Senedd Commission

The Senedd Commission is the statutory corporate body that supports the Senedd, the devolved legislature of Wales. It is responsible for ensuring that Members of the Senedd have the buildings, facilities, employees, information, technology and administrative services required to legislate, scrutinise the Welsh Government and represent the people of Wales. Unlike the Welsh Government, which exercises executive and policy-making functions, the Commission serves the legislature and is intended to operate independently of the government it scrutinises. The Commission was created by the Government of Wales Act 2006 in connection with the expansion of the National Assembly for Wales's legislative and scrutiny powers. The legislation separated the Welsh legislature from the Welsh Government and established the Assembly Commission as a distinct legal body. Following the constitutional and naming changes that took effect in 2020, the National Assembly for Wales became the Senedd Cymru or Welsh Parliament and the Assembly Commission became the Senedd Commission. The Commission is made up of the Llywydd, who chairs the Senedd, and four other Members of the Senedd. The additional members are appointed under the Senedd's standing orders so that the principal political groups represented in the legislature can participate, with no more than one additional member normally coming from the same group. Commissioners oversee strategic direction, corporate performance, standards, values, organisational change and the effective use of public resources. They also have designated responsibilities covering areas such as finance, the Senedd estate, information and digital services, equality, the Welsh language, sustainability and Members' support. Its statutory responsibilities include acquiring, managing or disposing of property; employing Senedd staff; arranging Members' salaries, allowances and pensions; and providing the services necessary for the Senedd to function. The Commission also has powers to support public understanding of devolved government in Wales and of the electoral system used, or proposed for use, in Senedd elections. Such activity may involve information and education programmes or grants to other organisations. The Commission is supported by the Commission and Support Service, led by the chief executive and clerk of the Senedd. It operates under corporate governance, financial, procurement, information, equality, health and safety, records-management and Welsh-language frameworks. It must publish an annual report describing how it has exercised its functions and must prepare annual accounts for audit by the Auditor General for Wales. The institution is therefore both a service organisation for the Senedd and an accountable public body in its own right. The Commission is not a commercial brand, retailer or product manufacturer. Its principal public-facing offering is the institutional support that enables Wales's democratic legislature to operate accessibly, bilingually and effectively. Its work includes maintaining the Senedd's estate, supporting plenary and committee proceedings, managing parliamentary information and visitor services, providing research and procedural assistance, and sustaining the workforce and systems on which the legislature depends.

The institutional history of the Senedd Commission is linked to the development of devolved government in Wales. The original National Assembly for Wales was established in 1999. In its early years, the legislature and the Welsh executive were closely connected institutionally. The Government of Wales Act 2006 created a clearer constitutional separation by establishing the Welsh Government as a legally distinct executive and the National Assembly for Wales Commission as the legislature's corporate body. The 2006 Act gave the Commission responsibility for the property, staff and services required for the Assembly's purposes. This included responsibility for the parliamentary estate, staffing, Members' remuneration and support, corporate systems, financial administration and the practical arrangements needed for legislative and scrutiny work. The legislation also provided powers to promote public awareness of devolved government and of the electoral system for the legislature, including through information, education and grant-making activities. The first full Assembly Commission followed the 2007 election and the implementation of the new constitutional arrangements. The Commission consisted of the Presiding Officer, later known as the Llywydd, together with four other Members nominated by the political groups represented in the legislature. Its governance role developed beyond the management of routine administration: commissioners set strategic objectives, considered organisational performance, approved standards and values, oversaw major change and encouraged innovation in parliamentary services. The senior official supporting the corporate body is the chief executive and clerk. The post evolved from the Clerk to the Assembly and was expanded in 2007 to reflect the legislature's enhanced powers and the need for a senior official to lead an organisation independent of the Welsh Government. The chief executive and clerk is responsible for ensuring that the legislature receives the property, staff and services required for its work, while also supporting the development of an accessible and trusted democratic institution. The Commission's corporate framework has included policies on equality of opportunity, sustainable development, health and safety, the Welsh language, governance, financial standards, staff conduct, public-interest disclosures, records management, freedom-of-information publication, procurement, risk, information security and business continuity. These policies reflect the distinctive requirements of a bilingual devolved legislature and the accountability expected of a public body funded from public resources. The constitutional identity of the institution changed in 2020 when the National Assembly for Wales became the Senedd Cymru or Welsh Parliament. The corporate body consequently adopted the name Senedd Commission. The change altered the name and public presentation of the legislature without changing the Commission's core function: providing the independent infrastructure and services that allow Members to legislate, scrutinise government and engage with the public. The Commission publishes annual reporting and accounts, which provide the principal formal record of its performance, expenditure and stewardship. Its work remains largely institutional rather than commercial. It supports successive Senedds and their Members across electoral periods, while maintaining continuity in parliamentary administration, staff expertise, buildings, technology, public access and democratic education.

• 2020

  National Assembly and Assembly Commission receive new names

  [1]Senedd Commissionen.wikipedia.org

  The National Assembly for Wales becomes the Senedd Cymru or Welsh Parliament, and the National Assembly for Wales Commission becomes the Senedd Commission.

• 2007

  Assembly Commission becomes operational under the new settlement

  [1]Senedd Commissionen.wikipedia.org

  Following the 2007 election and the implementation of the 2006 Act, the Commission operates as a corporate body separate from the Welsh Government and adopts an expanded chief executive and clerk role.

• 2006

  Government of Wales Act establishes the corporate body

  [1]Senedd Commissionen.wikipedia.org

  The Government of Wales Act 2006 creates the National Assembly for Wales Commission and defines its responsibility for the property, staff and services required by the legislature.

• 1999

  National Assembly for Wales begins operating

  [1]Senedd Commissionen.wikipedia.org

  The devolved Welsh legislature begins operating, creating the institutional setting from which the later Assembly Commission develops.

An independent, non-commercial parliamentary support body focused on enabling the Senedd to perform its legislative, scrutiny and representative functions.

• Legislative administration · 2007

  Parliamentary support services

  Administrative, procedural, research, information, committee and chamber support that enables Members of the Senedd to debate, legislate, scrutinise the Welsh Government and undertake representative work. These services are delivered through the Commission and Support Service rather than sold as commercial products.

• Property and facilities management · 2007

  Senedd estate and facilities

  The Commission acquires, manages and maintains the property, buildings, meeting spaces, technology infrastructure and facilities needed for the Senedd's work. The function also supports access for Members, staff, visitors and the public.

• Public-sector employment and remuneration administration · 2007

  Member and staff services

  The Commission employs Senedd staff and arranges Members' pay, allowances, pensions and related support. These functions help maintain the legislature's independence and provide consistent administrative arrangements across Senedd terms.

• Civic engagement · 2007

  Public awareness and education

  The Commission may promote public understanding of devolved government in Wales and of the current or proposed electoral system for the Senedd. Its statutory powers allow information and education programmes and grants to other bodies for related activities.

• 2020

  Adoption of the Senedd Commission nameStrategy

  Background

  The Welsh legislature changed its name from the National Assembly for Wales to the Senedd Cymru or Welsh Parliament as part of wider constitutional and public-identity changes.

  Action taken

  The corporate body adopted the name Senedd Commission, aligning its identity with the renamed legislature while retaining its statutory support role.

  Aftermath

  The Commission continued to provide property, staff and services for the Welsh legislature under the Senedd identity.

  Source

1. 1Senedd Commissionen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Government of Wales Act 2006legislation.gov.uk