Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru l National Assembly for Wales

Y Pwyllgor Materion Cyfansoddiadol a Deddfwriaethol l Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee

Ymchwiliad: Llais cryfach i Gymru: ymgysylltu â San Steffan a'r sefydliadau datganoledig l

Inquiry: A stronger voice for Wales: engaging with Westminster and the devolved institutions

Ymateb gan: The Constitution Society

Response from: The Constitution Society

The Constitution Society is an educational charity that promotes awareness of constitutional issues. It is not affiliated to any party. As part of its interest in constitutional affairs, it engages with issues connected to parliaments and legislatures, and to devolution.

- Are there any barriers to engagement with the National Assembly?

The Constitution Society engagement with legislatures is primarily of in informal nature. The Society takes part in events in the Westminster Parliament, or it holds events outside the Parliament to which it invites parliamentarians and parliamentary staff either as speakers or guests. For practical reasons, since the Society is based in London, there is likely to be more engagement with the Westminster Parliament than other institutions.

The Society does not generally in its current mode of operation provide evidence to parliamentary inquiries at any level; though it would not rule out doing so in future, including the the Welsh Assembly.

The Society the importance of the constitutional position of Wales and its relationship to the overall constitutional system of the UK.

- What is your perception of the process for engaging with committees in Cardiff compared to London, Edinburgh or Belfast?

The Society has not engaged specifically with committees in the National Assembly for Wales, but does not perceive that there would be any particular difficulties in doing so if the occasion arose.

- What is your perception and expectation of inter-institutional working and relationships, and your thoughts on learning from other institutions?

No specific views.