Don't say blanket 20mph limit, Senedd boss rules

The controversial 20mph speed limit came into force last September

Members of the Welsh Parliament have been told not to use the word blanket when referring to the country's 20mph speed limit.

Presiding Officer Elin Jones has written to all Senedd politicians warning them not to use the term in the chamber.

The Conservatives have regularly claimed that the Welsh government has introduced a blanket 20mph speed limit across Wales.

In a separate development, Ms Jones said she cannot rule on whether the first minister should have declared an interest on a taxi firm when he talked about it in the Senedd.

Veezu gave Mr Gething £25,000 for his leadership campaign.

The 20mph speed limit policy was applied last year as a new default in mostly built-up areas, with some exceptions applied to keep roads at 30mph.

Labour ministers have claimed that describing it as a "blanket" policy is misinformation.

In her letter, Plaid Cymru MS Ms Jones referred to a statement made by the Standards Commissioner, Douglas Bain, that said the description "was imprecise and inaccurate".

She reminded members that they "should ensure they do not intentionally make imprecise and inaccurate statements in the Senedd and elsewhere".

Mr Bain made his comments when he cleared the leader of the Conservatives in the Senedd, Andrew RT Davies, of breaching the Senedd’s rules for using the term.

The commissioner had investigated a complaint about Mr Davies's social media posts, which referred to the change in the speed limit in Wales from 30mph to 20mph.

A complainant claimed that Mr Davies’ depiction of the change as a “blanket” speed limit was "absolutely untruthful".

Douglas Bain said the description was "imprecise and inaccurate", but he said that "being imprecise and inaccurate is not synonymous with being untruthful".

However the standards committee's report into the matter said that it was incumbent on all members to "uphold the high standards expected of us as elected representatives when debating issues in the public domain whether on social media, or elsewhere".

"This means members should take care to not intentionally make statements which are imprecise and inaccurate".

The presiding officer has warned members that she will intervene if the term is used in the chamber.

Veezu

In late April Mr Davies complained to the presiding officer after Vaughan Gething commented on the actions of a taxi company without saying it had donated to him.

Responding to concern from Labour MS Julie Morgan to an ITV Wales story about taxi drivers from Veezu refusing to take a guide dog, Mr Gething said it was “positive that Veezu, the organisation that had the driver as a partner, had removed that person who refused to carry your constituent”.

Mr Davies asked Ms Jones if she would review the record and ensure all appropriate declarations of interest are made.

The presiding officer, also known as the Llywydd, replied that it was the "responsibility of individual members to judge whether they have an interest to declare in relation to Senedd proceedings".

"I cannot, in my capacity as Llywydd, rule or give a conclusive view on whether or not a declaration is required."

She directed Mr Davies to the standards commissioner, but in a further letter Mr Davies criticised her approach.

He cited rules that require the presiding officer to call to order any politician who refused to confirm to Senedd rules, which include requiring them to make a spoken declaration in relation to a financial interest.

"It is incorrect to suggest that the presiding officer cannot rule on whether or not a declaration is made," he said, asking her to revisit the decision.