Contents
— Overview
— Attending a committee meeting as a witness
Preparing to be a witness
Reading through this guide is one of the best ways to prepare for a committee meeting as a witness.
Before the meeting you can contact the committee clerking team who can:
- talk you through how committees work
- explain why you’ve been invited to be a witness
- give information about who else has been invited
Before the meeting you can also:
- look at the work the committee has already done
- watch other witnesses give evidence to committees on Senedd.tv
Who's at a committee meeting?
You’ll see a number of people in the meeting.
Members of the Senedd: from different political groups (or no political group). One of the Members also chairs the committee.
Clerks: responsible for preparing and organising meetings, and the overall running of committees. They’re your main point of contact.
Researchers: impartial subject experts who support committee members and committees.
Legal advisers: advise the committee on points of law and any legal issues.
Committee support officer: the person who will bring you into the meeting room if you attend the meeting on site. They can answer questions you have on the day about the practical arrangements for the meeting.
Translators and broadcasting engineers: provide translation from Welsh to English (or other languages, if requested in advance) and make sure the technology runs smoothly.
Public (including journalists): can watch in the public gallery.
Security officers: if you attend the meeting on site.
Can other people attend committee meetings?
Yes, other people can attend committee meetings. Typically, witnesses provide their evidence in public.
This means that members of the public can:
- book tickets and sit in the public gallery for any meetings held on site, or in hybrid format
- watch live or later on Senedd.tv
What should I do if I do not want to be a witness?
Your welfare
Your welfare is important to us. If you have any concerns about giving oral evidence, contact the committee clerking team who invited you. We can discuss your concerns and advise on next steps.
Privacy
Committees try to be as open and transparent in their work as they can be.
However, if you have specific reasons why you want to protect your identity or concerns about your privacy, please contact the committee clerking team who invited you.
They can discuss this with you and consider possible arrangements.
Claiming expenses
If the cost of attending committee is a barrier for you, get in touch with the committee clerking team to discuss options for support.