James Evans MS questioned the Counsel General on the Senedd expansion plans and a recent statement by the First Minister that there is an intention that the legislation would allow the Welsh Government to have up to 19 Ministers. James went on to outline the costs of this. James said “If they were full Ministers with Special Advisors the cost would be £869,000. If they were Deputy Ministers with Standard Special Advisers it would be £645,000”. Senedd expansion plans are the most significant shake-up to elections since the Senedd was founded back in 1999. As well as proposing to increase the number of Senedd Members from 60 up to 96, there are also plans to change the voting system and introduce gender quotas.
It has been estimated that in the first five years, Senedd expansion from its current 60 members up to 96 members, would cost in the region of £100 million.
James Evans MS said “I am sure that many people would rather see this money spent on vital public services and to those in need, not creating more politicians in Cardiff Bay. I and my Welsh Conservative colleagues are calling for a referendum on plans to expand the number of politicians in the Welsh Parliament.”
