The Value of Independent Commissions: An Insider’s Perspective on the Richard Commission

This article offers an insiderʹs account of the workings of an independent commission. It evaluates the operation of the Richard Commission on the powers and electoral arrangements of the National Assembly for Wales. It draws some general observations about the relevance of commissions to modern British governance. It discusses the composition and membership of the Richard Commission, the way in which it managed the broad brief it was set, how it planned its work, consulted with witnesses, encouraged public involvement, received and analysed evidence, debated its conclusions and drafted its report. It is based on the authorʹs own experiences as a member of the Commission and draws heavily on the internal formal and informal experiences, debates and decisions that helped us reach our conclusions and formulate our recommendations.