Presiding Officer calls for three votes on one day

Constitutionally, I have no objection to the proposed UK AV referendum and the NAW general election coinciding. I am strongly in favour of voter convenience, and rationalisation of expenditure on polling arrangements. I am also in favour of both the UK Parliament and NAW general elections coinciding in 2′015, especially as constituencies are to be decoupled in Wales as in Scotland.

There remains the issue of the timing of the Part 4 referendum. I see no constitutional case for postponing the NAW general election, neither in 2011 nor 2015. Fixed terms are fixed terms, and only a national emergency of foot and mouth proportions could justify postponement in my view. A monthly series of polling events is hardly conducive to voter participation, a key issue in my opinion, as you know.

We also have to have regard in exercising constitutional principles to the socio-economic realities, and treat the electorate with the respect they deserve as active citizens. These reasons drive me to argue strongly for not incurring additional expenditure on polling during the next four years. Government whether UK or Welsh should practice what they preach in these times. The DPM in his statement estimated a saving of £ 17m throughout the UK by holding a referendum on a devolved general election day.

Holding a NAW referendum also on the same day would be a further saving, and preferable to holding a campaign and a poll in late winter to early spring 2011 .

However if it is argued that the additional expense of a separate referendum polling day is regarded as value for money then it should surely be held on a date conducive to stimulating voter participation, the regular windows of polling dates in late spring and early autumn. The DPM’s statement also alluded to the length and form of a referendum question. You will know my views on this already and I was pleased to see the DPM state that a question should be simple and direct and inviting a direct answer. I would hope that this reflects UK Government policy and that we can expect a consistent approach in all referendum questions. This matter was also very clearly addressed in the House of Lords’ Constitution Committee report on referendum-related issues last April, a report which has much influenced my thinking in these matters.

As the decisions on all polling arrangements rest with you I hope you can take all these and other arguments into account, but in particular that you are able to consult the most important stakeholders in all this, the electorate itself. How and when would the people of Wales prefer to exercise their democratic rights has been little discussed. Assumptions have been made without consulltation or evidence of opinion. Many of those assumptions are questionable and some are downright patronising of the intelligence of the electorate, never a sensible approach in democratic issues.

As an organisation NAW and the Assembly Commission have spent much resources and time on voter engagement. Our studies of public attitudes towards devolution have been shared with you. Our information and communication on 2011 as a polling year is now available, with its key message of voter encouragement. I would very much regret if UK Government by its actions were to send out a totally contradictory message, which could have a seriously detrimental effect on participation in all the coming polls.

Cofion cywir,