Legislation (Wales) Act 2019

Legislation (Wales) Act 2019

A Welsh Government Bill, introduced by Jeremy Miles AM, Counsel General. The Business Committee remitted the Bill to the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee.*

About the Bill

The purpose of the Legislation (Wales) Bill was “to make Welsh law more clear and accessible”. It made provision about the interpretation and operation of Welsh legislation (Part 2), and required the Counsel General and the Welsh Ministers to take steps to improve the accessibility of Welsh law (Part 1).

Further detail about the Bill can be found in its accompanying Explanatory Memorandum.

Current Stage

The Legislation (Wales) Act 2019 (external website) became law in Wales (external website) on 10 September 2019.

Record of Passage in the National Assembly for Wales

The following table sets out the dates for each stage of the Bill’s passage through the National Assembly for Wales.

Stage

Documents

Bill introduced: 3 December 2018

Legislation (Wales) Bill, as introduced

Explanatory Memorandum

Draft Taxonomy for Codes of Welsh Law

Presiding Officer’s Statement: 3 December 2018

Business Committee’s Report on the timetable for consideration of the Bill: 27 November 2018

Business Committee’s Revised timetable for consideration of the Legislation (Wales) Bill: 13 February 2019

Stage 1: Committee considerations of general principles

The Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee considered its approach to Stage 1 consideration on 3 December 2018.

Consultation responses

Stakeholder interviews

Schedule of oral evidence

Correspondence
Letter from the Secretary of State for Wales to the then First Minister of Wales - 5 December 2018 (PDF, 141KB)

Letter from the Counsel General Designate and Brexit Minister – 9 January 2019 (PDF, 720KB)

Letter from the Counsel General and Brexit Minister – 8 March 2019 (PDF, 872KB)

Committee Stage 1 Report

The Committee laid its report (PDF 982KB) on 26 March 2019.

Response (PDF 406KB) by the Counsel General to the Committee’s report – 3 May 2019

The Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee considered the Bill on the following dates:

Date and Agenda

Purpose of meeting

Transcript

Senedd.TV

3 December 2018

Consideration of Approach to Stage 1 Scrutiny (Private)

 (Private)

(Private)

10 December 2018

Oral evidence session – Counsel General

Transcript

View the meeting

14 January 2019

Oral evidence session

Transcript

View the meeting

28 January 2019

Oral evidence session

Transcript

View the meeting

18 February 2019

Oral evidence session - Counsel General

Transcript

View the meeting

The Finance Committee considered the Bill on the following dates:

Date and Agenda

Purpose of meeting

Transcript

Senedd.TV

17 January 2019

Oral evidence session – Counsel General

Transcript

View the meeting

 

The Finance Committee laid its report on 26 March 2019 (PDF, 233KB).

 

Revised response by the Counsel General to the Finance Committee’s report – 30 May 2019 (PDF 525KB)

 

Response by the Counsel General and Brexit Minister – 3 May 2019 (PDF, 350KB) to the Finance Committee’s report.

 

Letter from the Chair of the Finance Committee – 17 May 2019 (PDF, 129KB) to the Counsel General and Brexit Minister.

 

Stage 1: Debate in Plenary on general principles

A debate took place in Plenary on 2 April 2019. The motion to agree the general principles of the Bill was agreed.

Financial Resolution

In accordance with Standing Order 26.68 the Presiding Officer indicated that a financial resolution was required for this Bill. Further information about financial resolutions is available in section 3 of the Guide to the scrutiny stages for Public Bills.

A Financial Resolution in relation to the Legislation (Wales) Bill was agreed in Plenary on 2 April 2019.

Stage 2: Committee consideration of amendments

Stage 2 began on 3 April 2019.

The Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee agreed on 1 April 2019, under Standing Order 26.21, that the order of consideration for Stage 2 proceedings will be: sections 1 to 5; Schedule 1; sections 6 to 39; Schedule 2; sections 40 to 43; Long title.

Stage 2 consideration took place in Committee on 13 May 2019.

Notice of Amendments – 4 April 2019
Welsh Government: Purpose and Effect table – 4 April 2019
Notice of Amendments – 3 May 2019

Marshalled list of Amendments – 13 May 2019
Groupings of Amendments – 13 May 2019

Legislation (Wales) Bill, as amended at Stage 2 (Amendments to the Bill since the previous version are indicated by sidelining in the right margin.)

 

Printing Changes to the Bill as amended at Stage 2

 

Explanatory Memorandum, revised after stage 2

Correspondence

Letter from the Solicitor General to the Counsel General – 25 April 2019 (PDF 137KB)

Letter from the Counsel General and Brexit Minister – 3 May 2019 (PDF 406KB)

Stage 3: Plenary consideration of amendments

Stage 3 consideration and disposal of amendments took place in Plenary on 25 June 2019.

Notice of Amendments – 12 June 2019 (v2)
Notice of Amendments – 13 June 2019 (v2)
Welsh Government: Purpose and Effect table – 13 June 2019
Notice of Amendments – 18 June 2019
Marshalled list of Amendments - 25 June 2019
Groupings of Amendments - 25 June 2019

Legislation (Wales) Bill, as amended at Stage 3 (Amendments to the Bill since the previous version are indicated by sidelining in the right margin.)

Printing Changes to the Bill as amended at Stage 3

Correspondence

Letter from the Counsel General and Brexit Minister - 18 June 2019 (PDF 216KB)

Letter from the Counsel General and Brexit Minister to the Chair of the Finance Committee – 18 June 2019 (PDF, 211KB)

Post Stage 3

Correspondence

Letter from the Counsel General to the Solicitor General – 26 June 2019 (PDF 460KB)

Stage 4: Passing of the Bill in Plenary

The Bill was agreed by the Assembly on 16 July 2019.

Presiding Officer’s Statement: Bills with protected subject-matter

Legislation (Wales) Bill, as passed (PDF 175KB)

Printing changes to the Bill as passed (PDF 64 KB)

Post-stage 4

The Solicitor General on behalf of the Attorney General (PDF, 67KB), Counsel General (PDF, 211KB) and Secretary of State for Wales (PDF, 258KB) wrote to the Presiding Officer to advise that they would not be referring the Legislation (Wales) Bill to the Supreme Court under Sections 112 or 114 of the Government of Wales Act 2006.

Date of Royal Assent

Royal Assent (PDF 62KB) was given on 10 September 2019.

 

Business type: Bill

Reason considered: Government Business;

Status: Complete

First published: 03/12/2018

Documents

Consultations