Senedd: 36 more Welsh Parliament members could cost extra £18m

Bringing 36 more politicians to the Welsh Parliament could cost an average of £17.8m extra a year, new figures suggest.

Documents from Labour ministers have estimated the cost of a bigger Senedd for the first time.

Costs could reach an extra £19.5m in 2030.

Supporters say more politicians are needed because the Senedd has more law and tax powers than it did when it was set up.

But the Welsh Conservatives said Wales needs "more doctors, dentists, nurses and teachers, not more politicians".

The Welsh government said it was a "once-in-a-generation opportunity to... strengthen our democracy".

The costs were published alongside the legislation that the Senedd will need to pass, before coming into effect at the next election in 2026.

An affordability assessment from the Senedd, which was adjusted for inflation, suggests costs will be higher in years with elections.

It says in the first year of operation the new parliament could cost at least £14.8m and as much as £17.7m, before falling to between £13.9m and £16.8m in 2027/28.

In 2030/31, that could rise to at least £16.3m and as much as £19.5m, before falling again the next year to between £14.8m-£18.05m.

The larger figures suggest a scenario where there are as many as five party groups, up to three additional committees, an extra day of week for debates and an additional sitting week. That works out at an average of £17.8m a year between 2026 and 2032.

The smaller figures assume up to four party groups, one additional committee, a similar level of debate time and a similar number of sitting weeks.

The Welsh government said there would be set-up costs of £8m, and argued the costs represent a tiny fraction - 0.07% - of the £24bn overall Welsh budget. The Senedd's budget stood at £67m in 2023/24.

The changes will bring the total number of Members of the Senedd from 60 to 96, increase the number of ministers that can be appointed from 12 to 17, and significantly change the way MSs are elected.

MSs will be voted through a system called "closed lists", where people will back parties rather than individual candidates, using a system which aims to elect people based on the proportion of the vote they get.

If agreed by two-thirds of the Senedd the changes will take effect from 2026.

All future candidates for Senedd elections must live in Wales, and elections will be held every four years from 2026.

The design of the system was originally agreed by Mark Drakeford and former Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price last year.

Counsel General Mick Antoniw said: "This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a modern Senedd, which truly reflects Wales, and to strengthen our democracy."

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said: "A stronger, more representative Senedd, elected through a proportional system, will be better equipped to continue to make a difference to the people of Wales."

Welsh Conservative Shadow Constitution Minister Darren Millar said: "The Labour government should be focused on addressing unacceptable NHS waiting times, poor standards in schools and the lacklustre performance of the Welsh economy, not wasting time, energy and taxpayers' money developing yet more legislation on Senedd reform."