Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Ruth Mosalski

The key roles with a pay rise that's been given to these Senedd politicians

The new chairs of the Senedd's committees have been appointed.

Each party gets a set number of posts as chair for the committees and MSs can nominate any member from their party. If more than one person is selected, a secret ballot was organised.

Senedd Committees carry out functions including scrutinising the expenditure and policies of the Welsh Government, holding Ministers to account, and examining proposed new laws.

Each policy and legislation committee will have six members, and each specialist committee four, aside from the Public accounts and public administration committee, which will have five. The full membership of the Committees will be elected by Members of the Senedd next week.

Read more: The expenses that MSs claimed in the fifth term

This Senedd term will see MSs get a salary of £70,626. Committee chairs receive either an extra £14,346 or £9,557 depending on the size of the committee. The extra amount will be determined by the Independent Remuneration Board of the Senedd at a meeting on July 8.

Equality and social justice

Jenny Rathbone MS (Ben Evans/Huw Evans Agency)

Cardiff Central MS Jenny Rathbone was appointed chair.

Public accounts and public administration

Mark Isherwood (Daily Post Wales)

Mark Isherwood, who is Conservative MS for North Wales.

Finance committee

(Ben Evans/Huw Evans Agency)

South Wales East Peredur Owen Griffiths and South Wales Central's Rhys ab Owen were both nominated and a secret ballot took place. Mr Owen Griffiths won the ballot.

Legislation, justice and constitution

Huw Irranca-Davies (Welsh Labour)

Ogmore MS Huw Irranca-Davies was nominated and no-one else was nominated so he was elected chair.

Petitions committee

Jack Sargeant (Welsh Labour)

Alyn and Deeside MS Jack Sargeant was selected as chair of the petitions committee.

Culture, communications, Welsh language, sport and International Relations

(Ben Evans/Huw Evans Agency)

South Wales East MS Delyth Jewell was nominated along with Heledd Fychan, South Wales Central MS. Ms Jewell won the ballot.

Economy, trade and rural affairs committee

Paul Davies (Welsh Conservatives)

The Welsh Conservatives were allocated this committee and former leader Paul Davies, who represents Preseli Pembrokeshire was given the nod by colleagues.

Health and social care committee

AM Russell George spoke about the sucess of his family business (Matthew Horwood/matt-horwood.com)

It was designated a Welsh Conservative committee and Montgomeryshire MS Russell George was nominated and selected.

Local government and housing

Labour's John Griffiths, who represents Newport East, and Mike Hedges, who represents Swansea East, were both nominated and a secret ballot will take place. Caerphilly MS Hefin David rose to his feet and said he wanted a joint nomination for Mike Hedges and Alun Davies. He called it an "opportunity missed". Mr Davies then said he was "profoundly disappointed" business committee decided to block the job share potential. He said it appeared it was a "straight forward" proposal and it wasn't given the consideration it should have been. He said the "most conservative members no longer sit on the Conservative benches".

Llywydd Elin Jones responded and said that discussions were going on for five weeks and she received an application on Monday, June 28 and said it would have been "with considerable changes necessary" to standing orders and procedures. She said a review would be necessary but not in such a short period of time.

In the end, Mr Griffiths won the ballot.

Climate change, environment and infrastructure

(Ben Evans/Huw Evans Agency)

Plaid Cymru's Llyr Gruffydd was nominated and elected.

Children, young people and education

Jayne Bryant (Welsh Labour)

Newport West MS Jayne Bryant was nominated and elected as chair.

Standards Committee

Vikki Howells (Natasha Hirst)

Cynon Valley MS Vikki Howells was nominated and selected.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.