in a consultation. |
| Sixty-one percent of nearly 3,000 responses agreed to a change of name, with nearly three-quarters backing Welsh Parliament as the best option. | Sixty-one percent of nearly 3,000 responses agreed to a change of name, with nearly three-quarters backing Welsh Parliament as the best option. |
| A law to change the name is expected to pass before the 2021 election. | A law to change the name is expected to pass before the 2021 election. |
| Presiding Officer Elin Jones hoped people would "more fully understand the powers of the Assembly and the role it plays in their lives". | Presiding Officer Elin Jones hoped people would "more fully understand the powers of the Assembly and the role it plays in their lives". |
| The assembly was given the power to rename itself under the 2017 Wales Act. Assembly members had unanimously backed the idea last July after which it was put out to public consultation. | The assembly was given the power to rename itself under the 2017 Wales Act. Assembly members had unanimously backed the idea last July after which it was put out to public consultation. |
| Publishing the responses on Tuesday, Ms Jones said: "Our role today is as a full parliamentary body, with the power to pass laws and agree taxes, and we must continue to work hard to inspire the confidence, trust and pride in the people we serve. | Publishing the responses on Tuesday, Ms Jones said: "Our role today is as a full parliamentary body, with the power to pass laws and agree taxes, and we must continue to work hard to inspire the confidence, trust and pride in the people we serve. |
| "A change of name alone will not do that, but it is part of a wider package of reforms that I believe will play an important role in improving understanding of our national democratic legislature." | "A change of name alone will not do that, but it is part of a wider package of reforms that I believe will play an important role in improving understanding of our national democratic legislature." |
| Sixty percent of people responding to the consultation said they did not agree that the role of the assembly was well understood. | Sixty percent of people responding to the consultation said they did not agree that the role of the assembly was well understood. |
| Just over a fifth of respondents - 22.6% - who responded to the survey said they strongly disagreed or disagreed with the assembly's name changing. | Just over a fifth of respondents - 22.6% - who responded to the survey said they strongly disagreed or disagreed with the assembly's name changing. |
| Legislation on assembly reforms - including the change of name - will be published by the Assembly Commission in 2018. | Legislation on assembly reforms - including the change of name - will be published by the Assembly Commission in 2018. |
| They will include rules on disqualification of assembly members and the design of the committee system. | They will include rules on disqualification of assembly members and the design of the committee system. |
| The commission proposes that assembly members will in future be known as Welsh Parliament Members (WPMs), in keeping with the current title of Assembly Members. | The commission proposes that assembly members will in future be known as Welsh Parliament Members (WPMs), in keeping with the current title of Assembly Members. |
| The option was the second least-favoured option according to a summary of the survey conducted for the consultation - with 11.1% of respondents preferring it over other suggestions. | The option was the second least-favoured option according to a summary of the survey conducted for the consultation - with 11.1% of respondents preferring it over other suggestions. |
| The most popular alternatives were Member of the Welsh Parliament, preferred by 30%, while 28.4% liked Member of the Senedd. | The most popular alternatives were Member of the Welsh Parliament, preferred by 30%, while 28.4% liked Member of the Senedd. |
| In Welsh Welsh Parliament would be known as Senedd Cymru, while Welsh Parliament Members would be Aelodau o Senedd Cymru. | In Welsh Welsh Parliament would be known as Senedd Cymru, while Welsh Parliament Members would be Aelodau o Senedd Cymru. |
| Cost assurances | Cost assurances |
| Conservative AM Suzy Davies, Assembly Commissioner with responsibility for budget and governance, said the assembly would not "waste resources by rushing to make the change", noting that some people responding to the consultation were worried about the cost. | Conservative AM Suzy Davies, Assembly Commissioner with responsibility for budget and governance, said the assembly would not "waste resources by rushing to make the change", noting that some people responding to the consultation were worried about the cost. |
| "We will legislate in the near future but, until then, the institution will continue to be known officially by its current statutory name, the National Assembly for Wales, in order to avoid confusion and to minimise cost and disruption," she said. | "We will legislate in the near future but, until then, the institution will continue to be known officially by its current statutory name, the National Assembly for Wales, in order to avoid confusion and to minimise cost and disruption," she said. |
| There have long been calls to call the assembly a Welsh Parliament. | There have long been calls to call the assembly a Welsh Parliament. |
| Welsh Tory leader Andrew RT Davies made the suggestion in 2012. | Welsh Tory leader Andrew RT Davies made the suggestion in 2012. |
| 'Normalise' | 'Normalise' |
| On Tuesday, Mr Davies said: "The assembly has clearly evolved into a parliament, and it's only right that this is now reflected in its name." | On Tuesday, Mr Davies said: "The assembly has clearly evolved into a parliament, and it's only right that this is now reflected in its name." |
| In the consultation First Minister Carwyn Jones said in his view the name Welsh Parliament, with members to be known as Member of the Welsh Parliament, were the best options, "both for constitutional consistency and to enhance public understanding of its role". | In the consultation First Minister Carwyn Jones said in his view the name Welsh Parliament, with members to be known as Member of the Welsh Parliament, were the best options, "both for constitutional consistency and to enhance public understanding of its role". |
| Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood also welcomed the name change, saying the assembly's stature and confidence had evolved over time. | |
| "There is still a long way to go, but changing the name of the institution to reflect its parliamentary status is a positive step forward," she said. | |
| But Heledd Gwyndaf, chair of Welsh language campaign group Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, said the assembly would miss "an opportunity to normalise the use of Welsh" if it it did not choose "Senedd" as the only name. | |
| "The word 'Senedd' is one the public in general understands and supports; the name is already used widely among both Welsh and non-Welsh speakers. We as a group will consider what steps we can take to influence the legislation when it's published," she added. | "The word 'Senedd' is one the public in general understands and supports; the name is already used widely among both Welsh and non-Welsh speakers. We as a group will consider what steps we can take to influence the legislation when it's published," she added. |