United Kingdom Constitution: GOVERNMENT OF WALES ACT 2006 [قانون اساسی پادشاهی متحد انگلستان] ـ قسمت شانزدهم

Preamble

An Act to make provision about the government of Wales.

[25th July 2006]

Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Part 1. National Assembly for Wales

Subheading 1. The Assembly

1. The Assembly

1. There is to be an Assembly for Wales to be known as the National Assembly for Wales or Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru (referred to in this Act as “the Assembly”).
2. The Assembly is to consist of—
   1. one member for each Assembly constituency (referred to in this Act as “Assembly constituency members”), and
   2. members for each Assembly electoral region (referred to in this Act as “Assembly regional members”).
3. Members of the Assembly (referred to in this Act as “Assembly members”) are to be returned in accordance with the provision made by and under this Act for—
   1. the holding of general elections of Assembly members (for the return of the entire Assembly), and
   2. the filling of vacancies in Assembly seats.
4. The validity of any Assembly proceedings is not affected by any vacancy in its membership.
5. In this Act “Assembly proceedings” means any proceedings of—
   1. the Assembly,
   2. committees of the Assembly, or
   3. sub-committees of such committees.

2. Assembly constituencies and electoral regions

1. The Assembly constituencies are the constituencies specified in the Parliamentary Constituencies and Assembly Electoral Regions (Wales) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1041) as amended by—
   1. the Parliamentary Constituencies and Assembly Electoral Regions (Wales) (Amendment) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/1791), and
   2. any Order in Council under the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 giving effect (with or without modifications) to a report falling within section 13(3) or (4) of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011.
2. There are five Assembly electoral regions.
3. The Assembly electoral regions are as specified in the Parliamentary Constituencies and Assembly Electoral Regions (Wales) Order 2006.
4. There are four seats for each Assembly electoral region.
5. [Repealed]
6. [Repealed]

Subheading 2. General Elections

3. Ordinary general elections

1. The poll at an ordinary general election is to be held on the first Thursday in May in the fourth calendar year following that in which the previous ordinary general election was held, unless provision is made for the day of the poll by an order under section 4.
2. If the poll is to be held on the first Thursday in May, the Assembly—
   1. is dissolved by virtue of this section at the beginning of the minimum period which ends with that day, and
   2. must meet within the period of seven days beginning immediately after the day of the poll.
3. In subsection (2) “the minimum period” means the period determined in accordance with an order under section 13.
4. In calculating any period of days for the purposes of subsection (2)(b), the following days are to be disregarded—
   1. Saturday and Sunday,
   2. any day which is a bank holiday in Wales under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 (c. 80), and
   3. any day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning.

4. Power to vary date of ordinary general election

1. The Secretary of State may by order provide for the poll at an ordinary general election to be held on a day which is neither—
   1. more than one month earlier, nor
   2. more than one month later,
2. than the first Thursday in May.
3. An order under this section must make provision for the Assembly—
   1. to be dissolved on a day specified in the order, and
   2. to meet within the period of seven days beginning immediately after the day of the poll.
4. In calculating any period of days for the purposes of provision made by virtue of subsection (2)(b), the following days are to be disregarded—
   1. Saturday and Sunday,
   2. Good Friday,
   3. any day which is a bank holiday in Wales under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 (c. 80), and
   4. any day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning.
5. An order under this section may make provision for—
   1. any provision of, or made under, the Representation of the People Acts, or
   2. any other enactment relating to the election of Assembly members,
6. to have effect with such modifications or exceptions as the Secretary of State considers appropriate in connection with the alteration of the day of the poll.
7. No order is to be made under this section unless the Secretary of State has consulted the Welsh Ministers about it.
8. A statutory instrument containing an order under this section is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

5. Extraordinary general elections

1. The Secretary of State must propose a day for the holding of a poll at an extraordinary general election if subsection (2) or (3) applies.
2. This subsection applies if—
   1. the Assembly resolves that it should be dissolved, and
   2. the resolution of the Assembly is passed on a vote in which the number of Assembly members voting in favour of it is not less than two-thirds of the total number of Assembly seats.
3. This subsection applies if any period during which the Assembly is required under section 47 to nominate an Assembly member for appointment as the First Minister ends without such a nomination being made.
4. If the Secretary of State proposes a day under subsection (1), Her Majesty may by Order in Council—
   1. dissolve the Assembly and require an extraordinary general election to be held,
   2. require the poll at the election to be held on the day proposed, and
   3. require the Assembly to meet within the period of seven days beginning immediately after the day of the poll.
5. If a poll is held under this section within the period of six months ending with the day on which the poll at the next ordinary general election would be held (disregarding section 4), that ordinary general election is not to be held.
6. But subsection (5) does not affect the year in which the subsequent ordinary general election is to be held.
7. In calculating any period of days for the purposes of subsection (4)(c), the following days are to be disregarded—
   1. Saturday and Sunday,
   2. Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Good Friday,
   3. any day which is a bank holiday in Wales under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 (c. 80), and
   4. any day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning.

6. Voting at general elections

1. Each person entitled to vote at a general election in an Assembly constituency has two votes.
2. One (referred to in this Act as a “constituency vote”) is a vote which may be given for a candidate to be the Assembly constituency member for the Assembly constituency.
3. The other (referred to in this Act as an “electoral region vote”) is a vote which may be given for—
   1. a registered political party which has submitted a list of candidates to be Assembly regional members for the Assembly electoral region in which the Assembly constituency is included, or
   2. an individual who is a candidate to be an Assembly regional member for that Assembly electoral region.
4. The Assembly constituency member for the Assembly constituency is to be returned under the simple majority system.
5. The Assembly regional members for the Assembly electoral region are to be returned under the additional member system of proportional representation provided for in this Part.
6. In this Act “registered political party” means a party registered under Part 2 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (c. 41).

7. Candidates at general elections

1. At a general election a person may not be a candidate to be the Assembly constituency member for more than one Assembly constituency.
2. Any registered political party may submit a list of candidates for return as Assembly regional members for a particular Assembly electoral region at a general election.
3. The list must be submitted to the regional returning officer.
4. The list must not include more than twelve persons (but may include only one).
5. The list must not include a person—
   1. who is included on any other list submitted for the Assembly electoral region or any list submitted for another Assembly electoral region,
   2. who is an individual candidate to be an Assembly regional member for the Assembly electoral region or another Assembly electoral region, or
   3. who is a candidate to be the Assembly constituency member for an Assembly constituency.
6. A person may not be an individual candidate to be an Assembly regional member for the Assembly electoral region if that person is—
   1. included on a list submitted by a registered political party for the Assembly electoral region or another Assembly electoral region,
   2. an individual candidate to be an Assembly regional member for another Assembly electoral region, or
   3. a candidate to be the Assembly constituency member for an Assembly constituency.
7. In this Act “regional returning officer”, in relation to an Assembly electoral region, means the person designated as the regional returning officer for the Assembly electoral region in accordance with an order under section 13.

8. Calculation of electoral region figures

1. This section and section 9 are about the return of Assembly regional members for an electoral region at a general election.
2. The person who is to be returned as the Assembly constituency member for each Assembly constituency in the Assembly electoral region is to be determined before it is determined who are to be returned as the Assembly regional members for the Assembly electoral region.
3. For each registered political party by which a list of candidates has been submitted for the Assembly electoral region—
   1. there is to be added together the number of electoral region votes given for the party in the Assembly constituencies included in the Assembly electoral region, and
   2. the number arrived at under paragraph (a) is then to be divided by the aggregate of one and the number of candidates of the party returned as Assembly constituency members for any of those Assembly constituencies.
4. For each individual candidate to be an Assembly regional member for the Assembly electoral region there is to be added together the number of electoral region votes given for the candidate in the Assembly constituencies included in the Assembly electoral region.
5. The number arrived at—
   1. in the case of a registered political party, under subsection (3)(b), or
   2. in the case of an individual candidate, under subsection (4),
6. is referred to in this Act as the electoral region figure for that party or individual candidate.

9. Allocation of seats to electoral region members

1. The first seat for the Assembly electoral region is to be allocated to the party or individual candidate with the highest electoral region figure.
2. The second and subsequent seats for the Assembly electoral region are to be allocated to the party or individual candidate with the highest electoral region figure after any recalculation required by subsection (3) has been carried out.
3. This subsection requires a recalculation under paragraph (b) of section 8(3) in relation to a party—
   1. for the first application of subsection (2), if the application of subsection (1) resulted in the allocation of an Assembly seat to the party, or
   2. for any subsequent application of subsection (2), if the previous application of that subsection did so,
4. and a recalculation is to be carried out after adding one to the aggregate mentioned in that paragraph.
5. An individual candidate already returned as an Assembly regional member is to be disregarded.
6. Seats for the Assembly electoral region which are allocated to a party are to be filled by the persons on the party’s list in the order in which they appear on the list.
7. Once a party’s list has been exhausted by the return of persons included on it as Assembly regional members by the previous application of subsection (1) or (2), the party is to be disregarded.
8. If (on the application of subsection (1) or any application of subsection (2)) the highest electoral region figure is the electoral region figure of two or more parties or individual candidates, the subsection applies to each of them.
9. However, if subsection (7) would mean that more than the full number of seats for the Assembly electoral region were allocated, subsection (1) or (2) does not apply until—
   1. a recalculation has been carried out under section 8(3)(b) after adding one to the number of votes given for each party with that electoral region figure, and
   2. one has been added to the number of votes given for each individual candidate with that electoral region figure.
10. If, after that, the highest electoral region figure is still the electoral region figure of two or more parties or individual candidates, the regional returning officer must decide between them by lots.

Subheading 3. Vacancies

10. Constituency vacancies

1. This section applies if the seat of an Assembly constituency member returned for an Assembly constituency is vacant.
2. Subject to subsection (7), an election must be held in the Assembly constituency to fill the vacancy.
3. At the election, each person entitled to vote only has a constituency vote; and the Assembly constituency member for the Assembly constituency is to be returned under the simple majority system.
4. The date of the poll at the election must be fixed by the Presiding Officer.
5. The date must fall within the period of three months beginning with the occurrence of the vacancy.
6. But if the vacancy does not come to the Presiding Officer’s notice within the period of one month beginning with its occurrence, the date must fall within the period of three months beginning when it does come to the Presiding Officer’s notice.
7. The election must not be held if it appears to the Presiding Officer that the latest date which may be fixed for the poll would fall within the period of three months ending with the day on which the poll at the next ordinary general election would be held (disregarding section 4).
8. The standing orders must make provision for determining the date on which a vacancy occurs for the purposes of this section.
9. A person may not be a candidate in an election to fill a vacancy if the person is—
   1. an Assembly member, or
   2. a candidate in another such election.

11. Electoral region vacancies

1. This section applies if the seat of an Assembly regional member returned for an Assembly electoral region is vacant.
2. If the Assembly regional member was returned (under section 9 or this section) from the list of a registered political party, the regional returning officer must notify to the Presiding Officer the name of the person who is to fill the vacancy.
3. A person’s name may only be so notified if the person—
   1. is included on the list submitted by the registered political party for the last general election,
   2. is willing to serve as an Assembly regional member for the Assembly electoral region, and
   3. is not a person to whom subsection (4) applies.
4. This subsection applies to a person if—
   1. the person is not a member of the registered political party, and
   2. the registered political party gives notice to the regional returning officer that the person’s name is not to be notified to the Presiding Officer as the name of the person who is to fill the vacancy.
5. But if there is more than one person who satisfies the conditions in subsection (3), the regional returning officer may only notify the name of whichever of them was the higher, or the highest, on that list.
6. A person whose name is notified under subsection (2) is to be treated as having been declared to be returned as an Assembly regional member for the Assembly electoral region on the day on which notification of the person’s name is received by the Presiding Officer.
7. The seat remains vacant until the next general election—
   1. if the Assembly regional member was returned as an individual candidate, or
   2. if that Assembly regional member was returned from the list of a registered political party but there is no-one who satisfies the conditions in subsection (3).
8. For the purposes of this section, a person included on the list submitted by a registered political party for the last general election who—
   1. was returned as an Assembly regional member under section 9 at that election (even if the return was void),
   2. has subsequently been a candidate in an election held under section 10 (whether or not returned), or
   3. has subsequently been returned under this section (even if the return was void),
9. is treated on and after the return of the person, or of the successful candidate at the election, as not having been included on the list.

Subheading 4. Franchise and conduct of elections

12. Entitlement to vote

1. The persons entitled to vote at an election of Assembly members (or of an Assembly member) in an Assembly constituency are those who on the day of the poll—
   1. would be entitled to vote as electors at a local government election in an electoral area wholly or partly included in the Assembly constituency, and
   2. are registered in the register of local government electors at an address within the Assembly constituency.
2. But a person is not entitled as an elector—
   1. to cast more than one constituency vote, or more than one electoral region vote, in the same Assembly constituency at any general election,
   2. to vote in more than one Assembly constituency at any general election, or
   3. to cast more than one vote in any election held under section 10.

13. Power to make provision about elections etc

1. The Secretary of State may by order make provision as to—
   1. the conduct of elections for the return of Assembly members,
   2. the questioning of an election for the return of Assembly members and the consequences of irregularities, and
   3. the return of an Assembly member otherwise than at an election.
2. The provision which may be made under subsection (1)(a) includes, in particular, provision—
   1. about the registration of electors,
   2. for disregarding alterations in a register of electors,
   3. about the limitation of the election expenses of candidates (and the creation of criminal offences in connection with the limitation of such expenses),
   4. for the combination of polls at elections for the return of Assembly members and other elections, and
   5. for modifying the operation of sections 6 and 8(2) in a case where the poll at an election for the return of the Assembly constituency member for an Assembly constituency is abandoned (or notice of it is countermanded).
3. The provision that may be made under subsection (1)(c) includes, in particular, provision making modifications to section 11(3) to (5).
4. An order under this section may—
   1. apply or incorporate, with or without modifications or exceptions, any provision of or made under the election enactments,
   2. modify any form contained in, or in regulations or rules made under, the Representation of the People Acts so far as may be necessary to enable it to be used both for the original purpose and in relation to elections for the return of Assembly members, and
   3. so far as may be necessary in consequence of any provision made by this Act or an order under this section, make modifications of any provision made by or under any enactment relating to the registration of parliamentary electors or local government electors.
5. In subsection (4)(a) “the election enactments” means—
   1. the Representation of the People Acts,
   2. the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (c. 41),
   3. the European Parliamentary Elections Act 2002 (c. 24), and
   4. any other enactments relating to parliamentary elections, European Parliamentary elections or local government elections.
6. No return of an Assembly member at an election may be questioned except by an election petition under the provisions of Part 3 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2) as applied by or incorporated in an order under this section.
7. No order is to be made under this section unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing it has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.

Subheading 5. Duration of membership

14. Term of office of Assembly members

The term of office of an Assembly member—

1. begins when the Assembly member is declared to be returned, and
2. ends with the dissolution of the Assembly.

15. Resignation of members

An Assembly member may at any time resign by giving notice in writing to the Presiding Officer.

Subheading 6. Disqualification

16. Disqualification from being Assembly member

1. A person is disqualified from being an Assembly member if that person—
   1. is disqualified from being a member of the House of Commons under paragraphs (a) to (e) of section 1(1) of the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 24) (judges, civil servants, members of the armed forces, members of police forces and members of foreign legislatures),
   2. holds any of the offices for the time being designated by Order in Council as offices disqualifying persons from being Assembly members,
   3. holds the office of Auditor General,
   4. holds the office of Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, or
   5. is employed as a member of the staff of the Assembly.
2. Subject to section 17(1) and (2), a person is also disqualified from being an Assembly member if that person is disqualified otherwise than under the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 24) (either generally or in relation to a particular constituency) from being a member of the House of Commons or from sitting and voting in it.
3. For the purposes of subsection (2) the references to the Republic of Ireland in section 1 of the Representation of the People Act 1981 (c. 34) (disqualification of offenders detained in, or unlawfully at large from detention in, the British Islands or the Republic of Ireland) are to be treated as references to any member State (other than the United Kingdom).
4. A person who holds office as lord-lieutenant, lieutenant or high sheriff of any area in Wales is disqualified from being an Assembly member for any Assembly constituency or Assembly electoral region wholly or partly included in that area.
5. An Order in Council under paragraph (b) of subsection (1)—
   1. may designate particular offices or offices of any description, and
   2. may designate an office by reference to any characteristic of a person holding it,
6. and in that paragraph and this subsection “office” includes any post or employment.
7. No recommendation is to be made to Her Majesty in Council to make an Order in Council under subsection (1)(b) unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing the Order in Council has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the Assembly.

17. Exceptions and relief from disqualification

1. A person is not disqualified from being an Assembly member merely because that person is—
   1. a peer (whether of the United Kingdom, Great Britain, England or Scotland), or
   2. a Lord Spiritual.
2. A citizen of the European Union who is resident in the United Kingdom is not disqualified from being an Assembly member merely because of section 3 of the Act of Settlement (1700 c. 2) (disqualification of certain persons born outside United Kingdom).
3. The Assembly may resolve that the disqualification of any person who was, or is alleged to have been, disqualified from being an Assembly member on a ground within section 16(1) or (4) is to be disregarded if it appears to the Assembly—
   1. that the ground has been removed, and
   2. that it is proper so to resolve.
4. A resolution under subsection (3) does not—
   1. affect any proceedings under Part 3 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2) as applied by or incorporated in an order under section 13, or
   2. enable the Assembly to disregard any disqualification which has been established in such proceedings or in proceedings under section 19.

18. Effect of disqualification

1. If a person who is disqualified from being an Assembly member is returned as an Assembly member, the person’s return is void and the person’s seat is vacant.
2. If a person who is disqualified from being an Assembly member for a particular Assembly constituency or Assembly electoral region is returned as an Assembly member for that Assembly constituency or Assembly electoral region, the person’s return is void and the person’s seat is vacant.
3. If a person who is an Assembly member becomes disqualified—
   1. from being an Assembly member, or
   2. from being an Assembly member for the Assembly constituency or Assembly electoral region for which the person is sitting,
4. the person ceases to be an Assembly member (so that the person’s seat is vacant).
5. Subsections (1) to (3) have effect subject to any resolution of the Assembly under section 17(3).
6. In addition, subsection (3) has effect subject to—
   1. [Omitted]
   2. section 427 of the Insolvency Act 1986 (c. 45) (bankruptcy etc.).
7. If, in consequence of the provision mentioned in subsection (5), the seat of a person who is disqualified from being an Assembly member is not vacant, the person does not cease to be an Assembly member until the person’s seat becomes vacant.
8. But for any period for which the person is disqualified but the person’s seat is not vacant—
   1. the person must not participate in any Assembly proceedings, and
   2. any of the person’s other rights and privileges as an Assembly member may be withdrawn by the Assembly.
9. The validity of any Assembly proceedings is not affected by the disqualification of any person—
   1. from being an Assembly member, or
   2. from being an Assembly member for the Assembly constituency or Assembly electoral region for which the person purports to sit.

19. Judicial proceedings as to disqualification

1. Any person who claims that a person purporting to be an Assembly member is, or at any time since being returned as an Assembly member has been, disqualified from being—
   1. an Assembly member, or
   2. an Assembly member for the Assembly constituency or Assembly electoral region for which the person purports to sit,
2. may apply to the High Court for a declaration to that effect.
3. An application under subsection (1) in respect of any person may be made whether the grounds on which it is made are alleged to have subsisted at the time when the person was returned or to have arisen subsequently.
4. No declaration may be made under this section in respect of any person—
   1. on grounds which subsisted when the person was returned, if an election petition is pending or has been tried in which the person’s disqualification on those grounds is or was in issue, or
   2. on any ground, if a resolution of the Assembly under section 17(3) requires that any disqualification incurred by the person on that ground is to be disregarded.
5. On an application under this section—
   1. the person in respect of whom the application is made is to be the respondent, and
   2. the applicant must give such security for the costs of the proceedings as the court may direct.
6. The amount of the security may not exceed £5,000 or such other sum as the Welsh Ministers may specify by order.
7. The decision of the court on an application under this section is final.
8. A statutory instrument containing an order under subsection (5) is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the Assembly.

Subheading 7. Remuneration, oaths etc

20. Remuneration of Assembly members

1. Provision must be made for the payment of salaries to Assembly members.
2. Provision may be made for the payment of allowances to Assembly members.
3. Provision may be made for the payment of pensions, gratuities or allowances to, or in respect of, any person who—
   1. has ceased to be an Assembly member, or
   2. has ceased to hold office as the Presiding Officer or Deputy Presiding Officer, or such other office in connection with the Assembly as the Assembly may determine, but continues to be an Assembly member.
4. Such provision may, in particular, include provision for—
   1. contributions or payments towards provision for such pensions, gratuities or allowances, and
   2. the establishment and administration (whether by the Assembly Commission or otherwise) of one or more pension schemes.
5. Sums required for the making of payments by virtue of provision under subsection (1) or (3) to or in respect of a person who holds or has held the office of Presiding Officer or Deputy Presiding Officer are to be charged on the Welsh Consolidated Fund.
6. Provision under this section is to be made by determination made by the Board.
7. The Assembly Commission must give effect to any determination made by the Board under this section.
8. In this section (and in sections 22, 24, 53 and 54) “the Board” means the National Assembly for Wales Remuneration Board established by section 1 of the National Assembly for Wales (Remuneration) Measure 2010 (nawm 4 —).

21. Limit on salaries of Assembly members

1. The Assembly must make provision to ensure that the amount of the salary payable to an Assembly member in accordance with section 20 is reduced if a salary is payable to the Assembly member—
   1. under section 4 of the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009 (salaries of members of the House of Commons),
   2. pursuant to a resolution (or combination of resolutions) of the House of Lords relating to the remuneration of members of that House, or
   3. under section 1 of the European Parliament (Pay and Pensions) Act 1979 (c. 50) (remuneration of United Kingdom MEPs).
2. The provision made must ensure that the amount of salary is reduced—
   1. to a particular proportion of what it otherwise would be or to a particular amount, or
   2. by the amount of any salary payable to the Assembly member as mentioned in subsection (1)(za),(a) or (b), by a particular proportion of that amount or by some other particular amount.
3. Provision may be made under this section by—
   1. the standing orders, or
   2. resolutions of the Assembly,
4. and may include provision conferring functions on the Assembly Commission.

22. Remuneration: supplementary

1. Different provision may be made under section 20 or 21 for different cases.
2. The Assembly Commission must ensure that information concerning—
   1. the amounts paid to each Assembly member as salary and allowances, and
   2. the total amount paid to Assembly members as salaries and allowances,
3. is published for each financial year
4. The Assembly Commission must lay before the Assembly every determination made by the Board under section 20(6) as soon as is reasonably practicable after it is made.
5. For the purposes of sections 20 and 21 a person who—
   1. ceases to be an Assembly member when the Assembly is dissolved, but
   2. is nominated as a candidate at the subsequent general election,
6. is to be treated as an Assembly member until the end of the day on which the poll at the election is held.
7. Where a person—
   1. ceases to be an Assembly member when the Assembly is dissolved, but
   2. continues to hold office as Presiding Officer or as a member of the Assembly Commission by virtue of paragraph 1(1) or (2) of Schedule 2,
8. the fact that the person is no longer an Assembly member does not affect any entitlement under sections 20 and 21 in respect of the holding of office as Presiding Officer or as a member of the Assembly Commission (or both) until the end of the day on which the person ceases to hold it.
9. Provision made under section 20(3) does not affect pensions or allowances in payment before the provision was made.

23. Oath or affirmation of allegiance

1. An Assembly member must take the oath of allegiance in the form set out in section 2 of the Promissory Oaths Act 1868 (c. 72) (or make the corresponding affirmation) as soon as is reasonably practicable after being returned as an Assembly member (whether for the first time or subsequently).
2. The standing orders must specify the person before whom the oath is to be taken (or the affirmation made).
3. Subsection (1) does not require an Assembly member to take the oath of allegiance (or make the corresponding affirmation) again if it has been taken (or made) by the Assembly member in compliance with section 55(2) since being returned (or last returned).
4. Until an Assembly member has taken the oath (or made the affirmation) the Assembly member must not do anything as an Assembly member, other than—
   1. take part in proceedings of the Assembly at which Assembly members take the oath or make the affirmation, or
   2. take part in any earlier proceedings for the election of the Presiding Officer or Deputy Presiding Officer.
5. If an Assembly member has not taken the oath (or made the affirmation) within—
   1. the period of two months beginning with the day on which the Assembly member was declared to be returned, or
   2. such longer period as the Assembly may have allowed before the end of that period of two months,
6. at the end of that period of two months or longer period the Assembly member ceases to be an Assembly member (so that the Assembly member’s seat is vacant).
7. Until an Assembly member has taken the oath (or made the affirmation), no salary, allowance, gratuity or payment towards the provision of a pension, allowance or gratuity is to be paid under this Act to or in respect of the Assembly member.
8. But subsection (6) does not affect any entitlement to payments in respect of the period before the Assembly member took the oath (or made the affirmation) once the Assembly member has done so.

24. Assistance to groups of Assembly members

1. The Assembly Commission must make to (or in respect of) political groups to which Assembly members belong such payments as the Board from time to time determines for the purpose of assisting Assembly members who belong to those political groups to perform their functions as Assembly members.
2. A determination under subsection (1) may make provision—
   1. for calculating the amount of any payment to (or in respect of) a political group,
   2. for the conditions subject to which payments to (or in respect of) a political group are to be made, and
   3. for claims for such payments to be made to the Assembly Commission.
3. A determination under subsection (1) may make different provision for different political groups.
4. [Omitted]
5. The standing orders must include provision for determining for the purposes of this Act whether any Assembly member belongs to a political group and, if so, to which; and (in particular)—
   1. may include provision for treating an Assembly member as not belonging to a political group unless a specified number of Assembly members belong to it, and
   2. must include provision requiring the Presiding Officer to decide any questions arising under the provision included by virtue of this subsection.
6. The Assembly Commission must lay before the Assembly every determination made by the Board under section 24(1) as soon as is reasonably practicable after it is made.
7. The Assembly Commission must ensure that information concerning the sums paid under this section is published for each financial year.

Subheading 8. Presiding Officer and administration

25. Presiding Officer etc

1. The Assembly must, at its first meeting following a general election, elect from among the Assembly members—
   1. a presiding officer (referred to in this Act as “the Presiding Officer”), and
   2. a deputy presiding officer (referred to in this Act as “the Deputy Presiding Officer”).
2. The person elected under paragraph (a) of subsection (1) is to be known as the Presiding Officer or by such other title as the standing orders may provide; and the person elected under paragraph (b) of that subsection is to be known as the Deputy Presiding Officer or by such other title as the standing orders may provide.
3. The Presiding Officer holds office until the conclusion of the next election of a Presiding Officer under subsection (1).
4. The Deputy Presiding Officer holds office until the Assembly is dissolved.
5. But the Presiding Officer or Deputy Presiding Officer—
   1. may at any time resign,
   2. ceases to hold office on ceasing to be an Assembly member otherwise than by reason of a dissolution, and
   3. may be removed from office by the Assembly.
6. If the Presiding Officer or the Deputy Presiding Officer ceases to hold office under subsection (5) (or dies), the Assembly must elect a replacement from among the Assembly members.
7. Subject to subsection (9), the Presiding Officer and the Deputy Presiding Officer must not belong to—
   1. the same political group, or
   2. different political groups both of which are political groups with an executive role.
8. For the purposes of this Act a political group is a political group with an executive role if the First Minister or one or more of the Welsh Ministers appointed under section 48 belong to it.
9. The Assembly may resolve that subsection (7) is not to apply for so long as the resolution so provides; but if the motion for the resolution is passed on a vote it is of no effect unless at least two-thirds of the Assembly members voting support it.
10. The Presiding Officer’s functions may be exercised by the Deputy Presiding Officer if—
    1. the office of Presiding Officer is vacant, or
    2. the Presiding Officer is for any reason unable to act.
11. The Presiding Officer may (subject to the standing orders) authorise the Deputy Presiding Officer to exercise functions of the Presiding Officer.
12. The standing orders may include provision for the Presiding Officer’s functions to be exercisable by any person specified in, or determined in accordance with, the standing orders if—
    1. the office of Presiding Officer is vacant or the Presiding Officer is for any reason unable to act, and
    2. the office of Deputy Presiding Officer is vacant or the Deputy Presiding Officer is for any reason unable to act.
13. The standing orders may include provision as to the participation (including voting) in Assembly proceedings of the Presiding Officer and Deputy Presiding Officer and any person acting by virtue of subsection (12).
14. The validity of any act of a person as Presiding Officer or Deputy Presiding Officer, or of any person acting by virtue of subsection (12), is not affected by any defect in the person’s appointment by the Assembly.
15. Subsections (10) to (12) are subject to paragraph 11 of Schedule 2.

26. Clerk of Assembly

1. The Assembly Commission must appoint a person to be the Clerk of the Assembly (referred to in this Act as “the Clerk”).
2. The person appointed under subsection (1) is to be known as the Clerk of the Assembly or by such other title as the standing orders may provide.
3. The Clerk’s functions may be exercised by any other member of the staff of the Assembly (or person seconded to work at the Assembly) authorised by the Assembly Commission if—
   1. the office of Clerk is vacant, or
   2. the Clerk is for any reason unable to act.
4. The Clerk may authorise any other member of the staff of the Assembly (or person seconded to work at the Assembly) to exercise functions on the Clerk’s behalf.

27. Assembly Commission

1. There is to be a body corporate to be known as the National Assembly for Wales Commission or Comisiwn Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru (referred to in this Act as “the Assembly Commission”).
2. The members of the Assembly Commission are to be—
   1. the Presiding Officer, and
   2. four other Assembly members.
3. The standing orders must make provision for the appointment of the four other Assembly members as members of the Assembly Commission.
4. The provision included in the standing orders in compliance with subsection (3) must (so far as it is reasonably practicable to do so) secure that not more than one of the members of the Assembly Commission (other than the Presiding Officer) belongs to any one political group.
5. The Assembly Commission must—
   1. provide to the Assembly, or
   2. ensure that the Assembly is provided with,
6. the property, staff and services required for the Assembly’s purposes.
7. The Assembly may give special or general directions to the Assembly Commission for the purpose of, or in connection with, the exercise of the Assembly Commission’s functions.
8. Any property, rights or liabilities acquired or incurred in relation to matters to which the Assembly would otherwise be entitled or subject are to be treated for all purposes as property, rights or liabilities of the Assembly Commission.
9. For further provision about the Assembly Commission see Schedule 2.

Subheading 9. Committees

28. Committees and sub-committees

1. The standing orders may provide—
   1. for the appointment of committees of the Assembly, and
   2. for such committees to have power to appoint sub-committees.
2. The members of a committee of the Assembly, or of a sub-committee of such a committee, may not include anyone who is not an Assembly member.
3. The standing orders must make provision about the membership, chairing and procedure of committees of the Assembly and sub-committees of such committees.
4. The standing orders may include provision for excluding from the proceedings of a committee of the Assembly, or a sub-committee of such a committee, an Assembly member who is not a member of the committee or sub-committee.
5. The validity of any proceedings of a committee of the Assembly, or of a sub-committee of such a committee, is not affected by—
   1. any vacancy in its membership,
   2. any defect in the appointment of its members or of the person who chairs it, or
   3. any failure to comply with provisions of the standing orders relating to procedure.

29. Composition of committees

1. The provision included in the standing orders in compliance with section 28(3) must meet the requirements of this section.
2. The provision must secure that the appointments to the places on each committee are (if possible) determined by a resolution of the Assembly—
   1. which secures that its membership reflects (so far as is reasonably practicable) the balance of the political groups to which Assembly members belong, and
   2. which (if the motion for it is passed on a vote) has no effect unless at least two-thirds of the Assembly members voting support it.
3. The provision must secure that, if the membership of a committee is not so determined—
   1. the person appointed to the first place on the committee is an Assembly member belonging to the largest political group, and
   2. the persons eligible to be appointed to the second and subsequent places on the committee are ascertained in accordance with subsection (5).
4. “The largest political group” means the political group to which the most Assembly members belong.
5. An Assembly member is eligible to be appointed to the second or any subsequent place on the committee if—
   1. the number produced by subsection (6) in relation to that place for the political group to which the Assembly member belongs, exceeds
   2. that so produced for each of the other political groups.
6. The number produced for a political group in relation to the second or any subsequent place on the committee is—
   1. if one or more places are already allocated to the political group, the number of Assembly members belonging to the political group divided by the aggregate of one and the number of places already so allocated, or
   2. otherwise, the number of Assembly members belonging to the political group.
7. References to a place already allocated to a political group, in relation to the appointment to the second or any subsequent place on the committee, are to a place on the committee to which an Assembly member belonging to the political group is eligible to be appointed—
   1. (in relation to the second place) by virtue of subsection (3)(a), or
   2. (in relation to any subsequent place) by virtue of subsection (3)(a) or the previous application of subsection (5) in relation to a place on the committee.
8. The provision must modify the operation of the provision made in compliance with subsections (3) to (7) for cases where—
   1. the number of Assembly members belonging to two or more political groups is the same and exceeds the number of Assembly members belonging to any other political group, or
   2. the number produced by subsection (6) in relation to any place on a committee is the same for two or more political groups and is greater than that so produced for any other political group.
9. The provision must modify the operation of the provision made in compliance with subsections (2) to (8) with a view to securing that (so far as is reasonably practicable having regard to the total number of places on committees)—
   1. every Assembly member who does not belong to a political group is entitled to be a member of at least one committee, and
   2. the total number of places on committees allocated to Assembly members belonging to each political group is at least as great as the number of Assembly members belonging to the political group.
10. The provision must secure that the Presiding Officer decides questions arising under the provision made in compliance with this section.

30. Audit Committee

1. The committees of the Assembly must include one to be known as the Audit Committee or Pwyllgor Archwilio or by such other name as the Assembly may determine; and, if the Assembly makes such a determination, references to the committee in—
   1. any enactment (including any enactment comprised in or made under this Act) or prerogative instrument, or
   2. any other instrument or document,
2. have effect accordingly.
3. The Audit Committee is to have the number of members specified by the standing orders.
4. None of the following may be a member of the Audit Committee—
   1. the First Minister or any person designated to exercise the functions of the First Minister,
   2. a Welsh Minister appointed under section 48,
   3. the Counsel General or any person designated to exercise the functions of the Counsel General, or
   4. a Deputy Welsh Minister.
5. The Audit Committee must not be chaired by an Assembly member who is a member of a political group with an executive role.

Subheading 10. Proceedings etc

31. Standing orders

1. Assembly proceedings are to be regulated by standing orders (referred to in this Act as “the standing orders”).
2. The standing orders must include provision for preserving order in Assembly proceedings, including provision for—
   1. preventing conduct which would constitute a criminal offence or contempt of court, and
   2. a sub judice rule.
3. The standing orders may include provision for excluding an Assembly member from Assembly proceedings.
4. The standing orders may include provision for withdrawing from an Assembly member any or all of the rights and privileges of membership of the Assembly.
5. The standing orders—
   1. must include provision requiring the proceedings of the Assembly to be held in public, and for proceedings of a committee of the Assembly or a sub-committee of such a committee to be held in public except in circumstances provided for in the standing orders, and
   2. may include provision as to the conditions to be complied with by members of the public attending the proceedings (including provision for excluding any member of the public who does not comply with the conditions).
6. The standing orders must include provision—
   1. for reporting the proceedings of the Assembly, and for reporting proceedings of committees of the Assembly and sub-committees of such committees which are held in public, and
   2. for publishing the reports of proceedings as soon as reasonably practicable after the proceedings take place.
7. The Assembly may by resolution remake or revise the standing orders; but if the motion for a resolution to remake or revise the standing orders is passed on a vote, it has no effect unless at least two-thirds of the Assembly members voting support it.
8. The Clerk must from time to time publish the standing orders.

32. Participation by UK Ministers etc

1. The Secretary of State for Wales is entitled to participate in proceedings of the Assembly but not to vote.
2. The standing orders must include provision for any documents which—
   1. contain material relating to any proceedings of the Assembly which have taken place or are to take place, and
   2. are made available to all Assembly members,
3. to be made available to the Secretary of State for Wales no later than the time when they are made available to Assembly members.
4. The standing orders may make provision for—
   1. the participation of the Secretary of State for Wales in proceedings of any committee of the Assembly, or any sub-committee of any such committee, and
   2. the participation in any Assembly proceedings of other Ministers of the Crown and of persons serving in the department of the Secretary of State for Wales or of any other Minister of the Crown.
5. The provision made by virtue of subsection (3) may not include provision conferring any right to vote.
6. The standing orders may include provision for the making available of documents or information in connection with participation in Assembly proceedings pursuant to, or to standing orders made under, this section.

33. Consultation about UK Government’s legislative programme

1. As soon as is reasonably practicable after the beginning of each session of Parliament, the Secretary of State for Wales must undertake with the Assembly such consultation about the UK Government’s legislative programme for the session as appears to the Secretary of State to be appropriate.
2. The consultation in relation to the UK Government’s legislative programme for a session must include participating in proceedings of the Assembly relating to it on at least one occasion.
3. For this purpose the UK Government’s legislative programme for a session of Parliament consists of the bills which, at the beginning of the session, are intended to be introduced into either House of Parliament during the session by a Minister of the Crown.
4. If, at any time after the beginning of a session of Parliament, it is decided that a bill should be introduced into either House of Parliament during the session by a Minister of the Crown and no consultation about the bill has been undertaken under subsection (1), the Secretary of State for Wales must undertake with the Assembly such consultation about the bill as appears to the Secretary of State to be appropriate.
5. This section does not require the undertaking of consultation with the Assembly about a bill if it appears to the Secretary of State for Wales that there are considerations relating to the bill that make such consultation inappropriate.

34. Participation by Counsel General

1. If not an Assembly member the Counsel General may participate in Assembly proceedings to the extent permitted by the standing orders, but may not vote.
2. And the standing orders may in other respects provide that they are to apply to the Counsel General if not an Assembly member as to an Assembly member.
3. The Counsel General may, in any Assembly proceedings, decline to answer any question or produce any document concerning the operation of the system of criminal prosecution in any particular case if considering that answering the question or producing the document—
   1. might prejudice criminal proceedings in the case, or
   2. would otherwise be contrary to the public interest.

35. Equality of treatment

1. The Assembly must, in the conduct of Assembly proceedings, give effect, so far as is both appropriate in the circumstances and reasonably practicable, to the principle that the English and Welsh languages should be treated on a basis of equality.
2. The Assembly must make appropriate arrangements with a view to securing that Assembly proceedings are conducted with due regard to the principle that there should be equality of opportunity for all people.

36. Integrity

1. The standing orders must include provision—
   1. for a register of interests of Assembly members, and
   2. for the register to be published and made available for public inspection.
2. The standing orders must require Assembly members to register in the register of interests registrable interests, as defined for the purposes of this subsection.
3. The standing orders must require any Assembly member who has—
   1. a financial interest, as defined for the purposes of this subsection, or
   2. any other interest, or an interest of any other kind, as so defined,
4. in any matter to declare that interest before taking part in Assembly proceedings relating to that matter.
5. The standing orders may include provision for preventing or restricting the participation in any Assembly proceedings of an Assembly member who has an interest within subsection (2) or (3) in any matter to which the proceedings relate.
6. The standing orders must include provision prohibiting an Assembly member from—
   1. advocating or initiating any cause or matter on behalf of any person, by any means specified in the standing orders, in consideration of any payment or benefit in kind of a description so specified, or
   2. urging, in consideration of any such payment or benefit in kind, any other Assembly member to advocate or initiate any cause or matter on behalf of any person by any such means.
7. The standing orders must include provision about (or for the making of a code or protocol about) the different roles and responsibilities of Assembly constituency members and Assembly regional members; and—
   1. Assembly constituency members must not describe themselves in a manner which suggests that they are Assembly regional members, and
   2. Assembly regional members must not describe themselves in a manner which suggests that they are Assembly constituency members.
8. An Assembly member who—
   1. takes part in Assembly proceedings without having complied with, or in contravention of, any provision included in the standing orders in pursuance of subsections (2) to (4), or
   2. contravenes any provision included in the standing orders in pursuance of subsection (5),
9. commits an offence.
10. A person guilty of an offence under subsection (7) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.
11. A prosecution for an offence under subsection (7) cannot be instituted except by or with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
12. The validity of any Assembly proceedings is not affected by any contravention or failure to comply with any provision included in the standing orders in pursuance of this section.
13. In this section—
    1. references to an Assembly member (apart from those in subsection (6)) include the Counsel General, if not an Assembly member, and
    2. “financial interest” includes a benefit in kind.

Subheading 11. Witnesses and documents

37. Power to call

1. Subject as follows, the Assembly may require any person—
   1. to attend Assembly proceedings for the purpose of giving evidence, or
   2. to produce for the purposes of the Assembly (or a committee of the Assembly or a sub-committee of such a committee) documents in the possession, or under the control, of the person,
2. concerning any matter relevant to the exercise by the Welsh Ministers of any of their functions, relevant to the exercise of any of the Auditor General for Wales’ functions, or relevant to the oversight and supervision of the Auditor General for Wales, or to the oversight and supervision of the exercise of any of his or her functions.
3. The Assembly may not impose a requirement under subsection (1) on a person who is not involved in the exercise of functions, or the carrying on of activities, in relation to Wales or the Welsh zone.
4. The Assembly may not impose a requirement under subsection (1) on a person who—
   1. is or has been a Minister of the Crown, or
   2. serves or has served in the department of a Minister of the Crown,
5. in relation to the exercise of any functions of a Minister of the Crown.
6. The Assembly—
   1. may not impose a requirement under subsection (1) on a person who is a full-time judge of any court, and
   2. may not impose such a requirement on a person who is not within paragraph (a) but who is or has been a member of any court or tribunal in connection with the exercise of functions as such a member.
7. Where a requirement under subsection (1) is imposed on a person who is or has been a member of the staff of the Welsh Assembly Government (or a person seconded to work for the Welsh Assembly Government) in relation to the exercise of any functions of the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General, any of them may issue a direction under subsection (6).
8. A direction under this subsection is a direction—
   1. that the person on whom the requirement was imposed need not comply with it, and
   2. that the requirement is instead to be complied with by another person specified in the direction.
9. The powers conferred by subsection (1)—
   1. may be exercised by and for the purposes of the Audit Committee, and
   2. may be exercised by and for the purposes of any other committee of the Assembly, or any sub-committee of any committee of the Assembly, if the committee or sub-committee is expressly authorised to do so by the Assembly (whether by the standing orders or otherwise).
10. A person is not obliged under this section to answer any question or produce any document which the person would be entitled to refuse to answer or produce in or for the purposes of proceedings in a court in England and Wales.
11. A person acting as prosecutor in criminal proceedings is not obliged under this section to answer any question or produce any document concerning the operation of the system of criminal prosecution in any particular case if the appropriate officer—
    1. considers that answering the question or producing the document might prejudice criminal proceedings in the case or would otherwise be contrary to the public interest, and
    2. has authorised the person to decline to answer the question or produce the document on that ground.
12. In subsection (9) “the appropriate officer” means—
    1. if the proceedings were instituted by or on behalf of the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General, the Counsel General, and
    2. otherwise, the Attorney General.

38. Notice

1. A requirement under section 37 is to be imposed on a person by the Clerk giving the person notice in writing specifying—
   1. whether the requirement is imposed for the purposes of the Assembly or a specified committee or sub-committee, and
   2. the matters mentioned in either paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of subsection (2).
2. Those matters are—
   1. the time and place at which the person is to attend and the particular subject concerning which the person is required to give evidence;
   2. the documents, or types of documents, which the person is to produce, the date by which and person to whom they are to be produced and the particular subject concerning which they are required.
3. Notice under subsection (1) is to be given—
   1. in the case of an individual, by sending it in accordance with subsection (4) addressed to the person at the person’s usual or last known address or, where the person has given an address for service of the notice, at that address, or
   2. in any other case, by so sending it addressed to the person at the person’s registered or principal office.
4. A notice is sent in accordance with this subsection if it is sent—
   1. by a registered post service (within the meaning of the Postal Services Act 2000 (c. 26)), or
   2. by a postal service which provides for its delivery by post to be recorded.
5. If a direction is issued under subsection (6) of section 37 in relation to a requirement imposed under subsection (1) of that section, the person or persons by whom it is issued must give notice in writing that the direction has been issued—
   1. if the requirement was imposed for the purposes of the Assembly, to the Presiding Officer, and
   2. otherwise, to the person who chairs the committee or sub-committee for the purposes of which it was imposed.

39. Offences

1. A person to whom a notice under section 38(1) has been given commits an offence if the person—
   1. refuses or fails without reasonable excuse to attend proceedings as required by the notice,
   2. refuses or fails without reasonable excuse, when attending proceedings as required by the notice, to answer any question concerning the subjects specified in the notice,
   3. refuses or fails without reasonable excuse to produce any document required to be produced by the notice, or
   4. intentionally alters, suppresses, conceals or destroys any such document.
2. Subsection (1) is subject to sections 34(3) and 37(5), (6), (8) and (9).
3. If a person charged with an offence under subsection (1)(a), (b) or (c) adduces evidence of a reasonable excuse for the refusal or failure, it is for the prosecution to prove that the person did not have such an excuse.
4. A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction—
   1. to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale,
   2. to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks, or
   3. to both.
5. Where an offence under subsection (1) which has been committed by a body corporate is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of—
   1. a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate, or
   2. any person who was purporting to act in any such capacity,
6. that person, as well as the body corporate, is guilty of that offence and liable to be proceeded against accordingly.
7. In subsection (5) “director”, in the case of a body corporate whose affairs are managed by its members, means a member of the body corporate.

40. General

1. The Presiding Officer or such other person as may be authorised by the standing orders may—
   1. require any person giving evidence in Assembly proceedings to take an oath (or make an affirmation), and
   2. administer the oath (or affirmation) to the person.
2. A person commits an offence if the person—
   1. is required to attend Assembly proceedings for the purpose of giving evidence by a notice under section 38(1), and
   2. refuses to take an oath (or make an affirmation) when required to do so for the purposes of the Assembly proceedings.
3. A person guilty of an offence under subsection (2) is liable on summary conviction—
   1. to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale,
   2. to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks, or
   3. to both.
4. The standing orders may provide for the payment of allowances and expenses to persons—
   1. attending Assembly proceedings for the purpose of giving evidence, or
   2. producing for the purposes of the Assembly (or a committee of the Assembly or a sub-committee of such a committee) documents which they have been required or requested to produce,
5. whether or not in pursuance of a notice under section 38(1).
6. The provision made by virtue of subsection (4) may confer functions on the Assembly Commission.
7. For the purposes of sections 37 to 39 and this section—
   1. a person is to be taken to comply with a requirement to produce a document if the person produces a copy of the document or an extract of the relevant part of the document,
   2. “document” means anything in which information is recorded in any form, and
   3. references to producing a document are to producing the information recorded in it in a visible and legible form.

Subheading 12. Legal issues

41. Proceedings by or against Assembly etc

1. Proceedings by or against the Assembly are to be instituted by or against the Assembly Commission on behalf of the Assembly.
2. Proceedings by or against—
   1. the Presiding Officer or Deputy Presiding Officer, or
   2. a member of the staff of the Assembly,
3. are (unless instituted against or by the Assembly Commission) to be instituted by or against the Assembly Commission on behalf of the Presiding Officer, Deputy Presiding Officer or member of staff.
4. In any proceedings against the Assembly the court must not grant a mandatory, prohibiting or quashing order or an injunction, make an order for specific performance or stay the proceedings but may instead make a declaration.
5. In any proceedings against—
   1. any Assembly member,
   2. the Presiding Officer or Deputy Presiding Officer,
   3. any member of the staff of the Assembly, or
   4. the Assembly Commission,
6. the court must not grant a mandatory, prohibiting or quashing order or an injunction, make an order for specific performance or stay the proceedings if the effect of doing so would be to give any relief against the Assembly which could not have been given in proceedings against the Assembly.
7. References in this section to an order include an order which is not final.

42. Defamation

1. For the purposes of the law of defamation—
   1. any statement made in Assembly proceedings, and
   2. the publication under the authority of the Assembly of any statement,
2. is absolutely privileged.
3. The Welsh Ministers may by regulations make provision for and in connection with establishing in any legal proceedings that any statement or publication is absolutely privileged by virtue of subsection (1).
4. No regulations are to be made under subsection (2) unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing them has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the Assembly.
5. In this section “statement” has the same meaning as in the Defamation Act 1996 (c. 31).

43. Contempt of court

1. The strict liability rule does not apply in relation to any publication—
   1. made in, for the purposes of, or for purposes incidental to, Assembly proceedings, or
   2. to the extent that it consists of a report of Assembly proceedings which either is made by or under the authority of the Assembly or is fair and accurate and made in good faith.
2. In subsection (1)—
   • “the strict liability rule”, and
     “publication”,
3. have the same meaning as in the Contempt of Court Act 1981 (c. 49).

44. Corrupt practices

The Assembly and the Assembly Commission are public bodies for the purposes of the Prevention of Corruption Acts 1889 to 1916.

Part 2. Welsh Assembly Government

Subheading 1. Government

45. Welsh Assembly Government

1. There is to be a Welsh Assembly Government, or Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru, whose members are—
   1. the First Minister or Prif Weinidog (see sections 46 and 47),
   2. the Welsh Ministers, or Gweinidogion Cymru, appointed under section 48,
   3. the Counsel General to the Welsh Assembly Government or Cwnsler Cyffredinol i Lywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru (see section 49) (referred to in this Act as “the Counsel General”), and
   4. the Deputy Welsh Ministers or Dirprwy Weinidogion Cymru (see section 50).
2. In this Act and in any other enactment or instrument the First Minister and the Welsh Ministers appointed under section 48 are referred to collectively as the Welsh Ministers.

Subheading 2. Ministers, staff etc

46. The First Minister

1. The First Minister is to be appointed by Her Majesty after nomination in accordance with section 47.
2. The First Minister holds office at Her Majesty’s pleasure.
3. The First Minister may at any time tender resignation to Her Majesty and ceases to hold office as First Minister when it is accepted.
4. A person ceases to hold office as the First Minister if another person is appointed to that office.
5. The functions of the First Minister are exercisable by a person designated by the Presiding Officer if—
   1. the office of the First Minister is vacant,
   2. the First Minister is for any reason unable to act, or
   3. the First Minister has ceased to be an Assembly member.
6. A person may not be designated to exercise the functions of the First Minister unless the person is—
   1. an Assembly member, or
   2. if the Assembly has been dissolved, a person who ceased to be an Assembly member by reason of the dissolution.
7. A person may be designated to exercise the functions of the First Minister only on the recommendation of the Welsh Ministers (unless there is no-one holding office as a Welsh Minister appointed under section 48).
8. If a person is designated to exercise the functions of the First Minister, the designation continues to have effect even if the Assembly is dissolved.

47. Choice of First Minister

1. If one of the following events occurs, the Assembly must, before the end of the relevant period, nominate an Assembly member for appointment as First Minister.
2. The events are—
   1. the holding of a poll at a general election,
   2. the Assembly resolving that the Welsh Ministers no longer enjoy the confidence of the Assembly,
   3. the First Minister tendering resignation to Her Majesty,
   4. the First Minister dying or becoming permanently unable to act and to tender resignation, and
   5. the First Minister ceasing to be an Assembly member otherwise than by reason of a dissolution.
3. The relevant period is the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which the event occurs; but—
   1. if another of those events occurs within that period, the relevant period is (subject to paragraph (b)) extended to end with the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which that other event occurs, and
   2. the relevant period ends if the Assembly passes a resolution under section 5(2)(a) or when Her Majesty appoints a person as the First Minister.
4. The Presiding Officer must recommend to Her Majesty the appointment of the person nominated by the Assembly under subsection (1).

48. Welsh Ministers

1. The First Minister may, with the approval of Her Majesty, appoint Welsh Ministers from among the Assembly members.
2. A Welsh Minister appointed under this section holds office at Her Majesty’s pleasure.
3. A Welsh Minister appointed under this section may be removed from office by the First Minister.
4. A Welsh Minister appointed under this section may at any time resign.
5. A Welsh Minister appointed under this section must resign if the Assembly resolves that the Welsh Ministers no longer enjoy the confidence of the Assembly.
6. A Welsh Minister appointed under this section who resigns ceases to hold office immediately.
7. A Welsh Minister appointed under this section ceases to hold office on ceasing to be an Assembly member otherwise than by reason of a dissolution.

49. Counsel General

1. The Counsel General is to be appointed by Her Majesty on the recommendation of the First Minister.
2. The Counsel General may be removed from office by Her Majesty on the recommendation of the First Minister.
3. No recommendation for the appointment or removal of a person as the Counsel General may be made by the First Minister without the agreement of the Assembly.
4. The Counsel General may at any time tender resignation to Her Majesty and ceases to hold office as Counsel General when it is accepted.
5. The Counsel General ceases to hold office if an Assembly member is nominated under section 47(1) for appointment as First Minister.
6. The functions of the Counsel General are exercisable by a person designated by the First Minister if—
   1. the office of the Counsel General is vacant, or
   2. the Counsel General is for any reason unable to act.
7. But subsection (6) ceases to have effect at the end of the period of six months beginning with the day on which a person is designated under it and does not have effect again until after the office of the Counsel General has been filled, or the Counsel General has again become able to act.
8. The designation of a person under subsection (6) ceases to have effect if an Assembly member is nominated under section 47(1) for appointment as First Minister.
9. A person holding office as the First Minister, a Welsh Minister appointed under section 48 or a Deputy Welsh Minister may not be appointed as the Counsel General or designated under subsection (6); and the Counsel General or a person so designated may not be appointed to any of those offices.

50. Deputy Welsh Ministers

1. The First Minister may, with the approval of Her Majesty, appoint Deputy Welsh Ministers from among the Assembly members to assist the First Minister, a Welsh Minister appointed under section 48 or the Counsel General in the exercise of functions.
2. A Deputy Welsh Minister holds office at Her Majesty’s pleasure.
3. A Deputy Welsh Minister may be removed from office by the First Minister.
4. A Deputy Welsh Minister may at any time resign.
5. A Deputy Welsh Minister must resign if the Assembly resolves that the Welsh Ministers no longer enjoy the confidence of the Assembly.
6. A Deputy Welsh Minister who resigns ceases to hold office immediately.
7. A Deputy Welsh Minister ceases to hold office on ceasing to be an Assembly member otherwise than by reason of a dissolution.

51. Limit on number of Ministers

1. No more than twelve persons are to hold a relevant Welsh Ministerial office at any time.
2. A relevant Welsh Ministerial office means the office of Welsh Minister appointed under section 48 or the office of Deputy Welsh Minister.

52. Staff

1. The Welsh Ministers may appoint persons to be members of the staff of the Welsh Assembly Government.
2. Service as a member of the staff of the Welsh Assembly Government is service in the civil service of the State.
3. See Part 1 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 (in particular, sections 3 and 4) for provision affecting—
   1. subsection (1), and
   2. any other enactment about the appointment of persons as members of the staff of the Welsh Assembly Government.
4. See also section 1 of the Civil Service (Management Functions) Act 1992 under which functions conferred on the Minister for the Civil Service by section 3 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 may be delegated to the Welsh Ministers etc.
5. The Welsh Ministers are to pay the salaries and expenses of the members of the staff of the Welsh Assembly Government.
6. Section 1(2) and (3) of the Superannuation Act 1972 (c. 11) (delegation of functions relating to civil service superannuation schemes by Minister for the Civil Service to another Minister etc. and consultation by that Minister or another Minister) have effect as if the references to a Minister of the Crown other than the Minister for the Civil Service included the Welsh Ministers.
7. The Welsh Ministers must make payments to the Minister for the Civil Service, at such times as the Minister for the Civil Service may determine, of such amounts as may be so determined in respect of—
   1. the provision of pensions, allowances or gratuities by virtue of section 1 of the Superannuation Act 1972 to or in respect of persons who are or have been members of the staff of the Welsh Assembly Government, and
   2. the expenses incurred in administering those pensions, allowances and gratuities.
8. The Welsh Ministers may make payments towards the provision of pensions, allowances or gratuities to or in respect of any person who is or has been a member of the staff of the Welsh Assembly Government.
9. Without prejudice to any rule of law with respect to the carrying out of functions by members of the civil service of the State under authority, the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General may authorise the staff of the Welsh Assembly Government to carry out any function on their behalf.
10. [Omitted]

Subheading 3. Remuneration, oaths etc

53. Remuneration

1. Provision must be made for the payment of salaries to persons to whom this section applies.
2. Provision may be made for the payment of allowances to persons to whom this section applies.
3. Provision may be made for the payment of pensions, gratuities or allowances to, or in respect of, any person who has ceased to be a person to whom this section applies.
4. Such provision may, in particular, include provision for—
   1. contributions or payments towards provision for such pensions, gratuities or allowances, and
   2. the establishment and administration (whether by the Assembly Commission or otherwise) of one or more pension schemes.
5. This section applies to—
   1. the First Minister,
   2. every Welsh Minister appointed under section 48,
   3. the Counsel General, and
   4. every Deputy Welsh Minister.
6. Sums required for the making of payments by virtue of provision under this section are payable out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund.
7. Provision under this section is to be made by determination made by the Board.
8. The Assembly Commission must give effect to any determination made by the Board under this section.

54. Remuneration: supplementary

1. Different provision may be made under section 53 for different cases.
2. The Assembly Commission must ensure that information concerning—
   1. the amounts paid to each person to whom section 53 applies as salary and allowances, and
   2. the total amount paid to such persons as salaries and allowances,
3. is published for each financial year F24…
4. The Assembly Commission must lay before the Assembly every determination made by the Board under section 53(7) as soon as is reasonably practicable after it is made.
5. Provision made under section 53(3) does not affect pensions or allowances in payment before the provision was made.

55. Oath or affirmation

1. On appointment as the First Minister, a Welsh Minister appointed under section 48 or the Counsel General a person must take the official oath in the form set out in section 3 of the Promissory Oaths Act 1868 (c. 72) (or make the corresponding affirmation).
2. On appointment as the First Minister, a Welsh Minister appointed under section 48, the Counsel General or a Deputy Welsh Minister a person must take the oath of allegiance in the form set out in section 2 of the Promissory Oaths Act 1868 (or make the corresponding affirmation).
3. But subsection (2) does not require a person who is an Assembly member to take the oath of allegiance (or make the corresponding affirmation) again if it has been taken (or made) in compliance with the person’s duty on the person’s return (or, if returned more than once, most recent return) as an Assembly member.
4. An oath required by this section is to be taken (or the corresponding affirmation made)—
   1. before one of the Presiding Judges for the Wales and Chester Circuit (or for any appropriate area which is specified in a direction under section 72(4) of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 (c. 41)), or
   2. (if no such Presiding Judge is available) before another judge nominated by the Senior Presiding Judge for England and Wales.
5. Until a person who is required to take an oath (or make an affirmation) by this section in respect of any office has done so, no salary, allowance, gratuity or payment towards the provision of a pension, allowance or gratuity is to be paid under this Act to or in respect of the person as a holder of that office.
6. But subsection (5) does not affect any entitlement to payments in respect of the period before the person took the oath (or made the affirmation) once the person has done so.

Subheading 4. Functions

56. Introduction

1. The persons to whom this section applies have the functions conferred or imposed on them by or by virtue of this Act or any other enactment or prerogative instrument.
2. This section applies to the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister and the Counsel General.

57. Exercise of functions

1. Functions may be conferred or imposed on the Welsh Ministers by that name.
2. Functions of the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister and the Counsel General are exercisable on behalf of Her Majesty.
3. Functions of the Welsh Ministers are exercisable by the First Minister or any of the Welsh Ministers appointed under section 48.
4. Any act or omission of, or in relation to, the First Minister or any of the Welsh Ministers appointed under section 48 is to be treated as an act or omission of, or in relation to, each of them.
5. But subsection (4) does not apply in relation to the exercise of functions conferred or imposed on the First Minister alone.
6. Where a function conferred or imposed on the Counsel General is (either generally or in particular circumstances) exercisable concurrently by the Welsh Ministers or the First Minister, subsection (4) applies in relation to the exercise of the function (or to its exercise in those circumstances) as if the Counsel General were included among the Welsh Ministers.

58. Transfer of Ministerial functions

1. Her Majesty may by Order in Council—
   1. provide for the transfer to the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General of any function so far as exercisable by a Minister of the Crown in relation to Wales or the Welsh zone,
   2. direct that any function so far as so exercisable is to be exercisable by the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General concurrently with the Minister of the Crown, or
   3. direct that any function so far as exercisable by a Minister of the Crown in relation to Wales or the Welsh zone is to be exercisable by the Minister of the Crown only with the agreement of, or after consultation with, the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General.
2. An Order in Council under this section may not make provision about a function of a Minister of the Crown exercisable in relation to the area of the Welsh zone beyond the seaward limit of the territorial sea unless the function is connected with fishing, fisheries or fish health.
3. Subsection (1A) does not have effect in relation to an Order in Council to the extent that it contains provision made by virtue of paragraph 4 of Schedule 3 (functions exercisable beyond the territorial sea).
4. An Order in Council under this section may, in particular, provide for any function exercisable by the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General by virtue of an Order in Council under subsection (1)(a) or (b) to be exercisable either generally or in such circumstances as may be specified in the Order in Council, concurrently with any other of the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General.
5. An Order in Council under this section may make such modifications of—
   1. any enactment (including any enactment comprised in or made under this Act) or prerogative instrument, or
   2. any other instrument or document,
6. as Her Majesty considers appropriate in connection with the provision made by the Order in Council.
7. No recommendation is to be made to Her Majesty in Council to make an Order in Council under this section unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing the Order in Council—
   1. has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament, and
   2. has been approved by the Welsh Ministers.
8. For further provision in connection with the transfer etc. of functions by Orders in Council under this section see Schedule 3.

59. Implementation of EU law

1. The power to designate a Minister of the Crown or government department under section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 (c. 68) may be exercised to designate the Welsh Ministers.
2. Accordingly, the Welsh Ministers may exercise the power conferred by section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 in relation to any matter, or for any purpose, if they have been designated in relation to that matter or for that purpose, but subject to such restrictions or conditions (if any) as may be specified by the Order in Council designating them.
3. A statutory instrument containing provision made by the Welsh Ministers in the exercise of that power, if made without a draft having been approved by resolution of the Assembly, is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the Assembly.
4. Paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 2 to the European Communities Act 1972 (Parliamentary procedure) does not apply to the statutory instrument unless it contains provision—
   1. made by a Minister of the Crown or government department (whether or not jointly with the Welsh Ministers),
   2. relating to an English border area, or
   3. relating to a cross-border body (and not relating only to the exercise of functions, or the carrying on of activities, by the body in or with respect to Wales, the Welsh zone or a part of Wales or the Welsh zone.
5. The power conferred by section 56 of the Finance Act 1973 (c. 51) (services provided in pursuance of a EU obligation etc.) on the Minister in charge of a government department to make (with the consent of the Treasury) regulations prescribing, or providing for the determination of, fees and charges in respect of things done by the department may be exercised by the Welsh Ministers (with the consent of the Treasury) for prescribing, or providing for the determination of, fees and charges in respect of corresponding things done by the Welsh Ministers.
6. A statutory instrument containing regulations made by the Welsh Ministers in the exercise of that power is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the Assembly.
7. Section 56(4) of the Finance Act 1973 does not cause the statutory instrument to be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament unless it contains regulations—
   1. made by a Minister of the Crown or government department (whether or not jointly with the Welsh Ministers),
   2. relating to an English border area, or
   3. relating to a cross-border body (and not relating only to the exercise of functions, or the carrying on of activities, by the body in or with respect to Wales, the Welsh zone or a part of Wales or the Welsh zone).

60. Promotion etc. of well-being

1. The Welsh Ministers may do anything which they consider appropriate to achieve any one or more of the following objects—
   1. the promotion or improvement of the economic well-being of Wales,
   2. the promotion or improvement of the social well-being of Wales, and
   3. the promotion or improvement of the environmental well-being of Wales.
2. The power under subsection (1) may be exercised in relation to or for the benefit of—
   1. the whole or any part of Wales, or
   2. all or any persons resident or present in Wales.
3. The power under subsection (1) includes power to do anything in relation to or for the benefit of any area outside Wales, or all or any persons resident or present anywhere outside Wales, if the Welsh Ministers consider that it is likely to achieve one or more of the objects in that subsection.
4. The power under subsection (1) includes power—
   1. to enter into arrangements or agreements with any person,
   2. to co-operate with, or facilitate or co-ordinate the activities of, any person,
   3. to exercise on behalf of any person any functions of that person, and
   4. to provide staff, goods, services or accommodation to any person.

61. Support of culture etc

The Welsh Ministers may do anything which they consider appropriate to support—

1. archaeological remains in Wales,
2. ancient monuments in Wales,
3. buildings and places of historical or architectural interest in Wales,
4. historic wrecks in Wales,
5. arts and crafts relating to Wales,
6. museums and galleries in Wales,
7. libraries in Wales,
8. archives and historical records relating to Wales,
9. cultural activities and projects relating to Wales,
10. sport and recreational activities relating to Wales, and
11. the Welsh language.

62. Representations about matters affecting Wales

The Welsh Ministers, the First Minister and the Counsel General may make appropriate representations about any matter affecting Wales.

63. Consultation about cross-border bodies

1. A Minister of the Crown must consult the Welsh Ministers—
   1. before exercising any function which relates to the appointment or removal of a relevant cross-border body,
   2. before exercising any function which relates to the appointment or removal of any member or office-holder of a relevant cross-border body, other than one who is not concerned in the functions or activities which the body exercises or carries on in or with respect to Wales, and
   3. before exercising, in relation to a relevant cross-border body, any function the exercise of which might affect Wales in relation to any matter as respects which functions are exercisable by the Welsh Ministers.
2. A body is a relevant cross-border body if it is a cross-border body which exercises functions of a public nature and which is not a government department.
3. Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to the exercise of a function if it is not reasonably practicable to comply with it in relation to the exercise of the function (for reasons of urgency or for any other reasons).
4. If subsection (1) does not apply in relation to the exercise of a function by a Minister of the Crown by reason of subsection (3), the Minister of the Crown must as soon as is reasonably practicable inform the Welsh Ministers of the exercise of the function and of the reasons for its exercise.
5. A failure to comply with subsection (1) in relation to the exercise of a function does not affect the validity of its exercise.

64. Polls for ascertaining views of the public

1. The Welsh Ministers may hold a poll in an area consisting of Wales or any part (or parts) of Wales for the purpose of ascertaining the views of those polled about whether or how any of the functions of the Welsh Ministers (other than that under section 62) should be exercised.
2. The persons entitled to vote in a poll under this section are those who—
   1. would be entitled to vote as electors at a local government election in an electoral area wholly or partly included in the area in which the poll is held, and
   2. are registered in the register of local government electors at an address within the area in which the poll is held.
3. The Welsh Ministers may by order make provision—
   1. as to the conduct of polls (or any poll) under this section, or
   2. for the combination of polls (or any poll) under this section with polls at any elections.
4. An order under subsection (3) may apply or incorporate, with or without modifications or exceptions, any provision of or made under any enactment relating to elections or referendums; and the provision which may be made under paragraph (a) of that subsection includes, in particular, provision for disregarding alterations in a register of electors.
5. A statutory instrument containing an order under subsection (3) is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the Assembly.

65. Private bills

1. The Welsh Ministers may promote private bills in Parliament and may oppose any private bill in Parliament.
2. Subsection (1) does not cause the Welsh Ministers to have power to apply for orders under section 1 or 3 of the Transport and Works Act 1992 (c. 42) by virtue of section 20 of that Act (which gives a body with power to promote and oppose private bills power to apply for and object to such orders).

66. Provision of information to Treasury

Where it appears to the Treasury that any information in the possession, or under the control, of the Welsh Ministers is required for the exercise of any function by the Treasury, the Treasury may require the Welsh Ministers to provide the information to the Treasury in such form as the Treasury may reasonably specify.

67. Legal proceedings

1. Where the Counsel General considers it appropriate for the promotion or protection of the public interest, the Counsel General may institute in the Counsel General’s name, defend or appear in any legal proceedings to which this section applies.
2. This section applies to legal proceedings relating to matters with respect to which any functions of the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General are exercisable.

68. Contracts

1. The Secretary of State may by order provide that the Local Government (Contracts) Act 1997 (c. 65) applies in relation to contracts entered into by the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General but subject to any appropriate modifications.
2. A statutory instrument containing an order under this section is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

69. Charges for documents

1. The Welsh Ministers may make a charge for supplying copies of (or of any part of) any document which they publish or make available for public inspection.
2. Subsection (1) has effect subject to any provision contained in, or made under, any enactment which makes provision for—
   1. the making of charges for the inspection of documents,
   2. the making of charges for supplying copies of documents (or parts of documents), or
   3. the supply of copies of documents (or parts of documents) free of charge.
3. This section applies to the First Minister and the Counsel General as to the Welsh Ministers.

70. Financial assistance

1. The Welsh Ministers may give financial assistance (whether by way of grant, loan or guarantee) to any person engaged in any activity which the Welsh Ministers consider will secure, or help to secure, the attainment of any objective which they aim to attain in the exercise of any of their functions.
2. The Welsh Ministers may attach conditions to the giving of financial assistance by them; and the conditions which may be attached include, in particular, conditions requiring the repayment of the whole or any part of a grant, or the making of any other payments, in any circumstances.
3. This section applies in relation to the First Minister and the Counsel General as in relation to the Welsh Ministers.

71. Supplementary

1. The persons to whom this section applies may do anything (including the acquisition or disposal of any property or rights) which is calculated to facilitate, or is conducive or incidental to, the exercise of any of their other functions.
2. This section applies to the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister and the Counsel General.

Subheading 5. Inclusive” approach to exercise of functions

72. Partnership Council

1. The Welsh Ministers must establish and maintain a body to be known as the Partnership Council for Wales or Cyngor Partneriaeth Cymru (“the Partnership Council”).
2. The Partnership Council is to consist of members appointed by the Welsh Ministers from among—
   1. the Welsh Ministers,
   2. the Deputy Welsh Ministers, and
   3. the members of local authorities in Wales.
3. Before appointing members of the Partnership Council under subsection (2)(c), the Welsh Ministers must consult such associations of local authorities in Wales as they consider appropriate.
4. The Partnership Council may—
   1. give advice to the Welsh Ministers about matters affecting the exercise of any of their functions,
   2. make representations to the Welsh Ministers about any matters affecting, or of concern to, those involved in local government in Wales, and
   3. give advice to those involved in local government in Wales.
5. For the purposes of this section the following are local authorities in Wales—
   1. county councils, county borough councils and community councils in Wales,
   2. National Park authorities for National Parks in Wales,
   3. police and crime commissioners for police areas in Wales,
   4. fire and rescue authorities for areas in Wales, and
   5. authorities of any description specified for the purposes of this paragraph by order made by the Welsh Ministers.
6. No order may be made under subsection (5)(e) unless the Welsh Ministers have consulted the Partnership Council.
7. A statutory instrument containing an order under subsection (5)(e) is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the Assembly.

73. Local government scheme

1. The Welsh Ministers must make a scheme (“the local government scheme”) setting out how they propose, in the exercise of their functions, to sustain and promote local government in Wales.
2. The Welsh Ministers—
   1. must keep the local government scheme under review, and
   2. may from time to time remake or revise it.
3. In determining the provision to be included in the local government scheme, the Welsh Ministers must have regard to any advice which has been given, and to any representations which have been made, to them by the Partnership Council.
4. The Welsh Ministers must publish the local government scheme when they make it and whenever they remake it; and, if they revise the scheme without remaking it, they must publish either the revisions or the scheme as revised (as they consider appropriate).
5. If the Welsh Ministers publish a scheme or revisions under subsection (4) they must lay a copy of the scheme or revisions before the Assembly.
6. After each financial year the Welsh Ministers must—
   1. publish a report of how the proposals set out in the local government scheme were implemented in that financial year, and
   2. lay a copy of the report before the Assembly.

74. Voluntary sector scheme

1. The Welsh Ministers must make a scheme (“the voluntary sector scheme”) setting out how they propose, in the exercise of their functions, to promote the interests of relevant voluntary organisations.
2. In this section “relevant voluntary organisations” means bodies (other than local authorities or other public bodies) whose activities—
   1. are carried on otherwise than for profit, and
   2. directly or indirectly benefit the whole or any part of Wales (whether or not they also benefit any other area).
3. In determining the provision to be included in the voluntary sector scheme, the Welsh Ministers must consider how they intend to exercise such of their functions as relate to matters affecting, or of concern to, relevant voluntary organisations.
4. The voluntary sector scheme must specify—
   1. how the Welsh Ministers propose to provide assistance to relevant voluntary organisations (whether by grants, loans, guarantees or any other means),
   2. how the Welsh Ministers propose to monitor the use made of any assistance provided by them to relevant voluntary organisations, and
   3. how the Welsh Ministers propose to consult relevant voluntary organisations about the exercise of such of their functions as relate to matters affecting, or of concern to, such organisations.
5. The Welsh Ministers—
   1. must keep the voluntary sector scheme under review, and
   2. may from time to time remake or revise it.
6. Before making, remaking or revising the voluntary sector scheme, the Welsh Ministers must consult such relevant voluntary organisations as they consider appropriate.
7. The Welsh Ministers must publish the voluntary sector scheme when they make it and whenever they remake it; and, if they revise the scheme without remaking it, they must publish either the revisions or the scheme as revised (as they consider appropriate).
8. If the Welsh Ministers publish a scheme or revisions under subsection (7) they must lay a copy of the scheme or revisions before the Assembly.
9. After each financial year the Welsh Ministers must—
   1. publish a report of how the proposals set out in the voluntary sector scheme were implemented in that financial year, and
   2. lay a copy of the report before the Assembly.

75. Business scheme

1. The Welsh Ministers must make a scheme (“the business scheme”) setting out how they propose, in the exercise of their functions, to take account of the interests of business.
2. The business scheme must specify how the Welsh Ministers propose—
   1. to carry out consultation about the exercise of such of their functions as relate to matters affecting the interests of business, and
   2. to consider the impact of the exercise of their functions on the interests of business.
3. The Welsh Ministers—
   1. must keep the business scheme under review, and
   2. may from time to time remake or revise it.
4. Before making, remaking or revising the business scheme, the Welsh Ministers must consult such organisations representative of business (including trade unions) and such other organisations as they consider appropriate.
5. The Welsh Ministers must publish the business scheme when they make it and whenever they remake it; and, if they revise the scheme without remaking it, they must publish either the revisions or the scheme as revised (as they consider appropriate).
6. If the Welsh Ministers publish a scheme or revisions under subsection (5) they must lay a copy of the scheme or revisions before the Assembly.
7. The Welsh Ministers must—
   1. within the period of two years beginning with the day on which the business scheme is first made, and
   2. subsequently at intervals of no more than two years,
8. publish a report of how the proposals set out in the business scheme have been implemented.
9. The Welsh Ministers must lay before the Assembly a copy of each report published under subsection (7).

76. Regulatory impact assessments

1. The Welsh Ministers must make a code of practice setting out their policy on—
   1. the carrying out of regulatory impact assessments in connection with relevant Welsh subordinate legislation, and
   2. the carrying out of consultation in connection with regulatory impact assessments,
2. (“the regulatory impact assessment code”).
3. For the purposes of this section—
   1. a regulatory impact assessment is an assessment as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with relevant Welsh subordinate legislation, and
   2. subordinate legislation is relevant Welsh subordinate legislation if it is made by the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General and the statutory instrument (or a draft of the statutory instrument) containing it is required to be laid before the Assembly.
4. The Welsh Ministers—
   1. must keep the regulatory impact assessment code under review, and
   2. may from time to time remake or revise it.
5. Before making, remaking or revising the regulatory impact assessment code, the Welsh Ministers must consult such persons as they consider appropriate.
6. The Welsh Ministers must publish the regulatory impact assessment code when they make it and whenever they remake it; and, if they revise the code without remaking it, they must publish either the revisions or the code as revised (as they consider appropriate).
7. If the Welsh Ministers publish a code or revisions under subsection (5) they must lay a copy of the code or revisions before the Assembly.

77. Equality of opportunity

1. The Welsh Ministers must make appropriate arrangements with a view to securing that their functions are exercised with due regard to the principle that there should be equality of opportunity for all people.
2. After each financial year the Welsh Ministers must publish a report containing—
   1. a statement of the arrangements made in pursuance of subsection (1) which had effect during that financial year, and
   2. an assessment of how effective those arrangements were in promoting equality of opportunity,
3. and must lay a copy of the report before the Assembly.

78. The Welsh language

1. The Welsh Ministers must adopt a strategy (“the Welsh language strategy”) setting out how they propose to promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language.
2. The Welsh Ministers must adopt a scheme (“the Welsh language scheme”) specifying measures which they propose to take, for the purpose mentioned in subsection (3), as to the use of the Welsh language in connection with the provision of services to the public in Wales by them, or by others who—
   1. are acting as servants or agents of the Crown, or
   2. are public bodies (within the meaning of Part 2 of the Welsh Language Act 1993 (c. 38)).
3. The purpose referred to in subsection (2) is that of giving effect, so far as is both appropriate in the circumstances and reasonably practicable, to the principle that in the conduct of public business in Wales the English and Welsh languages should be treated on a basis of equality.
4. The Welsh Ministers—
   1. must keep under review both the Welsh language strategy and the Welsh language scheme, and
   2. may from time to time adopt a new strategy or scheme or revise them.
5. Before adopting or revising a strategy or scheme, the Welsh Ministers must consult such persons as they consider appropriate.
6. The Welsh Ministers must publish the Welsh language strategy and the Welsh language scheme when they first adopt it and—
   1. if they adopt a new strategy or scheme they must publish it, and
   2. if they revise the Welsh language strategy or the Welsh language scheme (rather than adopting a new strategy or scheme) they must publish either the revisions or the strategy or scheme as revised (as they consider appropriate).
7. If the Welsh Ministers publish a strategy or scheme, or revisions, under subsection (6) they must lay a copy of the strategy or scheme, or revisions, before the Assembly.
8. After each financial year the Welsh Ministers must publish a report of—
   1. how the proposals set out in the Welsh language strategy were implemented in that financial year and how effective their implementation has been in promoting and facilitating the use of the Welsh language, and
   2. how the proposals set out in the Welsh language scheme were implemented in that financial year,
9. and must lay a copy of the report before the Assembly.
10. For each financial year, the Welsh Ministers must publish a plan setting out how they will implement the proposals set out in the Welsh language strategy during that year.
11. The plan must be published as soon as reasonably practicable before the commencement of the financial year to which it relates.

79. Sustainable development

1. The Welsh Ministers must make a scheme (“the sustainable development scheme”) setting out how they propose, in the exercise of their functions, to promote sustainable development.
2. The Welsh Ministers—
   1. must keep the sustainable development scheme under review, and
   2. may from time to time remake or revise it.
3. Before making, remaking or revising the sustainable development scheme, the Welsh Ministers must consult such persons as they consider appropriate.
4. The Welsh Ministers must publish the sustainable development scheme when they make it and whenever they remake it; and, if they revise the scheme without remaking it, they must publish either the revisions or the scheme as revised (as they consider appropriate).
5. If the Welsh Ministers publish a scheme or revisions under subsection (4) they must lay a copy of the scheme or revisions before the Assembly.
6. After each financial year the Welsh Ministers must—
   1. publish a report of how the proposals set out in the sustainable development scheme were implemented in that financial year, and
   2. lay a copy of the report before the Assembly.
7. In the year following that in which an ordinary general election is (or, apart from section 5(5), would be) held, the Welsh Ministers must—
   1. publish a report containing an assessment of how effective their proposals (as set out in the scheme and implemented) have been in promoting sustainable development, and
   2. lay a copy of the report before the Assembly.

Subheading 6. EU law, human rights and international obligations etc

80. EU law

1. An EU obligation of the United Kingdom is also an obligation of the Welsh Ministers if and to the extent that the obligation could be implemented (or enabled to be implemented) or complied with by the exercise by the Welsh Ministers of any of their functions.
2. Subsection (1) does not apply in the case of an EU obligation of the United Kingdom if—
   1. it is an obligation to achieve a result defined by reference to a quantity (whether expressed as an amount, proportion or ratio or otherwise), and
   2. the quantity relates to the United Kingdom (or to an area including the United Kingdom or to an area consisting of a part of the United Kingdom which includes the whole or part of Wales or of the Welsh zone).
3. But if such an EU obligation could (to any extent) be implemented (or enabled to be implemented) or complied with by the exercise by the Welsh Ministers of any of their functions, a Minister of the Crown may by order provide for the achievement by the Welsh Ministers (in the exercise of their functions) of so much of the result to be achieved under the EU obligation as is specified in the order.
4. The order may specify the time by which any part of the result to be achieved by the Welsh Ministers is to be achieved.
5. No order is to be made by a Minister of the Crown under subsection (3) unless the Minister of the Crown has consulted the Welsh Ministers.
6. A statutory instrument containing an order under subsection (3) is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
7. Where an order under subsection (3) is in force in relation to an EU obligation, to the extent that the EU obligation involves achieving what is specified in the order it is also an obligation of the Welsh Ministers (enforceable as if it were an obligation of the Welsh Ministers under subsection (1)).
8. The Welsh Ministers have no power—
   1. to make, confirm or approve any subordinate legislation, or
   2. to do any other act,
9. so far as the subordinate legislation or act is incompatible with EU law or an obligation under subsection (7).
10. Subsections (1) and (8) apply to the First Minister and the Counsel General as to the Welsh Ministers.

81. Human rights

1. The Welsh Ministers have no power—
   1. to make, confirm or approve any subordinate legislation, or
   2. to do any other act,
2. so far as the subordinate legislation or act is incompatible with any of the Convention rights.
3. Subsection (1) does not enable a person—
   1. to bring any proceedings in a court or tribunal, or
   2. to rely on any of the Convention rights in any such proceedings,
4. in respect of an act unless that person would be a victim for the purposes of Article 34 of the Convention if proceedings were brought in the European Court of Human Rights in respect of that act.
5. Subsection (2) does not apply to the Attorney General, the Counsel General, the Advocate General for Scotland, the Advocate General for Northern Ireland or the Attorney General for Northern Ireland.
6. Subsection (1)—
   1. does not apply to an act which, by virtue of subsection (2) of section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998 (c. 42), is not unlawful under subsection (1) of that section, and
   2. does not enable a court or tribunal to award in respect of any act any damages which it could not award on finding the act unlawful under that subsection.
7. Subsection (1) applies to the First Minister and the Counsel General as to the Welsh Ministers.
8. In subsection (2) “the Convention” has the same meaning as in the Human Rights Act 1998.

82. International obligations etc

1. If the Secretary of State considers that any action proposed to be taken by the Welsh Ministers would be incompatible with any international obligation, the Secretary of State may by order direct that the proposed action is not to be taken.
2. If the Secretary of State considers that an action capable of being taken by the Welsh Ministers is required for the purposes of giving effect to any international obligation, the Secretary of State may by order direct the Welsh Ministers to take the action.
3. If the Secretary of State considers that any subordinate legislation made, or which could be revoked, by the Welsh Ministers is incompatible with any international obligation or the interests of defence or national security, the Secretary of State may by order revoke the legislation.
4. An order under subsection (3) may include provision for the order to have effect from a date earlier than that on which it is made; but—
   1. such a provision does not affect any rights or liabilities acquired or incurred before the date on which the order is made, and
   2. no person is to be guilty of an offence merely because of such a provision.
5. The Secretary of State may make an order containing provision such as is specified in subsection (6) where—
   1. an international obligation is an obligation to achieve a result defined by reference to a quantity (whether expressed as an amount, proportion or ratio or otherwise), and
   2. the quantity relates to the United Kingdom (or to an area including the United Kingdom or to an area consisting of a part of the United Kingdom which includes the whole or part of Wales or of the Welsh zone).
6. The provision referred to in subsection (5) is provision for the achievement by the Welsh Ministers (in the exercise of their functions) of so much of the result to be achieved under the international obligation as is specified in the order.
7. The order may specify the time by which any part of the result to be achieved by the Welsh Ministers is to be achieved.
8. Where an order under subsection (5) is in force in relation to an international obligation, references to the international obligation in subsections (1) to (3) are to an obligation to achieve so much of the result to be achieved under the international obligation as is specified in the order by the time or times so specified.
9. No order is to be made by the Secretary of State under subsection (2), (3) or (5) unless the Secretary of State has consulted the Welsh Ministers.
10. An order under this section must state the reasons for making it.
11. A statutory instrument containing—
    1. subject to subsection (12), an order under subsection (1), or
    2. an order under subsection (5),
12. is (unless a draft of the statutory instrument has been approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament) subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
13. A statutory instrument containing only an order under subsection (1) revoking a previous order under that subsection—
    1. is not subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament, but
    2. is to be laid before Parliament.
14. No order is to be made under subsection (2) or (3) unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing it has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.
15. Subsections (1), (2) and (3) apply to the First Minister and the Counsel General as to the Welsh Ministers; and where subsection (9) operates in relation to an order under subsection (2) or (3) relating to the First Minister or the Counsel General the reference in subsection (9) to the Welsh Ministers is to the First Minister or the Counsel General.
16. In this section “action” includes making, confirming or approving subordinate legislation and in subsection (2) also includes introducing into the Assembly a proposed Assembly Measure or a Bill.

Subheading 7. Functions: supplementary

83. Agency arrangements and provision of services

1. Arrangements may be made between the Welsh Ministers and any relevant authority for—
   1. any functions of one of them to be exercised by the other,
   2. any functions of the Welsh Ministers to be exercised by members of staff of the relevant authority,
   3. any functions of the relevant authority to be exercised by members of the staff of the Welsh Assembly Government, or
   4. the provision of administrative, professional or technical services by one of them for the other.
2. Any arrangements under paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of subsection (1) for the exercise of functions of the Welsh Ministers do not affect the responsibility of the Welsh Ministers; and such arrangements for the exercise of any functions of a relevant authority do not affect the responsibility of the relevant authority.
3. The references in subsections (1) and (2) to functions do not include functions of making, confirming or approving subordinate legislation contained in a statutory instrument.
4. In this section “relevant authority” means any Minister of the Crown or government department, any public authority (including any local authority) in England and Wales or the holder of any public office in England and Wales.
5. This section applies to the First Minister and the Counsel General as to the Welsh Ministers.

84. Different exercise of functions by Welsh Ministers etc

1. This section applies where—
   1. an enactment confers or imposes a function exercisable in relation to England and Wales, and
   2. the function is to any extent conferred or imposed on the Welsh Ministers by the enactment or transferred to, or made exercisable by, the Welsh Ministers by or by virtue of this Act.
2. The enactment is to be taken to permit—
   1. the exercise of the function by the Welsh Ministers whether or not it is exercised otherwise than by the Welsh Ministers, and
   2. the exercise of the function differently by the Welsh Ministers (on the one hand) and otherwise than by the Welsh Ministers (on the other).
3. The reference in subsection (1)(a) to a function exercisable in relation to England and Wales includes a function exercisable in relation both to England and Wales and to another country or territory or other countries or territories.
4. Subsection (2) is subject to—
   1. the enactment by which the function is conferred or imposed on the Welsh Ministers, or
   2. any provision by or by virtue of which the function is transferred to, or made exercisable by, the Welsh Ministers.
5. Subsection (2) does not limit any power to exercise a function in relation to Wales whether or not it is exercised in relation to England, or to exercise a function differently in relation to Wales and England, where this section does not apply.
6. In this section “enactment” includes a future enactment.
7. This section applies in relation to the First Minister and the Counsel General as to the Welsh Ministers.

85. Construction of references to Ministers and departments

1. So far as may be necessary for the purpose or in consequence of the exercise of any functions of the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General, any reference in any enactment or other document to—
   1. a Minister of the Crown, or
   2. a government department,
2. (whether by name or in general terms) is to be construed as being or including a reference to the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General (according to by whom the function in question is exercisable).
3. References in any enactment to property vested in or held for the purposes of a government department is to be construed as including references to property vested in or held for the purposes of the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General (and in relation to property so vested or held the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General are each deemed to be a government department for the purposes of any enactment).
4. In this section “enactment” includes a future enactment.

86. Laying of reports and statements

1. This section applies where—
   1. any enactment makes provision (“provision for Parliamentary laying”) for any report or statement to be laid before Parliament or either House of Parliament,
   2. the report or statement is not one which, by or by virtue of this Act, is to be made by or given to the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister, the Counsel General or the Assembly Commission, and
   3. the report or statement relates to matters with respect to which functions are exercisable by the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister, the Counsel General or the Assembly Commission.
2. If no functions relating to the matters are exercisable by a Minister of the Crown, the provision for Parliamentary laying is to be construed as provision for the report or statement to be laid before the Assembly instead of before Parliament or either House of Parliament.
3. If any are, the provision for Parliamentary laying is to be construed as provision for the report or statement to be laid before the Assembly as well as before Parliament or either House of Parliament.
4. In this section—
   1. references to a report or statement include any other document (except one containing subordinate legislation), and
   2. “enactment” includes a future enactment.

Subheading 8. Property, rights and liabilities

87. Property, rights and liabilities of Welsh Ministers etc

1. Property, rights and liabilities may belong to—
   1. the Welsh Ministers by that name,
   2. the First Minister by that name, or
   3. the Counsel General by that name.
2. Property and rights acquired by or transferred to the Welsh Ministers belong to, and liabilities incurred by the Welsh Ministers are liabilities of, the Welsh Ministers for the time being.
3. Property and rights acquired by or transferred to any of the Welsh Ministers appointed under section 48 belong to, and liabilities incurred by any of those Welsh Ministers are liabilities of, the Welsh Ministers for the time being.
4. Property and rights acquired by or transferred to the First Minister belong to, and liabilities incurred by the First Minister are liabilities of, the First Minister for the time being.
5. Property and rights acquired by or transferred to the Counsel General belong to, and liabilities incurred by the Counsel General are liabilities of, the Counsel General for the time being.
6. In relation to property and rights acquired by or transferred to (or belonging to), or to liabilities incurred by—
   1. the Welsh Ministers or any of the Welsh Ministers appointed under section 48,
   2. the First Minister, or
   3. the Counsel General,
7. references to the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General in any register or other document are to be read in accordance with this section.

88. Transfer of Ministerial property, rights and liabilities

For provision about the transfer of property, rights and liabilities of Ministers of the Crown to the Welsh Ministers etc. see Schedule 4.

Subheading 9. Supplementary

89. Rights and liabilities of the Crown in different capacities

1. Rights and liabilities may arise between the Crown in right of Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom and the Crown in right of the Welsh Assembly Government by virtue of a contract, by operation of law or by virtue of an enactment as they may arise between subjects.
2. Property, rights and liabilities may be transferred between the Crown in one of those capacities and the Crown in the other capacity as they may be transferred between subjects; and they may together create, vary or extinguish any property, rights or liabilities as subjects may.
3. Proceedings in respect of—
   1. any property, rights or liabilities to which the Crown in one of those capacities is entitled or subject under subsection (1) or (2), or
   2. the exercise of, or failure to exercise, any function exercisable by an office-holder of the Crown in one of those capacities,
4. may be instituted by the Crown in either capacity; and the Crown in the other capacity may be a separate party in the proceedings.
5. This section applies to the Crown in right of a devolved administration (other than the Welsh Assembly Government) as it applies to the Crown in right of Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom.
6. In this section “office-holder” means—
   1. in relation to the Crown in right of Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom, any Minister of the Crown or other office-holder under the Crown in that capacity,
   2. in relation to the Crown in right of the Welsh Assembly Government, the First Minister, a Welsh Minister appointed under section 48 or the Counsel General, and
   3. in relation to the Crown in right of a devolved administration other than the Welsh Assembly Government, an office-holder in that administration;
7. and “subject” means a person not acting on behalf of the Crown.

90. Documents

1. A document is validly executed by the Welsh Ministers if it is executed by the First Minister or any Welsh Minister appointed under section 48.
2. The application of the seal of the Welsh Ministers is to be authenticated by the First Minister, any Welsh Minister appointed under section 48 or any person authorised by the Welsh Ministers (whether generally or specifically) for that purpose.
3. A document purporting to be—
   1. duly executed under the seal of the Welsh Ministers, or
   2. signed on behalf of the Welsh Ministers,
4. is to be received in evidence and, unless the contrary is proved, is to be taken to be so executed or signed.
5. A certificate signed by the First Minister or a Welsh Minister appointed under section 48 that any document purporting to be executed by the Welsh Ministers or signed by them or on their behalf was so executed or signed is conclusive evidence of that fact.
6. A document purporting to be signed by or on behalf of—
   1. the First Minister, or
   2. the Counsel General,
7. is to be received in evidence and, unless the contrary is proved, is to be taken to be so signed.
8. A certificate signed by the First Minister or the Counsel General that any document purporting to be signed by or on behalf of the First Minister or the Counsel General was so signed is conclusive evidence of that fact.
9. The Documentary Evidence Act 1868 (c. 37) (proof of documents) has effect as if—
   1. in the first column of Schedule 1 there were included a reference to the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister, a Welsh Minister appointed under section 48 and the Counsel General,
   2. in the second column of that Schedule there were included in connection with that reference a reference to a member of the staff of the Welsh Assembly Government, and
   3. in section 2 of that Act the reference to regulations issued by or under the authority of an officer mentioned in the first column of the Schedule included a reference to any document issued by or under the authority of a person or persons within paragraph (a).

91. Validity of acts

1. The validity of any act of a person as First Minister is not affected by any defect in the person’s nomination by the Assembly.
2. The validity of any act of a person as the Counsel General is not affected by any defect in the Assembly’s agreement to the person’s appointment.

92. Official secrets

The following are Crown servants for the purposes of the Official Secrets Act 1989 (c. 6)—

1. the First Minister and any person designated to exercise the functions of the First Minister,
2. each Welsh Minister appointed under section 48,
3. the Counsel General and any person designated to exercise the functions of the Counsel General, and
4. each Deputy Welsh Minister.

Part 3. Assembly Measures

Subheading 1. Power

93. Assembly Measures

1. The Assembly may make laws, to be known as Measures of the National Assembly for Wales or Mesurau Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru (referred to in this Act as “Assembly Measures”).
2. A proposed Assembly Measure is enacted by being passed by the Assembly and approved by Her Majesty in Council.
3. The validity of an Assembly Measure is not affected by any invalidity in the Assembly proceedings leading to its enactment.
4. Every Assembly Measure is to be judicially noticed.
5. This Part does not affect the power of the Parliament of the United Kingdom to make laws for Wales.

94. Legislative competence

1. Subject to the provisions of this Part, an Assembly Measure may make any provision that could be made by an Act of Parliament.
2. An Assembly Measure is not law so far as any provision of the Assembly Measure is outside the Assembly’s legislative competence.
3. A provision of an Assembly Measure is within the Assembly’s legislative competence only if it falls within subsection (4) or (5).
4. A provision of an Assembly Measure falls within this subsection if—
   1. it relates to one or more of the matters specified in Part 1 of Schedule 5 and does not fall within any of the exceptions specified in paragraph A1 of Part 2 of that Schedule (whether or not the exception is under a heading corresponding to the field which includes the matter), and
   2. it neither applies otherwise than in relation to Wales nor confers, imposes, modifies or removes (or gives power to confer, impose, modify or remove) functions exercisable otherwise than in relation to Wales.
5. A provision of an Assembly Measure falls within this subsection if—
   1. it provides for the enforcement of a provision (of that or any other Assembly Measure) which falls within subsection (4) or it is otherwise appropriate for making such a provision effective, or
   2. it is otherwise incidental to, or consequential on, such a provision.
6. But a provision which falls within subsection (4) or (5) is outside the Assembly’s legislative competence if—
   1. it breaches any of the restrictions in paragraphs 1 to 6 of Part 2 of Schedule 5, having regard to any exception in Part 3 of that Schedule from those restrictions,
   2. it extends otherwise than only to England and Wales, or
   3. it is incompatible with the Convention rights or with EU law.
7. For the purposes of this section the question whether a provision of an Assembly Measure relates to one or more of the matters specified in Part 1 of Schedule 5 (or falls within any of the exceptions specified in paragraph A1 of Part 2 of that Schedule) is to be determined by reference to the purpose of the provision, having regard (among other things) to its effect in all the circumstances.

95. Legislative competence: supplementary

1. Her Majesty may by Order in Council—
   1. amend Part 1 of Schedule 5 to add a matter which relates to one or more of the fields listed in that Part, or to vary or remove any matter,
   2. amend that Part to add a new field or to vary or remove any field, or
   3. amend Part 2 or 3 of that Schedule.
2. An Order in Council under this section does not have effect to amend Part 1 of Schedule 5 by adding a field if, at the time when the amendment comes into force, no functions in the field are exercisable by the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General.
3. An Order in Council under this section may make such modifications of—
   1. any enactment (including any enactment comprised in or made under this Act) or prerogative instrument, or
   2. any other instrument or document,
4. as Her Majesty considers appropriate in connection with the provision made by the Order in Council.
5. An Order in Council under this section may make provision having retrospective effect.
6. No recommendation is to be made to Her Majesty in Council to make an Order in Council under this section unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing the Order in Council—
   1. has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the Assembly, and
   2. having been so approved, has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.
7. As soon as is reasonably practicable after the draft of an Order in Council under this section has been approved by a resolution of the Assembly, the First Minister must ensure that—
   1. notice in writing of the resolution, and
   2. a copy of the draft,
8. is sent to the Secretary of State.
9. The Secretary of State must, before the end of the period of 60 days beginning immediately after the day on which notice of the Assembly’s resolution is received, either—
   1. lay the draft before each House of Parliament, or
   2. give notice in writing to the First Minister of the Secretary of State’s refusal to do so and the reasons for that refusal.
10. As soon as is reasonably practicable after the First Minister receives notice of the Secretary of State’s refusal to lay the draft before each House of Parliament and the reasons for that refusal—
    1. the First Minister must lay a copy of the notice before the Assembly, and
    2. the Assembly must ensure that it is published.
11. In reckoning the period of 60 days mentioned in subsection (7) no account is to be taken of any period during which Parliament is dissolved or prorogued or both Houses are adjourned for more than four days.
12. The amendment of Schedule 5 by an Order in Council under this section does not affect—
    1. the validity of an Assembly Measure passed before the amendment comes into force, or
    2. the previous or continuing operation of such an Assembly Measure.

96. Scrutiny of proposed Orders in Council

The Counsel General or the Attorney General may refer to the Supreme Court for decision the question whether a matter which a proposed Order in Council under section 95 proposes to add to Part 1 of Schedule 5 relates to a field listed in that Part.

Subheading 2. Procedure

97. Introduction of proposed Assembly Measures

1. A proposed Assembly Measure may, subject to the standing orders, be introduced in the Assembly—
   1. by the First Minister, any Welsh Minister appointed under section 48, any Deputy Welsh Minister or the Counsel General, or
   2. by any other Assembly member.
2. The person in charge of a proposed Assembly Measure must, on or before the introduction of the proposed Assembly Measure, state that, in that person’s view, its provisions would be within the Assembly’s legislative competence.
3. The Presiding Officer must, on or before the introduction of a proposed Assembly Measure in the Assembly—
   1. decide whether or not, in the view of the Presiding Officer, the provisions of the proposed Assembly Measure would be within the Assembly’s legislative competence, and
   2. state that decision.
4. A statement under this section must be made in both English and Welsh; but, subject to that, the form of the statement and the manner in which it is to be made are to be determined under the standing orders.
5. The standing orders—
   1. may provide for a statement under this section to be published, and
   2. if they do so, must provide for it to be published in both English and Welsh.

98. Proceedings on proposed Assembly Measures

1. The standing orders must include provision—
   1. for general debate on a proposed Assembly Measure with an opportunity for Assembly members to vote on its general principles,
   2. for the consideration of, and an opportunity for Assembly members to vote on, the details of a proposed Assembly Measure, and
   3. for a final stage at which a proposed Assembly Measure can be passed or rejected.
2. Subsection (1) does not prevent the standing orders making provision to enable the Assembly to expedite proceedings in relation to a particular proposed Assembly Measure.
3. The standing orders may make provision different from that required by subsection (1) for the procedure applicable to proposed Assembly Measures of any of the following kinds—
   1. proposed Assembly Measures which restate the law,
   2. proposed Assembly Measures which repeal or revoke spent enactments, and
   3. private proposed Assembly Measures.
4. The standing orders must include provision for securing that the Assembly may only pass a proposed Assembly Measure containing provisions which would, if contained in a Bill for an Act of Parliament, require the consent of Her Majesty or the Duke of Cornwall if such consent has been signified in accordance with the standing orders.
5. The standing orders must include provision for securing that the Assembly may only pass a proposed Assembly Measure if the text of the proposed Assembly Measure is in both English and Welsh, unless the circumstances are such as are specified by the standing orders as any in which the text need not be in both languages.
6. The standing orders must provide for an opportunity for the reconsideration of a proposed Assembly Measure after its passing if (and only if)—
   1. the Supreme Court decides on a reference made in relation to the proposed Assembly Measure under section 99 that the proposed Assembly Measure or any provision of it would not be within the Assembly’s legislative competence,
   2. a reference made in relation to the proposed Assembly Measure under section 99 is withdrawn following a request for withdrawal of the reference under section 100(2)(b), or
   3. an order is made in relation to the proposed Assembly Measure under section 101.
7. The standing orders must, in particular, ensure that any proposed Assembly Measure amended on reconsideration is subject to a final stage at which it can be approved or rejected.
8. References in subsections (4), (5) and (6) of this section and sections 93(2) and 95(10) to the passing of a proposed Assembly Measure are, in the case of a proposed Assembly Measure which has been amended on reconsideration, to be read as references to its approval.

99. Scrutiny of proposed Assembly Measures by Supreme Court

1. The Counsel General or the Attorney General may refer the question whether a proposed Assembly Measure, or any provision of a proposed Assembly Measure, would be within the Assembly’s legislative competence to the Supreme Court for decision.
2. Subject to subsection (3), the Counsel General or the Attorney General may make a reference in relation to a proposed Assembly Measure at any time during—
   1. the period of four weeks beginning with the passing of the proposed Assembly Measure, and
   2. any period of four weeks beginning with any subsequent approval of the proposed Assembly Measure in accordance with provision included in the standing orders in compliance with section 98(7).
3. No reference may be made in relation to a proposed Assembly Measure—
   1. by the Counsel General if the Counsel General has notified the Clerk that no reference is to be made in relation to it by the Counsel General, or
   2. by the Attorney General if the Attorney General has notified the Clerk that no reference is to be made in relation to it by the Attorney General.
4. But subsection (3) does not apply if the proposed Assembly Measure has been approved as mentioned in subsection (2)(b) since the notification.

100. ECJ references

1. This section applies where—
   1. a reference has been made in relation to a proposed Assembly Measure under section 99,
   2. a reference for a preliminary European Court ruling has been made by the Supreme Court in connection with that reference, and
   3. neither of those references has been decided or otherwise disposed of.
2. If the Assembly resolves that it wishes to reconsider the proposed Assembly Measure—
   1. the Clerk must notify the Counsel General and the Attorney General of that fact, and
   2. the person who made the reference in relation to the proposed Assembly Measure under section 99 must request the withdrawal of the reference.
3. In this section “a reference for a preliminary European Court ruling” means a reference of a question to the European Court under Article 234 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, Article 41 of the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community or Article 150 of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community.

101. Power to intervene in certain cases

1. This section applies if a proposed Assembly Measure contains provisions which the Secretary of State has reasonable grounds to believe—
   1. would have an adverse effect on any matter which is not specified in Part 1 of Schedule 5 (or falls within any of the exceptions specified in paragraph A1 of Part 2 of that Schedule),
   2. might have a serious adverse impact on water resources in England, water supply in England or the quality of water in England,
   3. would have an adverse effect on the operation of the law as it applies in England, or
   4. would be incompatible with any international obligation or the interests of defence or national security.
2. The Secretary of State may make an order prohibiting the Clerk from submitting the proposed Assembly Measure for approval by Her Majesty in Council.
3. The order must identify the proposed Assembly Measure and the provisions in question and state the reasons for making the order.
4. The order may be made at any time during—
   1. the period of four weeks beginning with the passing of the proposed Assembly Measure,
   2. any period of four weeks beginning with any subsequent approval of the proposed Assembly Measure in accordance with provision included in the standing orders in compliance with section 98(7), or
   3. if a reference is made in relation to the proposed Assembly Measure under section 99, the period of four weeks beginning with the reference being decided or otherwise disposed of by the Supreme Court.
5. The Secretary of State must not make an order in relation to a proposed Assembly Measure if the Secretary of State has notified the Clerk that no order is to be made in relation to the proposed Assembly Measure.
6. Subsection (5) does not apply if the proposed Assembly Measure has been approved as mentioned in subsection (4)(b) since the notification.
7. An order in force under this section at a time when such approval is given ceases to have effect.
8. A statutory instrument containing an order under this section is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

102. Approval of proposed Assembly Measures

1. It is for the Clerk to submit proposed Assembly Measures for approval by Her Majesty in Council.
2. The Clerk may not submit a proposed Assembly Measure for approval by Her Majesty in Council at any time when—
   1. the Attorney General or the Counsel General is entitled to make a reference in relation to the proposed Assembly Measure under section 99,
   2. such a reference has been made but has not been decided or otherwise disposed of by the Supreme Court, or
   3. an order may be made in relation to the proposed Assembly Measure under section 101.
3. The Clerk may not submit a proposed Assembly Measure in its unamended form for approval by Her Majesty in Council if—
   1. the Supreme Court has decided on a reference made in relation to the proposed Assembly Measure under section 99 that the proposed Assembly Measure or any provision of it would not be within the Assembly’s legislative competence, or
   2. a reference made in relation to the proposed Assembly Measure under section 99 has been withdrawn following a request for withdrawal of the reference under section 100(2)(b).
4. Once an Assembly Measure has been approved by Her Majesty in Council, the Clerk of the Privy Council must send the Order in Council approving the Assembly Measure to the Clerk.
5. The date of the approval by Her Majesty in Council of an Assembly Measure is to be written on the Assembly Measure by the Clerk, and forms part of the Assembly Measure.
6. The Clerk must publish the Order in Council by which an Assembly Measure is approved.
7. The standing orders must include provision for the notification by the Clerk to the Assembly of the date of the approval of an Assembly Measure by Her Majesty in Council.
8. The validity of an Assembly Measure is not affected by any failure to comply with provision made by or by virtue of subsection (4), (5) or (7).

Part 4. Acts of the Assembly

Subheading 1. Referendum

103. Referendum about commencement of Assembly Act provisions

1. Her Majesty may by Order in Council cause a referendum to be held throughout Wales about whether the Assembly Act provisions should come into force.
2. If the majority of the voters in a referendum held by virtue of subsection (1) vote in favour of the Assembly Act provisions coming into force, the Assembly Act provisions are to come into force in accordance with section 105.
3. But if they do not, that does not prevent the making of a subsequent Order in Council under subsection (1).
4. No recommendation is to be made to Her Majesty in Council to make an Order in Council under subsection (1) unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing the Order in Council has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament and the Assembly.
5. But subsection (4) is not satisfied unless the resolution of the Assembly is passed on a vote in which the number of Assembly members voting in favour of it is not less than two-thirds of the total number of Assembly seats.
6. A draft of a statutory instrument containing an Order in Council under subsection (1) may not be laid before either House of Parliament, or the Assembly, until the Secretary of State has undertaken such consultation as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
7. For further provision about referendums held by virtue of subsection (1) see Schedule 6.
8. In this Act “the Assembly Act provisions” means—
   1. sections 107 and 108, and
   2. sections 110 to 115.

104. Proposal for referendum by Assembly

1. This section applies if—
   1. the Assembly passes a resolution moved by the First Minister or a Welsh Minister appointed under section 48 that, in its opinion, a recommendation should be made to Her Majesty in Council to make an Order in Council under section 103(1), and
   2. the resolution of the Assembly is passed on a vote in which the number of Assembly members voting in favour of it is not less than two-thirds of the total number of Assembly seats.
2. The First Minister must, as soon as is reasonably practicable after the resolution is passed, ensure that notice in writing of the resolution is given to the Secretary of State.
3. The Secretary of State must, within the period of 120 days beginning immediately after the day on which it is received—
   1. lay a draft of a statutory instrument containing an Order in Council under section 103(1) before each House of Parliament, or
   2. give notice in writing to the First Minister of the Secretary of State’s refusal to do so and the reasons for that refusal.
4. As soon as is reasonably practicable after the First Minister receives notice given under subsection (3)(b)—
   1. the First Minister must lay a copy of the notice before the Assembly, and
   2. the Assembly must ensure that the notice is published.

105. Commencement of Assembly Act provisions

1. This section applies where the majority of the voters in a referendum held by virtue of section 103(1) are in favour of the Assembly Act provisions coming into force.
2. The Welsh Ministers may by order make provision for the Assembly Act provisions to come into force on the date specified in the order.
3. An order under subsection (2) may make such modifications of—
   1. any enactment (including any enactment comprised in or made under this Act) or prerogative instrument, or
   2. any other instrument or document,
4. as the Welsh Ministers consider appropriate in connection with the coming into force of the Assembly Act provisions.
5. No order is to be made under subsection (2) unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing it has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the Assembly.

106. Effect on Measures of commencement of Assembly Act provisions

1. Part 3 ceases to have effect on the day on which the Assembly Act provisions come into force.
2. But that does not affect—
   1. the continuing operation, on and after that day, of any Assembly Measure enacted before that day, or
   2. the continuing operation, after the enactment of the Measure, of any Assembly Measure enacted in accordance with section 106A.
3. Subsection (1) is subject to section 106A.

106A. Enactment of proposed Assembly Measures

1. This section applies if, immediately before the coming into force of the Assembly Act provisions, one or more proposed Assembly Measures have been passed by the Assembly but have not been approved by Her Majesty in Council (“the proposed Measures”).
2. Part 3 continues to have effect, for the purposes of enabling the proposed Measures to be enacted, until an Order in Council in respect of every such Measure has been published by the Clerk in accordance with section 102(6).

107. Acts of the Assembly

1. The Assembly may make laws, to be known as Acts of the National Assembly for Wales or Deddfau Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru (referred to in this Act as “Acts of the Assembly”).
2. Proposed Acts of the Assembly are to be known as Bills; and a Bill becomes an Act of the Assembly when it has been passed by the Assembly and has received Royal Assent.
3. The validity of an Act of the Assembly is not affected by any invalidity in the Assembly proceedings leading to its enactment.
4. Every Act of the Assembly is to be judicially noticed.
5. This Part does not affect the power of the Parliament of the United Kingdom to make laws for Wales.

108. Legislative competence

1. Subject to the provisions of this Part, an Act of the Assembly may make any provision that could be made by an Act of Parliament.
2. An Act of the Assembly is not law so far as any provision of the Act is outside the Assembly’s legislative competence.
3. A provision of an Act of the Assembly is within the Assembly’s legislative competence only if it falls within subsection (4) or (5).
4. A provision of an Act of the Assembly falls within this subsection if—
   1. it relates to one or more of the subjects listed under any of the headings in Part 1 of Schedule 7 and does not fall within any of the exceptions specified in that Part of that Schedule (whether or not under that heading or any of those headings), and
   2. it neither applies otherwise than in relation to Wales nor confers, imposes, modifies or removes (or gives power to confer, impose, modify or remove) functions exercisable otherwise than in relation to Wales.
5. A provision of an Act of the Assembly falls within this subsection if—
   1. it provides for the enforcement of a provision (of that or any other Act of the Assembly) which falls within subsection (4) or a provision of an Assembly Measure or it is otherwise appropriate for making such a provision effective, or
   2. it is otherwise incidental to, or consequential on, such a provision.
6. But a provision which falls within subsection (4) or (5) is outside the Assembly’s legislative competence if—
   1. it breaches any of the restrictions in Part 2 of Schedule 7, having regard to any exception in Part 3 of that Schedule from those restrictions,
   2. it extends otherwise than only to England and Wales, or
   3. it is incompatible with the Convention rights or with EU law.
7. For the purposes of this section the question whether a provision of an Act of the Assembly relates to one or more of the subjects listed in Part 1 of Schedule 7 (or falls within any of the exceptions specified in that Part of that Schedule) is to be determined by reference to the purpose of the provision, having regard (among other things) to its effect in all the circumstances.

109. Legislative competence: supplementary

1. Her Majesty may by Order in Council amend Schedule 7.
2. An Order in Council under this section may make such modifications of—
   1. any enactment (including any enactment comprised in or made under this Act) or prerogative instrument, or
   2. any other instrument or document,
3. as Her Majesty considers appropriate in connection with the provision made by the Order in Council.
4. An Order in Council under this section may make provision having retrospective effect.
5. No recommendation is to be made to Her Majesty in Council to make an Order in Council under this section unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing the Order in Council—
   1. has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament, and
   2. except where the Order in Council is the first of which a draft has been laid under paragraph (a), has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the Assembly.
6. The amendment of Schedule 7 by an Order in Council under this section does not affect—
   1. the validity of an Act of the Assembly passed before the amendment comes into force, or
   2. the previous or continuing operation of such an Act of the Assembly.

Subheading 2. Procedure

110. Introduction of Bills

1. A Bill may, subject to the standing orders, be introduced in the Assembly—
   1. by the First Minister, any Welsh Minister appointed under section 48 any Deputy Welsh Minister or the Counsel General, or
   2. by any other Assembly member.
2. The person in charge of a Bill must, on or before the introduction of the Bill, state that, in that person’s view, its provisions would be within the Assembly’s legislative competence.
3. The Presiding Officer must, on or before the introduction of a Bill in the Assembly—
   1. decide whether or not, in the view of the Presiding Officer, the provisions of the Bill would be within the Assembly’s legislative competence, and
   2. state that decision.
4. A statement under this section must be made in both English and Welsh; but, subject to that, the form of the statement and the manner in which it is to be made are to be determined under the standing orders.
5. The standing orders—
   1. may provide for a statement under this section to be published, and
   2. if they do so, must provide for it to be published in both English and Welsh.

111. Proceedings on Bills

1. The standing orders must include provision—
   1. for general debate on a Bill with an opportunity for Assembly members to vote on its general principles,
   2. for the consideration of, and an opportunity for Assembly members to vote on, the details of a Bill, and
   3. for a final stage at which a Bill can be passed or rejected.
2. Subsection (1) does not prevent the standing orders making provision to enable the Assembly to expedite proceedings in relation to a particular Bill.
3. The standing orders may make provision different from that required by subsection (1) for the procedure applicable to Bills of any of the following kinds—
   1. Bills which restate the law,
   2. Bills which repeal or revoke spent enactments, and
   3. private Bills.
4. The standing orders must include provision for securing that the Assembly may only pass a Bill containing provisions which would, if contained in a Bill for an Act of Parliament, require the consent of Her Majesty or the Duke of Cornwall if such consent has been signified in accordance with the standing orders.
5. The standing orders must include provision for securing that the Assembly may only pass a Bill if the text of the Bill is in both English and Welsh, unless the circumstances are such as are specified by the standing orders as any in which the text need not be in both languages.
6. The standing orders must provide for an opportunity for the reconsideration of a Bill after its passing if (and only if)—
   1. the Supreme Court decides on a reference made in relation to the Bill under section 112 that the Bill or any provision of it would not be within the Assembly’s legislative competence,
   2. a reference made in relation to the Bill under section 112 is withdrawn following a request for withdrawal of the reference under section 113(2)(b), or
   3. an order is made in relation to the Bill under section 114.
7. The standing orders must, in particular, ensure that any Bill amended on reconsideration is subject to a final stage at which it can be approved or rejected.
8. References in subsections (4), (5) and (6) of this section and sections 107(2), 109(5) and 116(3) to the passing of a Bill are, in the case of a Bill which has been amended on reconsideration, to be read as references to its approval.

112. Scrutiny of Bills by Supreme Court

1. The Counsel General or the Attorney General may refer the question whether a Bill, or any provision of a Bill, would be within the Assembly’s legislative competence to the Supreme Court for decision.
2. Subject to subsection (3), the Counsel General or the Attorney General may make a reference in relation to a Bill at any time during—
   1. the period of four weeks beginning with the passing of the Bill, and
   2. any period of four weeks beginning with any subsequent approval of the Bill in accordance with provision included in the standing orders in compliance with section 111(7).
3. No reference may be made in relation to a Bill—
   1. by the Counsel General if the Counsel General has notified the Clerk that no reference is to be made in relation to it by the Counsel General, or
   2. by the Attorney General if the Attorney General has notified the Clerk that no reference is to be made in relation to it by the Attorney General.
4. But subsection (3) does not apply if the Bill has been approved as mentioned in subsection (2)(b) since the notification.

113. ECJ references

1. This section applies where—
   1. a reference has been made in relation to a Bill under section 112,
   2. a reference for a preliminary European Court ruling has been made by the Supreme Court in connection with that reference, and
   3. neither of those references has been decided or otherwise disposed of.
2. If the Assembly resolves that it wishes to reconsider the Bill—
   1. the Clerk must notify the Counsel General and the Attorney General of that fact, and
   2. the person who made the reference in relation to the Bill under section 112 must request the withdrawal of the reference.
3. In this section “a reference for a preliminary European Court ruling” means a reference of a question to the European Court under Article 267 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union or Article 150 of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community.

114. Power to intervene in certain cases

1. This section applies if a Bill contains provisions which the Secretary of State has reasonable grounds to believe—
   1. would have an adverse effect on any matter which is not listed under any of the headings in Part 1 of Schedule 7 (or falls within any of the exceptions specified in that Part of that Schedule),
   2. might have a serious adverse impact on water resources in England, water supply in England or the quality of water in England,
   3. would have an adverse effect on the operation of the law as it applies in England, or
   4. would be incompatible with any international obligation or the interests of defence or national security.
2. The Secretary of State may make an order prohibiting the Clerk from submitting the Bill for Royal Assent.
3. The order must identify the Bill and the provisions in question and state the reasons for making the order.
4. The order may be made at any time during—
   1. the period of four weeks beginning with the passing of the Bill,
   2. any period of four weeks beginning with any subsequent approval of the Bill in accordance with provision included in the standing orders in compliance with section 111(7), or
   3. if a reference is made in relation to the Bill under section 112, the period of four weeks beginning with the reference being decided or otherwise disposed of by the Supreme Court.
5. The Secretary of State must not make an order in relation to a Bill if the Secretary of State has notified the Clerk that no order is to be made in relation to the Bill.
6. Subsection (5) does not apply if the Bill has been approved as mentioned in subsection (4)(b) since the notification.
7. An order in force under this section at a time when such approval is given ceases to have effect.
8. A statutory instrument containing an order under this section is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

115. Royal Assent

1. It is for the Clerk to submit Bills for Royal Assent.
2. The Clerk may not submit a Bill for Royal Assent at any time when—
   1. the Attorney General or the Counsel General is entitled to make a reference in relation to the Bill under section 112,
   2. such a reference has been made but has not been decided or otherwise disposed of by the Supreme Court, or
   3. an order may be made in relation to the Bill under section 114.
3. The Clerk may not submit a Bill in its unamended form for Royal Assent if—
   1. the Supreme Court has decided on a reference made in relation to the Bill under section 112 that the Bill or any provision of it would not be within the Assembly’s legislative competence, or
   2. a reference made in relation to the Bill under section 112 has been withdrawn following a request for withdrawal of the reference under section 113(2)(b).
4. A Bill receives Royal Assent when Letters Patent under the Welsh Seal signed with Her Majesty’s own hand signifying Her Assent are notified to the Clerk.
5. The Keeper of the Welsh Seal (see section 116(2)) must make arrangements to send the Letters Patent to the National Library of Wales.
6. The date of Royal Assent is to be written on the Act of the Assembly by the Clerk, and forms part of the Act.
7. The standing orders must include provision for notification by the Clerk to the Assembly of the date of Royal Assent to an Act of the Assembly.
8. The validity of an Act of the Assembly is not affected by any failure to comply with provision made by or by virtue of subsection (4), (5) or (6).

116. Welsh Seal and Letters Patent

1. There is to be a Welsh Seal.
2. The First Minister is to be the Keeper of the Welsh Seal.
3. Her Majesty may by Order in Council make provision as to—
   1. the form and manner of preparation, and
   2. the publication,
4. of Letters Patent signed with Her Majesty’s own hand signifying Her Assent to a Bill passed by the Assembly.
5. A statutory instrument containing an Order in Council under subsection (3) is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the Assembly.

Part 5. Finance

Subheading 1. Welsh Consolidated Fund

117. Welsh Consolidated Fund

1. There is to be a Welsh Consolidated Fund.
2. The Welsh Consolidated Fund is to be held with the Paymaster General.

Subheading 2. Payments into Welsh Consolidated Fund

118. Grants

1. The Secretary of State must from time to time make payments into the Welsh Consolidated Fund out of money provided by Parliament of such amounts as the Secretary of State may determine.
2. Any Minister of the Crown, and any government department, may make payments to the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General of such amounts as may be determined by the Minister of the Crown or those responsible in the department.

119. Statement of estimated payments

1. The Secretary of State must, for each financial year, make a written statement showing—
   1. the total amount of the payments which the Secretary of State estimates will be made for the financial year under section 118(1),
   2. the total amount of the payments which the Secretary of State estimates will be made to the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General for the financial year by Ministers of the Crown and government departments, and
   3. the total amount of the payments which the Secretary of State estimates will be made to the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General for the financial year otherwise than by a Minister of the Crown or government department.
2. A statement under this section must also include such other information as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
3. A statement under this section for any financial year must also show the total amount which the Secretary of State for Wales proposes to expend for the financial year out of money provided by Parliament otherwise than on making payments into the Welsh Consolidated Fund.
4. A statement under this section for a financial year must include details of how the total amounts mentioned in subsections (1)(a), (b) and (c) and (3) have been arrived at.
5. A statement under this section for a financial year is to be made no later than four months before the beginning of the financial year.
6. The Secretary of State must lay before the Assembly each statement under this section.

120. Destination of receipts

1. Any sum received by or on behalf of—
   1. the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General,
   2. the Assembly Commission,
   3. the Wales Audit Office, or
   4. the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales,
2. is to be paid into the Welsh Consolidated Fund (unless it is paid out of that Fund, and subject as follows); and this subsection applies in spite of provision contained in any other enactment unless the enactment provides expressly that any such sum is not to be paid into the Welsh Consolidated Fund.
3. If and to the extent that sums received as mentioned in subsection (1) are received in connection with resources—
   1. which are within a category specified by resolution of the Assembly for the purposes of this subsection,
   2. which accrued to a person within subsection (1), and
   3. the retention of which by that person is authorised by a Budget resolution of the Assembly for the financial year in which the resources accrued,
4. the sums may be retained for use for the services and purposes specified in a Budget resolution of the Assembly for the financial year in which they are received as services and purposes for which retained resources may be used.
5. The Treasury may, after consulting the Welsh Ministers, by order designate any description of sums received as mentioned in subsection (1).
6. The Welsh Ministers must make payments to the Secretary of State of sums equal to the total amount of sums of that description.
7. Payments by the Welsh Ministers under subsection (4) are to be made at such times, and by such methods, as the Treasury may from time to time determine.
8. Sums required for the making of the payments are to be charged on the Welsh Consolidated Fund.
9. A statutory instrument containing an order under subsection (3) is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the House of Commons.
10. In this Act “Budget resolution of the Assembly” means a resolution on an annual Budget motion (see section 125) or a supplementary Budget motion (see section 126).

Subheading 3. Borrowing

121. Borrowing by Welsh Ministers

1. The Welsh Ministers may borrow from the Secretary of State any amounts it appears to them are required by them for the purpose of—
   1. meeting a temporary excess of sums paid out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund over sums paid into that Fund, or
   2. providing a working balance in that Fund.
2. Amounts borrowed under this section must be repaid to the Secretary of State at such times and by such methods, and interest on such sums must be paid to the Secretary of State at such rates and at such times, as the Treasury may from time to time determine.
3. Sums required for the repayment of, or the payment of interest on, amounts borrowed under this section are to be charged on the Welsh Consolidated Fund.

122. Lending by Secretary of State

1. The Treasury may issue to the Secretary of State out of the National Loans Fund such sums as the Secretary of State needs for making loans under section 121.
2. The aggregate outstanding in respect of the principal of sums borrowed under that section must not exceed £500 million.
3. The Secretary of State may by order made with the consent of the Treasury substitute for the amount for the time being specified in subsection (2) such greater amount as is specified in the order.
4. No order is to be made under subsection (3) unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing it has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the House of Commons.
5. Sums received by the Secretary of State under section 121(2) must be paid into the National Loans Fund.

123. Accounts relating to loans

1. The Secretary of State must for each financial year prepare accounts in such form and manner as the Treasury may direct of—
   1. loans made by the Secretary of State under section 121 or treated as made by paragraph 11(6) of Schedule 3 or paragraph 44(6) of Schedule 11, and
   2. repayments and payments of interest made to the Secretary of State in respect of those loans.
2. The Secretary of State must send accounts under subsection (1) relating to a financial year to the Comptroller and Auditor General no later than five months after the end of the financial year.
3. The Comptroller and Auditor General must—
   1. examine, certify and report on accounts sent under subsection (2), and
   2. lay copies of the accounts, together with the report prepared under paragraph (a), before each House of Parliament.

Subheading 4. Expenditure

124. Payments out of Welsh Consolidated Fund

1. A sum may only be paid out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund if—
   1. it has been charged on that Fund by any enactment, or
   2. its payment out is authorised or deemed to be authorised by a Budget resolution of the Assembly (see sections 125 to 128) for or in connection with either of the purposes mentioned in subsection (2),
2. and an approval to draw the payment of the sum out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund is granted by the Auditor General (see section 129).
3. Those purposes are—
   1. meeting expenditure of a relevant person, and
   2. meeting expenditure payable pursuant to a relevant enactment.
4. For the purposes of this section and sections 125 to 128 the relevant persons are—
   1. the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister and the Counsel General,
   2. the Assembly Commission,
   3. the Wales Audit Office, and
   4. the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.
5. For the purposes of this section and sections 125 to 128 a relevant enactment is an enactment which provides for payment out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund.
6. This section does not apply to sums paid out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund by virtue of section 130.
7. Any enactment which—
   1. charges the payment of sums on the Consolidated Fund or requires or authorises the payment of any sum from the Consolidated Fund, or
   2. requires or authorises the payment of sums out of money provided by Parliament,
8. does not have effect if the sums are payable by any of the relevant persons.

125. Annual Budget motions

1. For each financial year there is to be moved in the Assembly a motion (referred to in this Act as an “annual Budget motion”) for the purpose of authorising—
   1. the amount of resources which may be used in the financial year by the relevant persons, or pursuant to a relevant enactment, for the services and purposes specified in the motion,
   2. the amount of resources accruing to the relevant persons in the financial year which may be retained by them to be used for the services and purposes so specified (rather than being paid into the Welsh Consolidated Fund), and
   3. the amount which may be paid out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund in the financial year to the relevant persons, or for use pursuant to a relevant enactment, for the services and purposes so specified.
2. An annual Budget motion may only be moved by the First Minister or a Welsh Minister appointed under section 48.
3. An annual Budget motion must be accompanied by a written statement made by the Welsh Ministers showing—
   1. the total amount of the payments which they estimate will be made for the financial year under section 118(1),
   2. the total amount of the payments which they estimate will be made to the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General for the financial year by Ministers of the Crown and government departments, and
   3. the total amount of the payments which they estimate will be made to the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General for the financial year otherwise than by a Minister of the Crown or government department.
4. In this Act a reference to the use of resources is a reference to their expenditure, consumption or reduction in value.

126. Supplementary Budget motions

1. For any financial year there may be moved in the Assembly one or more motions (referred to in this Act as a “supplementary Budget motion”) for either or both of the purposes specified in subsections (2) and (3).
2. A supplementary Budget motion may approve a variation in any one or more of the following—
   1. the amount of resources authorised to be used in the financial year by a relevant person, or pursuant to a relevant enactment, for any service or purpose,
   2. the amount of resources accruing to a relevant person in the financial year and authorised to be retained by that person to be used for any service or purpose, and
   3. the amount authorised to be paid out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund in the financial year to a relevant person, or for use pursuant to a relevant enactment, for any service or purpose.
3. A supplementary Budget motion may authorise any one or more of the following—
   1. the amount of resources which may be used in the financial year by a relevant person, or pursuant to a relevant enactment, for a service or purpose specified in the motion,
   2. the amount of resources accruing to a relevant person in the financial year which may be retained by that person to be used for a service or purpose so specified, and
   3. the amount which may be paid out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund in the financial year to a relevant person, or for use pursuant to a relevant enactment, for a service or purpose so specified.
4. A supplementary Budget motion for any financial year may be expressed to have effect from a time before it is made; but that time may not be earlier than—
   1. the date on which the last supplementary Budget motion for the financial year was passed, or
   2. (if none has) the date on which the annual Budget motion for the financial year was passed.
5. A supplementary Budget motion may only be moved by the First Minister or a Welsh Minister appointed under section 48.

126A. Inclusion in Budget motions of resources used by designated bodies

1. A Budget motion for a financial year may include information relating to resources expected to be used by any body that is a designated body in relation to a relevant person.
2. For the purposes of this section a body is a “designated” body in relation to a relevant person if—
   1. it is designated in relation to the relevant person by an order made by the Welsh Ministers, or
   2. it falls within a description of body designated in relation to the relevant person by such an order.
3. A body, or a description of body, may be designated in relation to a relevant person for a particular financial year or generally.
4. If the Welsh Ministers expect the use of resources by a body in a financial year to involve payments out of a relevant Consolidated Fund to or for the benefit of the body, they may not make an order under which the body would be a designated body for the year unless the Treasury have consented to the making of the order.
5. “A relevant Consolidated Fund” means—
   1. the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom,
   2. the Scottish Consolidated Fund, or
   3. the Consolidated Fund of Northern Ireland.
6. The Welsh Ministers must, where they think it appropriate, consult the Treasury before designating a body or a description of body.
7. In determining for any purpose whether a body has a particular relationship with a relevant person (for example, whether it is controlled by, or otherwise dependent on, the person), the following must be disregarded—
   1. the fact that the provisions of a Budget motion relating to the relevant person in respect of a financial year include information relating to the body, and
   2. the fact that the relevant person’s accounts for a financial year prepared under this or any other Act include information relating to the body.
8. An order under subsection (2) is to be made by statutory instrument.
9. A statutory instrument containing an order under that subsection is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the National Assembly for Wales.
10. But subsection (9) does not apply if a draft of the statutory instrument containing the order has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the National Assembly for Wales.

127. Appropriation without Budget resolution

1. If a Budget resolution for a financial year is not passed before the beginning of the financial year, the following are deemed to have been authorised by a Budget resolution of the Assembly for that year—
   1. the use in the year for any service or purpose of the relevant percentage of the amount of the resources authorised to be used in the preceding financial year for the service or purpose,
   2. the retention in the year for use for any service or purpose of the relevant percentage of the amount of the resources authorised to be retained in the previous financial year for use for the service or purpose, and
   3. the payment out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund in the year for any service or purpose of the relevant percentage of the amount authorised to be paid out of the Fund in the previous financial year for the service or purpose.
2. “The relevant percentage” is—
   1. where a Budget resolution for the financial year is not passed before the end of July in the financial year, 95%, and
   2. otherwise, 75%.

128. Contingencies

1. This section applies where it is proposed—
   1. that resources be used in any financial year by any of the relevant persons, or pursuant to a relevant enactment, otherwise than as authorised by virtue of sections 125 to 127, or
   2. that amounts be paid out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund in the year to the relevant persons, or for use pursuant to a relevant enactment, otherwise than as authorised by virtue of those sections.
2. The resources may be so used, or the amounts may be so issued, only with the authority of the Welsh Ministers.
3. The Welsh Ministers may authorise the use of resources, or the payment of amounts, only if they consider that—
   1. the use of the resources, or the payment of the amounts, is necessary in the public interest, and
   2. it is not reasonably practicable, for reasons of urgency, for a motion to be moved under section 125 or 126 to authorise the use of the resources or the payment of the amounts.
4. The aggregate amount of resources which the Welsh Ministers may at any time authorise to be used under this section by any person, or pursuant to any enactment, in any financial year must not exceed 0.5% of—
   1. the aggregate amount of the resources which, at the time, have been authorised by virtue of sections 125 and 126 to be used by that person, or pursuant to that enactment, in that financial year, or
   2. (if none have) the aggregate amount of the resources which were so authorised to be used by that person, or pursuant to that enactment, in the immediately preceding financial year.
5. The aggregate amount which the Welsh Ministers may at any time authorise to be paid out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund under this section to any person, or for use pursuant to any enactment, in any financial year must not exceed 0.5% of—
   1. the aggregate of the amounts which, at the time, have been authorised by virtue of sections 125 and 126 to be paid to that person, or for use pursuant to that enactment, in that financial year, or
   2. (if none have) the aggregate of the amounts which were so authorised to be paid to that person, or for use pursuant to that enactment, in the immediately preceding financial year.
6. The use of resources, or the payment of amounts, authorised by the Welsh Ministers in accordance with this section is deemed to have been authorised by a Budget resolution of the Assembly.
7. Where the Welsh Ministers authorise the use of resources or the payment of amounts under this section, they must, as soon as possible, lay before the Assembly a report setting out—
   1. the resources authorised to be used or the amounts authorised to be paid,
   2. the services or purposes for which the resources were authorised to be used, or the amounts were authorised to be paid, and
   3. why they considered it to be necessary to authorise the use of the resources, or the payment of the amounts, under this section.

129. Approvals to draw

1. The Auditor General must grant approvals to draw payments out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund from time to time at the request of the Welsh Ministers.
2. An approval to draw may only be granted if, in the Auditor General’s opinion, the proposed payment out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund would comply with section 124.
3. A request for the grant of an approval to draw is to be made in any manner which the Welsh Ministers, with the approval of the Auditor General, decide to adopt.
4. Where an approval to draw is granted the Paymaster General must make the funds available to the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister, the Counsel General, the Assembly Commission, the Wales Audit Office or the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales (as appropriate).
5. The Paymaster General must make available to—
   1. the Auditor General, and
   2. the principal accounting officer for the Welsh Ministers,
6. a daily statement regarding all the issues made out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund in respect of sums charged on that Fund and other payments out of it.
7. For the purposes of this Act the principal accounting officer for the Welsh Ministers is the Permanent Secretary to the Welsh Assembly Government.
8. But the Treasury may designate another member of the staff of the Welsh Assembly Government to be the principal accounting officer for the Welsh Ministers if and for so long as—
   1. the Permanent Secretary to the Welsh Assembly Government is incapable of discharging the responsibilities of principal accounting officer for the Welsh Ministers, or
   2. the office of Permanent Secretary to the Welsh Assembly Government is vacant.
9. In this section “Permanent Secretary to the Welsh Assembly Government” means the person appointed in accordance with section 52 to be the head of the staff of the Welsh Assembly Government (whether or not that person is known by the title of Permanent Secretary to the Welsh Assembly Government).

130. Payments in by mistake

Where a sum is paid into the Welsh Consolidated Fund which should not or need not have been paid into the Fund, the Auditor General may grant an approval to draw a payment equal to the amount of that sum out of the Fund.

Subheading 5. Financial accountability of Welsh Ministers

131. Welsh Ministers’ accounts

1. The Welsh Ministers must, for each financial year, prepare accounts in accordance with directions given to them by the Treasury.
2. The accounts must include details of the financial affairs and transactions of the Counsel General.
3. The directions which the Treasury may give under subsection (1) include directions to prepare accounts relating to financial affairs and transactions of persons other than the Welsh Ministers.
4. The directions which the Treasury may give under subsection (1) include, in particular, directions as to—
   1. the financial affairs and transactions to which the accounts are to relate,
   2. the information to be contained in the accounts and the manner in which it is to be presented,
   3. the methods and principles in accordance with which the accounts are to be prepared, and
   4. the additional information (if any) that is to accompany the accounts.
5. Any accounts which the Welsh Ministers are directed under this section to prepare for any financial year must be submitted by the Welsh Ministers to the Auditor General no later than 30th November in the following financial year.
6. The Auditor General must—
   1. examine and certify any accounts submitted under this section, and
   2. no later than four months after the accounts are submitted, lay before the Assembly a copy of them as certified by the Auditor General together with the Auditor General’s report on them.
7. In examining accounts submitted under this section, the Auditor General must, in particular, be satisfied—
   1. that the expenditure to which the accounts relate has been incurred lawfully and in accordance with the authority which governs it, and
   2. that money received for a particular purpose or particular purposes has not been expended otherwise than for that purpose or those purposes.
8. Where—
   1. by virtue of any enactment other than this section the Welsh Ministers are under an obligation to prepare accounts dealing with any matters, and
   2. it appears to the Treasury that those matters fall to be dealt with in accounts directed to be prepared under this section,
9. the Treasury may relieve the Welsh Ministers of that obligation for or in respect of such periods as the Treasury may direct.

132. Account relating to Welsh Consolidated Fund

1. The Welsh Ministers must, for each financial year, prepare an account of the payments into and out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund.
2. The account must be prepared in accordance with directions given to the Welsh Ministers by the Treasury.
3. The directions which the Treasury may give under subsection (2) include, in particular, directions as to—
   1. the information to be contained in the account and the manner in which it is to be presented,
   2. the methods and principles in accordance with which the account is to be prepared, and
   3. the additional information (if any) that is to accompany the account.
4. Any account which the Welsh Ministers are directed under this section to prepare for any financial year must be submitted by the Welsh Ministers to the Auditor General no later than 30th November in the following financial year.
5. The Auditor General must—
   1. examine and certify any account submitted under this section, and
   2. no later than four months after the account is submitted, lay before the Assembly a copy of it as certified by the Auditor General together with the Auditor General’s report on it.
6. In examining an account submitted under this section the Auditor General must, in particular, be satisfied—
   1. that any payment out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund to which the account relates was paid out in compliance with section 124 or 130, and
   2. that money which is required to be paid into the Welsh Consolidated Fund has been paid into that Fund.

133. Accounting officers for Welsh Ministers

1. The principal accounting officer for the Welsh Ministers has—
   1. in relation to the accounts of the Welsh Ministers and the finances of the Welsh Ministers and the Counsel General, and
   2. in relation to the performance by persons designated as accounting officers in pursuance of any provision of this Act of their responsibilities as accounting officers,
2. the responsibilities which are from time to time specified by the Treasury.
3. The principal accounting officer for the Welsh Ministers may designate other members of the staff of the Welsh Assembly Government as additional accounting officers.
4. An additional accounting officer has, in relation to such of the accounts of the Welsh Ministers and the finances of the Welsh Ministers and the Counsel General as may be specified by the principal accounting officer for the Welsh Ministers, the responsibilities which are from time to time specified by the principal accounting officer for the Welsh Ministers.

134. Accounts of subsidiaries of Welsh Ministers

1. For the purposes of the examination by the Auditor General of any accounts of the Welsh Ministers the Auditor General—
   1. has a right of access at all reasonable times to every document relating to the accounts of any subsidiary of the Welsh Ministers (whether or not the accounts of the Welsh Ministers being examined relate to the financial affairs and transactions of the subsidiary),
   2. is entitled to require from any person holding or accountable for any of those documents any assistance, information or explanation which the Auditor General reasonably thinks necessary for those purposes, and
   3. may require any subsidiary of the Welsh Ministers to provide the Auditor General at times specified by the Auditor General with accounts of such of the subsidiary’s transactions as the Auditor General may specify.
2. The Treasury may, by directions given to a subsidiary of the Welsh Ministers, require the subsidiary to include in any accounts which the subsidiary prepares (under, for example, the law relating to companies or charities) such additional information as may be specified in the directions.
3. The inclusion of information in any accounts in compliance with such directions does not constitute a breach of any provision which prohibits, or does not authorise, the inclusion in the accounts of that information.
4. In this section “subsidiary of the Welsh Ministers” means—
   1. any body corporate or other undertaking in relation to which, if the Welsh Ministers were an undertaking, the Welsh Ministers would be a parent undertaking,
   2. any trust of which the Welsh Ministers are settlors, or
   3. any charitable institution of which the Welsh Ministers are founders but which is neither a body corporate nor a trust.
5. For the purposes of subsection (4)(a)—
   • “undertaking” has the meaning given by section 1161(1) of the Companies Act 2006, and
     “parent undertaking” is to be construed in accordance with section 1162 of that Act.

135. Examinations into Welsh Ministers’ use of resources

1. The Auditor General may carry out examinations into the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which the Welsh Ministers and the Counsel General have used their resources in discharging their functions.
2. Subsection (1) does not entitle the Auditor General to question the merits of the policy objectives of the Welsh Ministers or the Counsel General.
3. In determining how to exercise functions under this section the Auditor General must take into account the views of the Audit Committee as to the examinations to be carried out under this section.
4. The Auditor General may lay before the Assembly a report of the results of any examination carried out under this section.

136. Examinations by Comptroller and Auditor General

1. The Comptroller and Auditor General may carry out examinations into the payments into and out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund.
2. The Comptroller and Auditor General may report the results of any examination carried out under subsection (1) to the House of Commons.
3. If a report is made under subsection (2), the Comptroller and Auditor General must at the same time lay a report of the results of the examination before the Assembly.
4. For the purpose of enabling examinations under subsection (1) to be carried out the Comptroller and Auditor General—
   1. has a right of access at all reasonable times to all such documents in the custody or under the control of any of the persons mentioned in subsection (5) as the Comptroller and Auditor General may reasonably require for that purpose, and
   2. is entitled to require from any person holding or accountable for any of those documents any assistance, information or explanation which the Comptroller and Auditor General reasonably thinks necessary for that purpose.
5. The persons referred to in subsection (4) are—
   1. the Welsh Ministers and the Counsel General,
   2. the Assembly Commission,
   3. any other person audited by the Auditor General other than a Welsh NHS body (within the meaning given in section 60 of the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004 (c. 23)), and
   4. the Auditor General.
6. Before carrying out an examination under subsection (1) or acting in reliance on subsection (4) the Comptroller and Auditor General must—
   1. consult the Auditor General, and
   2. take into account any relevant work done or being done by the Auditor General.

Subheading 6. Financial accountability of Assembly Commission

137. Assembly Commission’s accounts

1. The Assembly Commission must, for each financial year, prepare accounts in accordance with directions given to it by the Treasury.
2. The directions which the Treasury may give under subsection (1) include directions to prepare accounts relating to financial affairs and transactions of persons other than the Assembly Commission.
3. The directions which the Treasury may give under subsection (1) include, in particular, directions as to—
   1. the financial affairs and transactions to which the accounts are to relate,
   2. the information to be contained in the accounts and the manner in which it is to be presented,
   3. the methods and principles in accordance with which the accounts are to be prepared, and
   4. the additional information (if any) that is to accompany the accounts.
4. Any accounts which the Assembly Commission is directed under this section to prepare for any financial year must be submitted by the Assembly Commission to the Auditor General no later than 30th November in the following financial year.
5. The Auditor General must—
   1. examine and certify any accounts submitted under this section, and
   2. no later than four months after the accounts are submitted, lay before the Assembly a copy of them as certified by the Auditor General together with the Auditor General’s report on them.
6. In examining accounts submitted under this section the Auditor General must, in particular, be satisfied—
   1. that the expenditure to which the accounts relate has been incurred lawfully and in accordance with the authority which governs it, and
   2. that money received by the Assembly Commission for a particular purpose or particular purposes has not been expended otherwise than for that purpose or those purposes.

138. Accounting officers for Assembly Commission

1. For the purposes of this Act the principal accounting officer for the Assembly Commission is the Clerk.
2. But the Treasury may designate another member of the staff of the Assembly to be the principal accounting officer for the Assembly Commission if and for so long as-
   1. the Clerk is incapable of discharging the responsibilities of the principal accounting officer for the Assembly Commission, or
   2. the office of Clerk is vacant.
3. The principal accounting officer for the Assembly Commission has—
   1. in relation to the Assembly Commission’s accounts and finances, and
   2. in relation to the performance by persons designated as accounting officers in pursuance of any provision of this Act of their responsibilities as accounting officers,
4. the responsibilities which are from time to time specified by the Treasury.
5. The principal accounting officer for the Assembly Commission may designate other members of the staff of the Assembly as additional accounting officers.
6. An additional accounting officer has, in relation to such of the Assembly Commission’s accounts and finances as may be specified by the principal accounting officer for the Assembly Commission, the responsibilities which are from time to time specified by the principal accounting officer for the Assembly Commission.

139. Accounts of subsidiaries of Assembly Commission

1. For the purposes of the examination by the Auditor General of any accounts of the Assembly Commission the Auditor General—
   1. has a right of access at all reasonable times to every document relating to the accounts of any subsidiary of the Assembly Commission (whether or not the accounts of the Assembly Commission being examined relate to the financial affairs and transactions of the subsidiary),
   2. is entitled to require from any person holding or accountable for any of those documents any assistance, information or explanation which the Auditor General reasonably thinks necessary for those purposes, and
   3. may require any subsidiary of the Assembly Commission to provide the Auditor General at times specified by the Auditor General with accounts of such of the subsidiary’s transactions as the Auditor General may specify.
2. The Treasury may, by directions given to a subsidiary of the Assembly Commission, require the subsidiary to include in any accounts which the subsidiary prepares (under, for example, the law relating to companies or charities) such additional information as may be specified in the directions.
3. The inclusion of information in any accounts in compliance with such directions does not constitute a breach of any provision which prohibits, or does not authorise, the inclusion in the accounts of that information.
4. In this section “subsidiary of the Assembly Commission” means—
   1. any body corporate or other undertaking in relation to which the Assembly Commission is a parent undertaking,
   2. any trust of which the Assembly Commission is settlor, or
   3. any charitable institution of which the Assembly Commission is founder but which is neither a body corporate nor a trust.
5. For the purposes of subsection (4)(a)—
   • “undertaking” has the meaning given by section 1161(1) of the Companies Act 2006, and
     “parent undertaking” is to be construed in accordance with section 1162 of that Act.

140. Examinations into Assembly Commission’s use of resources

1. The Auditor General may carry out examinations into the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which the Assembly Commission has used its resources in discharging its functions.
2. Subsection (1) does not entitle the Auditor General to question the merits of the policy objectives of the Assembly Commission.
3. In determining how to exercise functions under this section the Auditor General must take into account the views of the Audit Committee as to the examinations to be carried out under this section.
4. The Auditor General may lay before the Assembly a report of the results of any examination carried out under this section.

Subheading 7. Whole of Government of Wales accounts

141. Whole of government accounts: Welsh Ministers

1. This section applies in respect of a financial year for which the Treasury make arrangements with the Welsh Ministers under section 10(8) of the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 (c. 20) (whole of government accounts: consolidation of Welsh accounts).
2. The Welsh Ministers must prepare a set of accounts for the group of bodies which provide information to the Welsh Ministers in accordance with the arrangements under section 10(8).
3. Accounts prepared under this section may include information referring wholly or partly to activities which—
   1. are not activities of bodies falling within subsection (2), but
   2. appear to the Welsh Ministers to be activities of a public nature.
4. The accounts must contain such information in such form as the Treasury may direct.
5. The Treasury must exercise the power under subsection (4) with a view to ensuring that the accounts—
   1. present a true and fair view, and
   2. conform to generally accepted accounting practice subject to such adaptations as are necessary in the context.
6. For the purposes of subsection (5)(a) and (b) the Treasury must in particular—
   1. have regard to any relevant guidance issued by the Accounting Standards Board Limited or any other body prescribed for the purposes of section 464 of the Companies Act 2006 (accounting standards) or to international accounting standards (as defined in section 474 of that Act), and
   2. require the accounts to include, subject to paragraph (a), a statement of financial performance, a statement of financial position and a cash flow statement.
7. Any accounts which the Welsh Ministers are required to prepare under this section for any financial year must be submitted by the Welsh Ministers to the Auditor General no later than 30th November in the following financial year.
8. But the Welsh Ministers may by order substitute another date for the date for the time being specified in subsection (7).
9. No order may be made under subsection (7) unless the Welsh Ministers have consulted—
   1. the Treasury, and
   2. the Auditor General.
10. A statutory instrument containing an order under subsection (7) is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the Assembly.

142. Functions of Auditor General

1. The Auditor General must examine accounts submitted under section 141 with a view to being satisfied that they present a true and fair view.
2. Where the Auditor General has conducted an examination of accounts under subsection (1), the Auditor General must—
   1. certify them and issue a report, and
   2. no later than four months after the accounts are submitted, lay before the Assembly a copy of them as certified by the Auditor General together with the Auditor General’s report on them.
3. A person who acts as auditor for the purposes of section 10(2)(c) or (8)(c) of the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 (c. 20) must give the Auditor General such information and explanations as the Auditor General may reasonably require for the purposes of this section.

Subheading 8. Treatment of accounts and audit reports etc

143. Audit Committee reports

1. The Audit Committee may consider, and lay before the Assembly a report on, any accounts, statement of accounts or report laid before the Assembly by—
   1. the Auditor General, or
   2. [Omitted]
2. If requested to do so by the House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts, the Audit Committee may—
   1. on behalf of the Committee of Public Accounts take evidence from any of the persons mentioned in subsection (3), and
   2. report to the Committee of Public Accounts and transmit to that Committee any evidence so taken.
3. The persons referred to in subsection (2)(a) are—
   1. the principal accounting officer for the Welsh Ministers,
   2. the principal accounting officer for the Assembly Commission, and
   3. additional accounting officers designated under section 133 or 138.

144. Publication of accounts and audit reports etc

1. The Assembly must publish a document to which this subsection applies as soon after the document is laid before the Assembly as is reasonably practicable.
2. The documents to which subsection (1) applies are—
   1. any accounts, statement of accounts or report laid before the Assembly by the Auditor General,
   2. any accounts or report laid before the Assembly by the auditor appointed under paragraph 34 of Schedule 1 to the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2013, and
   3. any report laid before the Assembly by the Audit Committee under section 143(1).

Subheading 9. Auditor General for Wales

145. Auditor General

1. [Omitted]
2. For provision about the Auditor General for Wales or Archwilydd Cyffredinol Cymru (referred to in this Act as “the Auditor General”) see Schedule 8 and the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2013.
3. The Welsh Ministers must co-operate with the Auditor General where it seems to them appropriate to do so for the efficient and effective discharge of their functions in relation to Welsh NHS bodies.
4. “Welsh NHS bodies” has the meaning given by section 60 of the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004 (c. 23).

Part 6. Miscellaneous and supplementary

Subheading 1. Welsh public records

146. Status of Welsh public records

1. Welsh public records are not public records for the purposes of the Public Records Act 1958 (c. 51).
2. But that Act has effect in relation to Welsh public records (as if they were public records for the purpose of that Act) until an order under section 147 imposes a duty to preserve them on the Welsh Ministers (or a member of the staff of the Welsh Assembly Government).
3. Subsection (2) applies to Welsh public records whether or not, apart from subsection (1), they would be public records for the purposes of the Public Records Act 1958.

147. Transfer of responsibility

1. The Lord Chancellor may by order make provision—
   1. imposing or conferring on the Welsh Ministers (or a member of the staff of the Welsh Assembly Government) functions relating to Welsh public records (including, in particular, functions of preserving them and of making them available for inspection by the public), and
   2. imposing on persons responsible for Welsh public records duties relating to the selection of such records for permanent preservation, the safe-keeping of such records and their transfer to a place specified in, or appointed under, the order.
2. An order under this section may (in particular) make in relation to Welsh public records provision analogous to that made by the Public Records Act 1958 (c. 51) in relation to records which are public records for the purposes of that Act.
3. An order under this section may make such modifications of—
   1. any enactment (including any enactment comprised in or made under this Act) or prerogative instrument, or
   2. any other instrument or document,
4. as the Lord Chancellor considers appropriate in connection with the provision made by the order.
5. An order under this section which imposes on the Welsh Ministers (or a member of the staff of the Welsh Assembly Government) a duty to preserve Welsh public records, or Welsh public records of a particular description, must include provision for the Lord Chancellor to make such arrangements as appear appropriate for the transfer of Welsh public records, or Welsh public records of that description, which are in—
   1. the Public Record Office, or
   2. a place of deposit appointed under the Public Records Act 1958,
6. to a place specified in, or appointed under, the order.
7. No order is to be made under this section unless the Lord Chancellor has consulted the Welsh Ministers.
8. No order under this section which contains provisions in the form of amendments or repeals of enactments contained in an Act is to be made unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing it has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.
9. A statutory instrument containing an order under this section is (unless a draft of the statutory instrument has been approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament) subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

148. Meaning of “Welsh public records

1. The following are Welsh public records—
   1. administrative and departmental records belonging to Her Majesty which are records of the Welsh Assembly Government,
   2. administrative and departmental records of the Auditor General,
   3. administrative and departmental records belonging to Her Majesty which are records of or held in any government department which is wholly or mainly concerned with Welsh affairs,
   4. administrative and departmental records belonging to Her Majesty which are records of any office, commission or other body or establishment under Her Majesty’s Government which is wholly or mainly concerned with Welsh affairs in a field or fields in which the Welsh Ministers have functions, or the First Minister or the Counsel General has functions,
   5. administrative and departmental records of the bodies and establishments specified in subsection (2) (but not records of health service hospitals in Wales which are of the descriptions excepted from being public records for the purposes of the Public Records Act 1958 (c. 51) in the case of health service hospitals in England), and
   6. any other description of records (other than records of the Assembly or the Assembly Commission or records of any court or tribunal or held in any department of the Senior Courts) which is specified by order made by the Lord Chancellor.
2. The bodies and establishments referred to in subsection (1)(e) are—
   1. the Care Council for Wales,
   2. [Omitted]
   3. the Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales,
   4. Family Practitioner Committees for localities in Wales,
   5. the Further Education Funding Council for Wales,
   6. the General Teaching Council for Wales,
   7. health service hospitals, within the meaning of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006, in Wales,
   8. the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales,
   9. the Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales,
   10. the National Council for Education and Training for Wales,
   11. National Health Service Authorities for districts or localities in Wales, or for areas in or consisting of Wales, including National Health Service trusts all of whose hospitals, establishments and facilities are situated in Wales,
   12. the Natural Resources Body for Wales,
   13. the Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales,
   14. the Wales Centre for Health, and
   15. the Welsh Board of Health.
3. An order under subsection (1)(f) may be made in relation to a description of records—
   1. which (immediately before the order is made) are public records for the purposes of the Public Records Act 1958, or
   2. which (at that time) are not public records for those purposes.
4. No order under subsection (1)(f) may be made—
   1. in relation to records within paragraph (a) of subsection (3), unless the Lord Chancellor has consulted the Welsh Ministers, and
   2. in relation to records within paragraph (b) of that subsection, without the agreement of the Welsh Ministers.
5. A statutory instrument containing an order under subsection (1)(f) is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
6. In this section “records” includes—
   1. written records, and
   2. records conveying information by any other means.

Subheading 2. Miscellaneous

149. Resolution of devolution issues

For provision about the resolution of devolution issues see Schedule 9.

150. Power to make consequential provision

1. The Secretary of State may by order make such provision as the Secretary of State considers appropriate in consequence of—
   1. any provision made by an Assembly Measure or Act of the Assembly,
   2. any provision of subordinate legislation made, or purporting to be made, under an Assembly Measure or Act of the Assembly,
   3. any provision of subordinate legislation made, or purporting to be made, by the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General, or
   4. any provision of subordinate legislation made, or purporting to be made, by any other person (not being a Minister of the Crown) in the exercise of a function conferred or imposed by Act of Parliament where the statutory instrument (or a draft of the statutory instrument) containing the subordinate legislation is required to be laid before the Assembly.
2. An order under this section may make such modifications of—
   1. any enactment (including any enactment comprised in or made under this Act) or prerogative instrument, or
   2. any other instrument or document,
3. as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
4. An order under this section may not make provision with respect to matters within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament.
5. An order under this section may make provision having retrospective effect.
6. No order under this section which contains provisions in the form of amendments or repeals of enactments contained in an Act is to be made unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing it has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.
7. A statutory instrument containing an order under this section is (unless a draft of the statutory instrument has been approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament) subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
8. In subsection (1) “made” includes confirmed or approved.

151. Power to remedy ultra vires acts

1. Her Majesty may by Order in Council make such provision as Her Majesty considers appropriate in consequence of—
   1. an Assembly Measure or Act of the Assembly, or any provision of an Assembly Measure or Act of the Assembly, which is not, or may not be, within the Assembly’s legislative competence, or
   2. any purported exercise by any person of a function conferred or imposed by or under an Assembly Measure or Act of the Assembly which is not, or may not be, an exercise or proper exercise of that function.
2. An Order in Council under this section may make such modifications of—
   1. any enactment (including any enactment comprised in or made under this Act) or prerogative instrument, or
   2. any other instrument or document,
3. as Her Majesty considers appropriate.
4. An Order in Council under this section may make provision having retrospective effect.
5. No recommendation is to be made to Her Majesty in Council to make an Order in Council under this section which contains provisions in the form of amendments or repeals of enactments contained in an Act unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing the Order in Council has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.
6. A statutory instrument containing an Order in Council under this section is (unless a draft of the statutory instrument has been approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament) subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

152. Intervention in case of functions relating to water etc

1. This section applies where it appears to the Secretary of State that the exercise of a relevant function (or the failure to exercise a relevant function) in any particular case might have a serious adverse impact on—
   1. water resources in England,
   2. water supply in England, or
   3. the quality of water in England.
2. The Secretary of State may intervene under this paragraph in that case, so that—
   1. the Secretary of State may in that case exercise the function, and
   2. the person or persons on whom the function is conferred or imposed may not in that case exercise the function.
3. “Relevant function” means—
   1. a function conferred or imposed on any person by or under an Assembly Measure or Act of the Assembly, or
   2. a function which is not so conferred or imposed but is exercisable by the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General.
4. An intervention by the Secretary of State under this section in relation to a function is to be made by giving notice to the person or persons on whom it is conferred or imposed.
5. The notice—
   1. must state the reason for the Secretary of State’s intervention,
   2. may make provision about the effect of any steps previously taken by the person or persons on whom the function is conferred or imposed, and
   3. may extend the time for the taking of any steps by the Secretary of State or any other person (even if the time for taking them would otherwise have expired before the notice is given).
6. Where an intervention has been made under this section in a case, the Secretary of State must, in addition to the notice under subsection (4), give notice to—
   1. any person who has previously been given notice of any steps taken, or proposed to be taken, in the case,
   2. the Natural Resources Body for Wales, if concerned in the case,
   3. the Environment Agency, if concerned in the case, and
   4. any water undertaker or sewerage undertaker concerned in the case.

153. Power to vary retrospective decisions

1. This section applies where any court or tribunal decides—
   1. that an Assembly Measure or Act of the Assembly, or any provision of an Assembly Measure or Act of the Assembly, is outside the Assembly’s legislative competence,
   2. that any provision of subordinate legislation made, or purporting to be made, under an Assembly Measure or Act of the Assembly is outside the powers under which it was, or purported to be, made, or
   3. that any provision of subordinate legislation made, or purporting to be made, by the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General is outside the powers under which it was, or purported to be, made.
2. The court or tribunal may make an order—
   1. removing or limiting any retrospective effect of the decision, or
   2. suspending the effect of the decision for any period and on any conditions to allow the defect to be corrected.
3. In determining whether to make an order under this section, the court or tribunal must (among other things) have regard to the extent to which persons who are not parties to the proceedings would otherwise be adversely affected by the decision.
4. Where a court or tribunal is considering whether to make an order under this section, it must order notice (or intimation) of that fact to be given to the persons specified in subsection (5) (unless a party to the proceedings).
5. The persons mentioned in subsection (4) are—
   1. in relation to proceedings in England and Wales, the Attorney General and the Counsel General,
   2. in relation to proceedings in Scotland, the Advocate General for Scotland, and
   3. in relation to proceedings in Northern Ireland, the Advocate General for Northern Ireland.
6. A person to whom notice (or intimation) is given in pursuance of subsection (4) may take part as a party in the proceedings, so far as they relate to the making of the order.
7. In deciding any question as to costs or expenses, the court or tribunal may—
   1. take account of any additional expense which it considers that any party to the proceedings has incurred as a result of the participation of any person in pursuance of subsection (6), and
   2. award the whole or part of the additional expense as costs or expenses to the party who incurred it (whether or not it makes an order under this section and whatever the terms of any such order it does make).
8. Any power to make provision for regulating the procedure before any court or tribunal includes power to make provision for the purposes of this section including, in particular, provision for determining the manner in which and the time within which any notice (or intimation) is to be given.
9. In subsection (1) “made” includes confirmed or approved.

154. Interpretation of legislation

1. This section applies to—
   1. any provision of an Assembly Measure, or proposed Assembly Measure, which could be read in such a way as to be outside the Assembly’s legislative competence,
   2. any provision of an Act of the Assembly, or a Bill for such an Act, which could be read in such a way as to be outside the Assembly’s legislative competence, and
   3. any provision of subordinate legislation made, or purporting to be made, under an Assembly Measure or Act of the Assembly which could be read in such a way as to be outside the powers under which it was, or purported to be, made.
2. The provision is to be read as narrowly as is required for it to be within competence or within the powers, if such a reading is possible, and is to have effect accordingly.
3. In subsection (1)(c) “made” includes confirmed or approved.

155. Functions exercisable in relation to Wales

1. Her Majesty may by Order in Council specify functions which are to be treated for such purposes of this Act as may be specified in the Order in Council—
   1. as being, or as not being, functions which are exercisable by the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General, or
   2. as being, or as not being, functions which are exercisable in relation to Wales or the Welsh zone.
2. A statutory instrument containing an Order in Council under this section is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

156. English and Welsh texts of legislation

1. The English and Welsh texts of—
   1. any Assembly Measure or Act of the Assembly which is in both English and Welsh when it is enacted, or
   2. any subordinate legislation which is in both English and Welsh when it is made,
2. are to be treated for all purposes as being of equal standing.
3. The Welsh Ministers may by order provide in respect of any Welsh word or phrase that, when it appears in the Welsh text of any Assembly Measure or Act of the Assembly, or any subordinate legislation made under an Assembly Measure or Act of the Assembly or by the Welsh Ministers, it is to be taken as having the same meaning as the English word or phrase specified in relation to it in the order.
4. No order is to be made under subsection (2) unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing it has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the Assembly.
5. An Assembly Measure or Act of the Assembly, or any subordinate legislation made under an Assembly Measure or Act of the Assembly or by the Welsh Ministers, is to be construed in accordance with any order under subsection (2); but this is subject to anything to the contrary contained in the Assembly Measure, Act of the Assembly or subordinate legislation.
6. This section applies in relation to subordinate legislation made by the First Minister or the Counsel General as in relation to subordinate legislation made by the Welsh Ministers.

Subheading 3. Supplementary

157. Orders and directions

1. Any power of a Minister of the Crown or the Welsh Ministers under this Act to make an order is exercisable by statutory instrument.
2. Any such power and any power under this Act to make an Order in Council—
   1. may be exercised so as to make different provision for different cases or classes of case or different purposes,
   2. may be exercised so as to make provision which applies generally or subject to specified exemptions or exceptions or only in relation to specific cases or classes of case, and
   3. includes power to make supplementary, incidental, consequential, transitory, transitional or saving provision.
3. Any power conferred by this Act to give a direction includes power to vary or revoke the direction.

158. Interpretation

1. In this Act (except where the context otherwise requires)—
   • “EU law” means—
     “the Convention rights” has the same meaning as in the Human Rights Act 1998 (c. 42),
     “cross-border body” means any body (including a government department) or undertaker exercising functions, or carrying on activities, in or with respect to Wales (or any part of Wales) and anywhere else,
     “enactment” includes an Assembly Measure, an Act of the Assembly and subordinate legislation (but see also subsection (2)),
     “English border area” means a part of England adjoining Wales (but not the whole of England),
     “financial year” means the twelve months ending with 31st March,
     “function” means power or duty,
     “government department” means any department of the Government of the United Kingdom,
     “international obligations” means any international obligations of the United Kingdom other than obligations to observe and implement EU law or the Convention rights,
     “Minister of the Crown” includes the Treasury,
     “modifications” includes amendments, repeals and revocations,
     “subordinate legislation” has the same meaning as in the Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30) (including an instrument made under an Assembly Measure or Act of the Assembly),
     “tribunal” means any tribunal in which legal proceedings may be brought,
     “Wales” includes the sea adjacent to Wales out as far as the seaward boundary of the territorial sea, and
     “Welsh zone” means the sea adjacent to Wales which is—
     1. within British fishery limits (that is, the limits set by or under section 1 of the Fishery Limits Act 1976), and
     2. specified in an Order in Council under section 58 or an order under subsection (3).
2. In sections 95(3), 109(2) and 151(2) “enactment” includes an Act of the Scottish Parliament and an instrument made under such an Act.
3. The Secretary of State may by order determine, or make provision for determining, for the purposes of the definitions of “Wales” and the “Welsh zone”, any boundary between waters which are to be treated as parts of the sea adjacent to Wales, or sea within British fishery limits adjacent to Wales, and those which are not.
4. An Order in Council under section 58 may include any provision that may be included in an order under subsection (3).
5. No order is to be made under subsection (3) unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing it has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.
6. Section 13 of the National Audit Act 1983 (c. 44) (interpretation of references to the Committee of Public Accounts) applies for the purposes of this Act as for those of that Act.

159. Index of defined expressions

In this Act the following expressions are defined or otherwise explained by the provisions indicated—

• the 2007 election: section 161(1)
  Acts of the Assembly: section 107(1)
  annual Budget motion: section 125(1)
  the Assembly: section 1(1)
  the Assembly Act provisions: section 103(8)
  the Assembly Commission: section 27(1)
  Assembly constituency: section 2(1)
  Assembly constituency member: section 1(2)(a)
  Assembly electoral region: section 2(2) and (3)
  Assembly Measures: section 93(1)
  Assembly member: section 1(3)
  Assembly proceedings: section 1(5)
  Assembly regional member: section 1(2)(b)
  Assembly’s legislative competence (in relation to Acts of the Assembly): section 108
  Assembly’s legislative competence (in relation to Assembly Measures): section 94
  the Audit Committee: section 30(1)
  the Auditor General: section 145(1)
  Budget resolution of the Assembly: section 120(8)
  the Clerk: section 26(1)
  the Committee of Public Accounts: section 158(6)
  EU law: section 158(1)
  constituency vote: section 6(2)
  the Convention rights: section 158(1)
  the Counsel General: section 45(1)(c)
  cross-border body: section 158(1)
  the Deputy Presiding Officer: section 25(1)(b)
  Deputy Welsh Minister: section 50
  electoral region figure: section 8(5)
  electoral region vote: section 6(3)
  enactment: section 158(1) and (2)
  English border area: section 158(1)
  financial year: section 158(1)
  the First Minister: sections 46 and 47
  function: section 158(1)
  government department: section 158(1)
  the initial period: section 161(5)
  international obligations: section 158(1)
  member of the staff of the Assembly: paragraph 3(2) of Schedule 2
  member of the staff of the Welsh Assembly Government: section 52
  Minister of the Crown: section 158(1)
  modifications: section 158(1)
  political group: section 24(5)
  political group with an executive role: section 25(8)
  the Presiding Officer: section 25(1)(a)
  the principal accounting officer for the Assembly Commission: section 138(1) and (2)
  the principal accounting officer for the Welsh Ministers: section 129(6) and (7)
  regional returning officer: section 7(7)
  registered political party: section 6(6)
  relevant enactment (in sections 124 to 128): section 124(4)
  the relevant persons (in sections 124 to 128): section 124(3)
  the standing orders: section 31(1)
  subordinate legislation: section 158(1)
  supplementary Budget motion: section 126(1)
  tribunal: section 158(1)
  use of resources: section 125(4)
  Wales: section 158(1), (3) and (4)
  Welsh Assembly Government: section 45(1)
  Welsh Consolidated Fund: section 117
  the Welsh Ministers: section 45(2)
  “Welsh zone”: section 158(1), (3) and (4)

160. Minor and consequential amendments

1. For minor and consequential amendments see Schedule 10.
2. The Secretary of State may by order make such modifications of—
   1. any enactment contained in an Act passed before or in the same session as this Act, or
   2. any enactment contained in an instrument made before the passing of this Act or in the session in which this Act is passed,
3. as the Secretary of State considers appropriate in consequence of this Act.
4. No order containing provision under subsection (2)(a) is to be made unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing it has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.
5. A statutory instrument containing an order under subsection (2) is (unless a draft of the statutory instrument has been approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament) subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

161. Commencement

1. Subject as follows, this Act comes into force immediately after the ordinary election under section 3 of the Government of Wales Act 1998 (c. 38) held in 2007 (referred to in this Act as “the 2007 election”).
2. The following provisions come into force on the day on which this Act is passed—
   • paragraphs 5, 6 and 12 of Schedule 2,
     sections 95 and 96 and Schedule 5,
     section 109 and Schedule 7,
     section 119 and the repeal by Schedule 12 of section 81 of the Government of Wales Act 1998,
     section 120(3) and (7),
     section 125 and the repeal by Schedule 12 of section 86 of the Government of Wales Act 1998,
     sections 157 to 159,
     section 160(2) to (4),
     the amendment made by paragraph 61 of Schedule 10 in section 13 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (c. 41),
     this section,
     section 162 and Schedule 11,
     the repeal by Schedule 12 of section 12(1)(d) of the Government of Wales Act 1998, and
     sections 164 to 166.
3. The following provisions come into force on 1st April 2007—
   • sections 117 and 118 and the repeal by Schedule 12 of section 80 of the Government of Wales Act 1998,
     section 120(1) and (2), (4) to (6) and (8) and the repeal by Schedule 12 of section 84 of that Act,
     sections 121 and 122 and the repeal by Schedule 12 of section 82 of that Act,
     section 124 and the repeal by Schedule 12 of sections 85(1) and 89 of that Act,
     section 126,
     sections 128 and 129, and
     the amendments in the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 (c. 65), the Local Government Finance Act 1988 (c. 41) and the Housing Act 1988 (c. 50) made by Schedule 10.
4. Subject to subsections (2), (3) and (6), the following provisions come into force immediately after the end of the initial period—
   1. any provision of this Act so far as relating to functions of the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister, the Counsel General or the Assembly Commission,
   2. any provision of this Act so far as relating to the Auditor General or the Comptroller and Auditor General,
   3. any other provision consisting of an amendment made in the Government of Wales Act 1998 (c. 38) by Schedule 10, and
   4. the repeal by Schedule 12 of provisions falling to be repealed in consequence of any provision within paragraph (a), (b) or (c).
5. In this Act “the initial period” means the period—
   1. beginning with the day of the poll at the 2007 election, and
   2. ending with the day on which the first appointment is made under section 46.
6. The repeals by Schedule 12 of each of sections 83, 88, 93(8), 97 and 101A of the Government of Wales Act 1998 (and of the other provisions of that Act so far as relating to them) come into force when the section has been complied with for the financial year ending with 31st March 2007 (and earlier financial years); and sections 123, 131, 132 and 141 do not apply for that financial year.
7. The Assembly Act provisions come into force in accordance with section 105.

162. Transitional etc. provision

1. For transitional and transitory provisions and savings see Schedule 11.
2. The Secretary of State may by order make any other transitional, transitory or saving provision which may appear appropriate in consequence of, or otherwise in connection with, this Act.
3. An order under subsection (2) may, in particular, include any savings from the effect of any amendment or repeal or revocation made by this Act.
4. Nothing in Schedule 11 limits the power conferred by subsection (2); and such an order may, in particular, make modifications of that Schedule.
5. Nothing in that Schedule, or in any provision made by virtue of subsection (2), prejudices the operation of sections 16 and 17 of the Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30).
6. No order under subsection (2) which contains provisions in the form of amendments or repeals of any provision contained in any of paragraphs 30 to 35, 50 and 51 of Schedule 11 is to be made unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing it has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.
7. A statutory instrument containing an order under subsection (2) is (unless a draft of the statutory instrument has been approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament) subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

163. Repeals and revocations

For repeals and revocations of enactments (including some spent enactments) see Schedule 12.

164. Financial provision

1. There is to be paid out of money provided by Parliament—
   1. any expenditure incurred by a Minister of the Crown or government department by virtue of this Act, and
   2. any increase attributable to this Act in the sums payable under any other Act out of money provided by Parliament.
2. There are to be paid into the Consolidated Fund any sums received by a Minister of the Crown by virtue of this Act (other than any required to be paid into the National Loans Fund).

165. Extent

1. The following provisions—
   • section 36(7) to (9),
     section 39, and
     section 40(2) and (3),
2. extend only to England and Wales.
3. The amendments, and repeals and revocations, made by this Act have the same extent as the enactments amended or repealed or revoked.

166. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Government of Wales Act 2006.

Schedules

Schedules 1-4. [Schedules 1-4 omitted due to length – full text of schedules can be found online at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/32/schedules]

Schedule 5. Assembly Measures

Part 1. Matters

Field 1. agriculture, fisheries, forestry and rural development

Matter 1.1

The red meat industry, in relation to–

1. increasing efficiency or productivity in the industry;
2. improving marketing in the industry;
3. improving or developing services that the industry provides or could provide to the community;
4. improving the ways in which the industry contributes to sustainable development.

Interpretation of this field

In this field “the red meat industry” means all of the activities comprised in–

1. breeding, keeping, processing, marketing and distributing cattle, sheep and pigs (alive or dead), and
2. producing, processing, marketing, manufacturing and distributing products derived to any substantial extent from those animals (apart from milk and milk products, fleece wool and hides).

For the purposes of this definition–“cattle” means bovine animals, including bison and buffalo;“pigs” means porcine animals, including wild boar and other feral pigs.

Field 2. ancient monuments and historic buildings

Matter 2.1

The functions of local authorities in the support, improvement and promotion of the appreciation by the public of archaeological remains, ancient monuments, buildings and places of historical or architectural interest, and historic wrecks.

In this matter “local authorities” means the councils of counties and county boroughs in Wales.

Field 3. culture

Matter 3.1

The functions of local authorities in the support, improvement and promotion of arts and crafts, museums and galleries, libraries, archives and historical records, and cultural activities and projects.

This matter does not include licensing of sale and supply of alcohol, provision of entertainment and late night refreshment.

In this matter “local authorities” means the councils of counties and county boroughs in Wales.

Field 4. economic development

Field 5. education and training

Matter 5.1

Provision about the categories of school that may be maintained by local authorities.

Matter 5.2

Provision about the establishment and discontinuance of schools maintained by local authorities, their change from one category to another and their alteration in other respects.

Matter 5.2A

Conduct and governance of schools maintained by local authorities, including the allocation of functions, property, rights and liabilities relating to such schools.

Matter 5.2B

Securing collaboration between persons or bodies with functions relating to schools maintained by local authorities.

Matter 5.2C

The following activities by persons or bodies with functions relating to schools maintained by local authorities—

1. establishment of bodies to do all or any of the following—
   1. carry out activities relating to education or training,
   2. exercise education functions on behalf of local authorities;
2. involvement with bodies mentioned in paragraph (a).

Matter 5.3

Provision about the admission of pupils to schools maintained by local authorities.

Matter 5.4A

The regulation of—

1. schools that are not maintained by local authorities;
2. relevant independent educational institutions.

Matter 5.5

Provision about school attendance, the behaviour of pupils at school, school discipline and the exclusion of pupils from school (including the duties of parents in connection with those matters).

Matter 5.6

Provision about the making of arrangements for the provision of education for persons of compulsory school age who have been excluded from schools or who for any other reason would not otherwise receive suitable education.

Matter 5.7

Provision about entitlement to primary, secondary and further education and to training.

Matter 5.8

Provision about the provision of services that are intended to encourage, enable or assist people—

1. to participate effectively in education or training,
2. to take advantage of opportunities for employment, or
3. to participate effectively in the life of their communities.

Matter 5.9

Provision about food and drink provided on school premises or provided for children at a place where they receive education or childcare.

Matter 5.10

Arrangements for persons to travel to and from the places where they receive education or training.

This matter applies to—

1. persons receiving nursery, primary, secondary or further education or training;
2. persons described in matter 5.17 receiving higher education.

[Omitted]

Matter 5.11

Provision for and in connection with securing the provision of facilities for post-16 education or training.

Matter 5.12

• Provision for and in connection with the establishment and dissolution of—
  including the circumstances in which an educational institution becomes or ceases to be an institution concerned with the provision of further education.
  Provision about—
  1. the conduct and functions of such institutions and bodies that conduct such institutions;
  2. the property, rights and liabilities of such institutions and bodies that conduct such institutions;
  3. property held by any person for the purposes of such an institution;
  4. the governance and staff of such institutions.

Matter 5.13

Provision for and in connection with securing collaboration—

1. between bodies that conduct institutions concerned with the provision of further education, or
2. between one or more such bodies and other persons or bodies that have functions relating to education or training in Wales,

including, in particular, provision for and in connection with the establishment of bodies for the purpose of discharging functions on behalf of one or more persons or bodies that are party to arrangements for collaboration.

Matter 5.14

The provision of financial resources for and in connection with—

1. education or training provided by institutions concerned with the provision of further education;
2. post-16 education or training provided otherwise than by such institutions;
3. the carrying out of research relating to education or training falling within paragraph (a) or (b).

Matter 5.15

The inspection of—

1. schools;
2. relevant independent educational institutions;
3. education or training provided by institutions concerned with the provision of further education;
4. pre-16 education or training, or post-16 education or training, provided otherwise than by institutions within paragraphs (za) to (a);
5. the training of teachers and specialist teaching assistants for schools;
6. services of the kinds mentioned in matter 5.8.

Matter 5.16

The provision of advice and information in connection with, and the carrying out of studies in relation to

1. pre-16 education or training;
2. post-16 education or training;
3. the training of teachers and specialist teaching assistants for schools;
4. services of the kinds mentioned in matter 5.8.

Matter 5.17

[Omitted]

Matter 5.18

The provision of any of the following for children or young persons—

1. facilities for social or physical training;
2. educational activities.

In this matter “children” and “young persons” have the same meaning as in field 15.

Interpretation of this field

Expressions used in this field and in the Education Act 1996 have the same meaning in this field as in that Act.

In this field—

• “nursery education” means education suitable for children who have not attained compulsory school age;
  “post-16 education” means—
  1. education (other than higher education) suitable to the requirements of persons who are above compulsory school age, and
  2. organised leisure-time occupation connected with such education;
• “post-16 training” means—
  1. training suitable to the requirements of persons who are above compulsory school age, and
  2. organised leisure-time occupation connected with such training.
• “pre-16 education or training” means education or training suitable to the requirements of persons who are of or below compulsory school age;
  “relevant independent educational institution” means an institution other than a school which—
  1. provides part-time education for one or more persons of compulsory school age (“part-time students”) whether or not it also provides full-time education for any person, and
• would be an independent school but for the fact that the education provided for the part-time student or students is part-time rather than full-time.
  For the purposes of the above definition of “relevant independent educational institution”, an institution provides “part-time” education for a person if—
  1. it provides education for the person, and
  2. the education does not amount to full-time education.
• References in this field to an institution concerned with the provision of further education are references to an educational institution, other than a school or an institution within the higher education sector (within the meaning of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992), that is conducted (whether or not exclusively) for the purpose of providing further education.

Field 6. environment

Matter 6.1

Preventing, reducing, collecting, managing, treating or disposing of waste.

This matter does not include—

1. regulation of any activity in the sea;
2. regulation of the provision of postal services by a person who holds, or is required to hold, a licence from the Postal Services Commission authorising the person to convey letters from one place to another (whether or not the licence relates to the services).

See below for further provision about what this matter does not include.

Matter 6.2

Disposal of waste in the sea where the waste has been collected, managed or treated on land.

This matter does not include regulation of the following activities—

1. depositing any substance or object in the sea or on or under the seabed from any vehicle, vessel, aircraft, marine structure or floating container;
2. depositing any explosive substance or article in the sea or on or under the seabed;
3. incinerating any substance or object on any vehicle, vessel, marine structure or floating container.

See below for further provision about what this matter does not include.

Matter 6.3

Protecting or improving the environment in relation to pollution.

This matter does not include—

1. regulating the composition and content of fuel used in—
   1. a means of transport,
   2. non-road mobile machinery, or
   3. an agricultural or forestry tractor;
2. obligations upon persons who supply transport fuel at or for delivery to places in the United Kingdom to produce evidence showing the supply of renewable transport fuel;
3. making provision regarding the proportion of renewable energy consumed in transport, including the imposition of requirements relating to sustainability that determine whether any particular renewable energy is to be counted towards any renewable energy obligation or target;
4. provision of financial support in connection with—
   1. the production of renewable energy for consumption in transport, or
   2. the use of that energy in transport,
5. including the imposition of requirements relating to sustainability that determine whether any particular renewable energy qualifies for financial support.
6. regulation of oil and gas exploration and exploitation in those parts of the territorial sea that are not relevant territorial waters.

See below for further provision about what this matter does not include.

Matter 6.4

Protecting or improving the environment in relation to nuisances.

This matter does not include—

1. imposition of criminal or civil liability in respect of energy nuisances that consist of acts, omissions and states of affairs for which there is statutory authority, except criminal or civil liability which the Welsh Ministers have power to impose;
2. removal of relevant defences to, or relevant exclusions from, rules of law which impose civil or criminal liability in respect of energy nuisances, except those defences and exceptions which the Welsh Ministers have power to remove;
3. regulation of the emission of smoke, artificial light or noise from military premises;
4. regulation of gas activities, oil activities, and infrastructure that is necessary for carrying out any such activities;
5. regulation of oil and gas exploration and exploitation in the sea;
6. regulation of electronic communications and electronic communications networks.

See below for further provision about what this matter does not include.

Exclusions 1. Not included in matters 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 and 6.4

Matters 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 and 6.4 do not include any of the following—

1. regulation concerning the control of major accident hazards involving dangerous substances (this exception is to be interpreted in accordance with Council Directive 96/82/EC F70 and it relates only to activity within the scope of that Directive);
2. regulation of the decommissioning of offshore energy installations and related infrastructure.

Exclusions 2. Not included in matters 6.1 and 6.2

Matters 6.1 and 6.2 do not include any of the following—

1. regulation of decommissioned explosives that are outside the scope of the Waste Directive by virtue of Article 2(1)(e) of the Waste Directive and are or have been—
   1. held on behalf of the Crown for naval, military or air force purposes or for the purposes of the department of the Secretary of State having responsibility for defence, or
   2. held by or for the purposes of visiting forces;
2. regulation of radioactive material that is at military premises;
3. regulation of the capture, conveyance or disposal of carbon dioxide as part of relevant carbon capture and storage.

Exclusions 3. Not included in matters 6.3 and 6.4

Matters 6.3 and 6.4 do not include any of the following—

1. regulation of the contained use of genetically modified organisms;
2. regulation of the following activities in the sea—
   1. depositing any substance or object in the sea or on or under the seabed from any vehicle, vessel, aircraft, marine structure or floating container, or any structure on land constructed or adapted wholly or mainly for the purpose of depositing solids in the sea;
   2. scuttling any vessel or floating container;
   3. constructing, altering or improving works in or over the sea or on or under the seabed;
   4. using any vehicle, vessel, aircraft, marine structure or floating container to remove any substance or object from the seabed;
   5. dredging;
   6. depositing or using any explosive substance or article in the sea or on or under the seabed;
   7. incinerating any substance or object on any vehicle, vessel, marine structure or floating container;
3. marine licensing under Part 4 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.

Definitions 1. Meaning of “pollution”

In this field “pollution” means pollution of the air, water or land which may give rise to any environmental harm, including (but not limited to) pollution caused by light, noise, heat or vibrations or any other kind of release of energy.

For the purposes of this definition “air” includes (but is not limited to) air within buildings and air within other natural or man-made structures above or below ground. Meaning of “nuisance”

In this field “nuisance” means an act or omission affecting any place, or a state of affairs in any place, which may impair, or interfere with, the amenity of the environment or any legitimate use of the environment, apart from an act, omission or state of affairs that constitutes pollution. Meaning of “relevant defence” and “relevant exclusion”

In matter 6.4, in relation to a rule of law which imposes civil or criminal liability in respect of an energy nuisance (“the unlawful nuisance”)—“relevant defence” means statutory removal (however expressed, and whether conditional or not) of the civil or criminal liability in respect of an act, omission or state of affairs that is within the scope of the unlawful nuisance;“relevant exclusion” means statutory exclusion (however expressed, and whether conditional or not) of an act, omission or state of affairs from the scope of the unlawful nuisance.

In those definitions, a reference to the scope of the unlawful nuisance is a reference to the class of acts, omissions and states of affairs that constitutes the unlawful nuisance.

Definitions 2

Other interpretation of this field

In this field—

• “electricity activity” means any of the following—
  and for this purpose, the reference to consent of the Secretary of State is a reference to consent under powers to regulate generation of electricity;“electronic communication” means a communication transmitted—
  1. by means of an electronic communications network, or
  2. by other means but while in an electronic form;
• “electronic communications network” means—
  1. a transmission system for the conveyance, by the use of electrical, magnetic or electro-magnetic energy, of signals of any description, and
  2. such of the following as are used, by the person providing the system and in association with it, for the conveyance of the signals—
     1. apparatus comprised in the system,
     2. apparatus used for the switching or routing of the signals, and
     3. software and stored data;
• “energy nuisance” means a nuisance that relates to electricity activities, gas activities, oil activities, or infrastructure that is necessary for carrying out any such activities;“environmental harm” means any of the following—
  1. harm to the health of humans and other living organisms;
  2. harm to the quality of the environment, including—
     1. harm to the quality of the environment taken as a whole,
     2. harm to the quality of the air, water or land, and
     3. other impairment of, or interference with, the ecological systems of which any living organisms form part;
  3. offence to the senses of human beings;
  4. damage to property;
  5. impairment of, or interference with, the amenity of the environment or any legitimate use of the environment;
• “gas activity” means storing, conveying or supplying gas, except any such activity that is carried out by an individual for the domestic purposes of the individual;“marine structure” means a platform or other artificial structure at sea, other than a pipeline;“military premises” means premises which are—
  1. occupied on behalf of the Crown for naval, military or air force purposes or for the purposes of the department of the Secretary of State having responsibility for defence, or
  2. occupied by or for the purposes of visiting forces;
• “offshore energy installation” means any of the following installations that are maintained in the sea or on the foreshore or other land intermittently covered with water, and that are not connected with dry land by a permanent structure providing access at all times and for all purposes—
  1. installations used for oil activities, gas activities or for the exploration or exploitation of gas or oil;
  2. carbon dioxide storage installations;
  3. renewable energy installations;
• “oil activity” means storing, conveying or supplying oil, except any such activity that is carried out by an individual for the domestic purposes of the individual;“relevant carbon capture and storage” means the capture and underground disposal of carbon dioxide by a method in which the carbon dioxide is captured at the place of its production and conveyed for disposal by pipeline directly from the place of production to a place of underground disposal;“relevant territorial waters” means the waters which extend seaward for three miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea adjacent to Wales is measured; but any order made under section 104(4)(a) of the Water Resources Act 1991 for the purposes of Part 3 of that Act in relation to an area of the territorial sea adjacent to Wales also applies for the purposes of determining what are relevant territorial waters for the purposes of this field;“sea” means (except where the context otherwise requires) the sea adjacent to Wales out as far as the seaward boundary of the territorial sea;“statutory” means arising by virtue of an Act;“visiting force” means any such body, contingent or detachment of the forces of any country as is a visiting force for the purposes of any of the provisions of the Visiting Forces Act 1952;
  “Waste Directive” means Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on waste
  An order or an Order in Council made under or by virtue of section 158(3) or (4) for the purposes of that section also applies for the purpose of determining any boundary between the parts of the sea which are to be treated as adjacent to Wales for the purposes of this field and those which are not.

Field 7. fire and rescue services and promotion of fire safety

Field 8. food

Field 9. health and health services

Matter 9.1

Provision for and in connection with the provision of redress without recourse to civil proceedings in circumstances in which, under the law of England and Wales, qualifying liability in tort arises in connection with the provision of services (in Wales or elsewhere) as part of the health service in Wales.

Matter 9.2

Assessment of mental health and treatment of mental disorder.

This matter does not include any of the following—

1. subjecting patients to—
   1. compulsory attendance at any place for the purposes of assessment or treatment,
   2. compulsory supervision, or
   3. guardianship;
2. consent to assessment or treatment;
3. restraint;
4. detention.

For the purposes of this matter, “treatment of mental disorder” means treatment to alleviate, or prevent a worsening of, a mental disorder or one or more of its symptoms or manifestations; and it includes (but is not limited to) nursing, psychological intervention, habilitation, rehabilitation and care.

Interpretation of this field

In this field—

• “the health service in Wales” means the health service continued under section 1(1) of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006;
  “illness” has the same meaning as in that Act;
  “mental disorder” means any disorder or disability of the mind, apart from dependence on alcohol or drugs;
  “patient” has the same meaning as in that Act;
  “personal injury” includes any disease and any impairment of a person’s physical or mental health;
  “qualifying liability in tort” means liability in tort owed in respect of or consequent upon personal injury or loss arising out of or in connection with breach of a duty of care owed to any person in connection with the diagnosis of illness or the care or treatment of any patient.

Field 10. highways and transport

Matter 10.1

Provision for and in connection with—

1. the making, operation and enforcement of schemes for imposing charges in respect of the use or keeping of motor vehicles on Welsh trunk roads;
2. the application of the proceeds of charges imposed under such schemes towards purposes relating to transport.

Matter 10.2

Concessionary travel on the following services—

1. bus services;
2. Welsh services provided under a franchise agreement to which the Welsh Ministers are a party.

Any expression which is used in paragraph (b) and the Railways Act 2005 has the meaning given in that Act.

Interpretation of this field

In this field—

• “motor vehicle” has the meaning given in section 185(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1988, except that section 189 of that Act (exception for certain pedestrian controlled vehicles and electrically assisted pedal cycles) applies as it applies for the purposes of the Road Traffic Acts;
  “road” has the same meaning as in the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984;
  “Welsh trunk road” means a road for which the Welsh Ministers are the traffic authority (within the meaning of section 121A of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984).

Field 11. housing

Matter 11.1

The provision of automatic fire suppression systems in new residential premises. In this matter “new residential premises” means—

1. premises newly constructed for residential use;
2. premises newly converted to residential use;
3. premises converted to use as one or more new residences by subdivision of one or more existing residences; and
4. premises converted to use as one or more new residences by amalgamation of one or more existing residences.

Matter 11.2

Social housing providers.

Matter 11.3

Relevant social housing bodies.

Matter 11.4

Tenure of rented social housing and other arrangements under which social housing is provided.

Matter 11.5

Disposals of—

1. social housing,
2. land held or used for the purposes of, or in connection with, social housing, and
3. land to which a provision of any of the following enactments applies—
   1. Part 2 of the Housing Act 1985;
   2. Part 5 of the Housing Act 1985;
   3. Chapter 2 of Part 1 of the Housing Act 1996;
   4. Chapter 4 of Part 1 of the Housing Act 1996;
   5. Chapter 4 of Part 2 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008

(insofar as the disposal does not fall within paragraph (a) or (b) of this matter).

Matter 11.6

Provision of advice and non-financial assistance to individuals in respect of their obtaining, and living in, housing.

This matter includes, in particular, advice and non-financial assistance in respect of skills that are relevant to the ability to live independently, or more independently, in housing.

Matter 11.7

Provision by local authorities of caravan sites for use by Gypsies and Travellers.

Matter 11.8

Homelessness.

Interpretation of this field

In this field—

• “caravan site” means—
  “local authority” means a county council or a county borough council in Wales;
  “relevant social housing body” means a person (if, or insofar as, it is not a social housing provider) which has functions relating to—
  1. social housing providers, or
  2. social housing;
• but such a person is a relevant social housing body only insofar as the person has functions relating to social housing providers or social housing;
  “social housing” means any housing provided by a social housing provider;
  “social housing provider” means—
  1. a local authority, and
  2. a person (other than a local authority) which—
     1. provides housing to, or
     2. has functions relating to allocation of housing to,
  3. people whose needs are not adequately served by the commercial housing market;
• but a local authority or such other person is a social housing provider only insofar as it provides, or has functions relating to allocation of, housing.

Field 12. local government

Matter 12.1

Provision for and in connection with—

1. the constitution of new principal areas and the abolition or alteration of existing principal areas, and
2. the establishment of councils for new principal areas and the abolition of existing principal councils.

Matter 12.2

Provision for and in connection with—

1. the procedure for the making and coming into force of byelaws, and
2. the enforcement of byelaws.

“Byelaws” means those of a class which may be confirmed by the Welsh Ministers (but the provision which may be made includes provision to remove a requirement of confirmation).

Matter 12.3

Any of the following—

1. the principles which are to govern the conduct of members of relevant authorities,
2. codes of conduct for such members,
3. the conferral on any person of functions relating to the promotion or maintenance of high standards of conduct of such members (including the establishment of bodies to have such functions),
4. the making or handling of allegations that members (or former members) of relevant authorities have breached standards of conduct, including in particular—
   1. the investigation and adjudication of such allegations and reports on the outcome of investigations,
   2. the action that may be taken where breaches are found to have occurred,
5. codes of conduct for employees of relevant authorities.

For the purposes of this matter—

• “relevant authority” has the same meaning as in Part 3 of the Local Government Act 2000, except that other than in paragraph (d) it does not include a police authority,
  “member” includes a co-opted member within the meaning of that Part.

Matter 12.4

Provision for and in connection with strategies of county councils and county borough councils for promoting or improving the economic, social or environmental well-being of their areas or contributing to the achievement of sustainable development in the United Kingdom, including provision imposing requirements in connection with such strategies on other persons with functions of a public nature.

Matter 12.5

Provision for and in connection with—

1. the making of arrangements by relevant Welsh authorities to secure improvement in the way in which their functions are exercised,
2. the making of arrangements by relevant Welsh authorities for the involvement in the exercise of their functions of people who are likely to be affected by, or interested in, the exercise of the functions, and
3. the assessment and inspection of the performance of relevant Welsh authorities in exercising their functions.

The following are “relevant Welsh authorities”—

1. a county council, county borough council or community council in Wales,
2. a National Park authority for a National Park in Wales,
3. a fire and rescue authority in Wales constituted by a scheme under section 2 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 or a scheme to which section 4 of that Act applies,
4. a levying body within the meaning of section 74(1) of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 in respect of which the county council or charging authority referred to in section 74(1)(b) of that Act was a council or authority for an area in Wales,
5. a body to which section 75 of that Act applies (special levies) and which as regards the financial year beginning in 1989 had power to levy a rate by reference to property in Wales.

Matter 12.6

This matter does not include—

1. direct elections to executives of principal councils, or
2. the creation of a form of executive requiring direct elections.

For the purposes of this matter—

1. “executive arrangements” has the same meaning as in Part 2 of the Local Government Act 2000;
2. [Repealed]
3. “direct elections” means elections by local government electors (within the meaning of section 270(1) of the Local Government Act 1972).

Arrangements by principal councils with respect to the discharge of their functions, including executive arrangements.

Matter 12.7

Committees of principal councils with functions of—

1. review or scrutiny, or
2. making reports or recommendations.

This matter does not include committees under section 19 of the Police and Justice Act 2006 (crime and disorder committees).

Matter 12.8

Areas of communities and constitution, structure, and procedures of local government institutions for communities.

Matter 12.9

Electoral arrangements for elected local government institutions for communities. In this matter “electoral arrangements” does not include—

1. the local government franchise;
2. electoral registration and administration;
3. the voting system for the return of members in an election.

Matter 12.10

Conferral on local government institutions for communities of powers—

1. to which this matter applies,
2. that are exercisable in relation to their areas, and
3. that are powers exercisable by principal councils in relation to principal areas.

This matter applies to powers to do anything which the holder of the power considers likely to promote or improve the economic, social or environmental well-being of an area.

Matter 12.11

Grants from the Welsh Ministers to fund local government for communities.

Matter 12.12

Relations between different communities (and their local government institutions), or between communities (and their local government institutions) and principal councils.

Matter 12.13

Schemes for the accreditation of quality in local government for communities.

Matter 12.14

Public participation in local government for communities (apart from elections).

Matter 12.15

The provision of information relating to local government to the public. For the purposes of this matter “local government” means—

1. local government for communities;
2. local government for counties and county boroughs.

Matter 12.16

Salaries, allowances, pensions and other payments for members of the following—

1. local government institutions for communities;
2. county councils and county borough councils;
3. National Park authorities;
4. fire and rescue authorities constituted by schemes under section 2 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 or schemes to which section 4 of that Act apply.

Matter 12.17

Promoting and supporting membership of the following—

1. local government institutions for communities;
2. county councils and county borough councils.

Matter 12.18

Council tax payable in respect of dwellings that are not the main residence of an individual.

Interpretation of this field

In this field—“communities” means separate areas for the administration of local government, each of which is wholly within a principal area (but does not constitute the whole of a principal area);“principal area” means a county borough or a county;“principal council” means a council for a principal area.

Field 13. National Assembly for Wales

Matter 13.1

Creation of, and conferral of functions on, an office or body for and in connection with investigating complaints about the conduct of Assembly members and reporting on the outcome of such investigations to the Assembly.

Matter 13.2

Conferral of functions on the Assembly Commission for and in connection with facilitating the exercise by the Assembly of its functions (including the provision to the Assembly of the property, staff and services required for the Assembly’s purposes).

Matter 13.3

Provision for and in connection with the payment of salaries, allowances, pensions and gratuities to or in respect of Assembly members, the First Minister, any Welsh Minister appointed under section 48, the Counsel General and any Deputy Welsh Minister.

Matter 13.4

Provision for and in connection with the creation and maintenance of a register of interests of Assembly members and the Counsel General.

Matter 13.5

Provision about the meaning of Welsh words and phrases in—

1. Assembly Measures,
2. subordinate legislation made under Assembly Measures, and
3. subordinate legislation not so made but made by the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General.

Matter 13.6

Provision for and in connection with the procedures for dealing with proposed private Assembly Measures, including, in particular—

1. procedures for hearing the promoters of, and objectors, to proposed private Assembly Measures,
2. the persons who may represent such promoters and objectors, and the qualifications that such persons must possess,
3. the imposition of fees for and in connection with the promotion of proposed private Assembly Measures, and
4. the assessment of costs incurred in connection with proposed private Assembly Measures.

Field 14. public administration

Matter 14.1

The following provision relating to the Auditor General—

1. the following aspects of the Auditor General’s terms of appointment—
   1. the period of the appointment;
   2. salary, allowances and superannuation benefits;
   3. pensions and gratuities payable after a person has ceased to be Auditor General;
2. the number of times a person may be appointed as Auditor General;
3. restrictions on the other offices and positions which may be held by the Auditor General;
4. activities of a person who has been (but no longer is) Auditor General;
5. provision requiring the Auditor General—
   1. to aim to do things efficiently and cost-effectively;
   2. to have regard, as the Auditor General considers appropriate, to the standards and principles that an expert professional provider of accounting or auditing services would be expected to follow;
6. the authorisation of persons to exercise functions of the Auditor General on the Auditor General’s behalf (including during a vacancy in the office);
7. the oversight or supervision of the Auditor General or of the exercise of the Auditor General’s functions;
8. the provision or use of resources for the purposes of the Auditor General’s functions including (in particular)—
   1. the employment and use of staff;
   2. the procurement and use of services;
   3. the holding of documents or information;
   4. the keeping of records;
9. the charging of fees or other amounts in relation to functions of—
   1. the Auditor General, or
   2. auditors appointed by the Auditor General under an enactment;
10. the restatement of any law relating to the Auditor General.

Field 15. social welfare

Matter 15.1

Charges levied by local authorities for social care services provided or secured by them and payments in respect of individuals with needs relating to their well-being so that they, or persons looking after them, may secure social care services to meet those needs.

This matter does not include charges and payments for residential care.

Matter 15.2

Functions of public authorities relating to—

1. safeguarding children from harm and neglect;
2. safeguarding and promoting the well-being of vulnerable children;
3. reducing inequalities in well-being between children or young persons.

This matter applies to the functions of public authorities whose pricipal functions relate to any one or more of the fields in this Part.

Matter 15.3

Adoption services and special guardianship support services.

Matter 15.4

Fostering.

Matter 15.5

Social care services for any of the following—

1. children;
2. persons who care for, or who are about to care for, children;
3. young persons;
4. persons formerly looked after—
   1. who have attained the age of 25, and
   2. who, immediately before attaining that age, have been pursuing, or intending to pursue, education or training.

Matter 15.6

Co-operation and arrangements to safeguard and promote the well-being of children or young persons.

This matter applies to co-operation by, and arrangements made by, —

1. public authorities whose principal functions relate to any one or more of the fields in this part;
2. police authorities and chief officers of police for police areas in Wales;
3. the British Transport Police Authority;
4. local probation boards for areas in Wales;
5. the Secretary of State, in relation to the Secretary of State”s functions under sections 2 and 3 of the Offender Management Act 2007, or any provider of probation services under arrangements made under section 3(2) of that Act;
6. youth offending teams for areas in Wales;
7. the governors of prisons, young offender institutions or secure training centres in Wales (or, in the case of contracted out prisons, young offender institutions or secure training centres or contracted out parts of such institutions, their directors);
8. persons other than public authorities who are engaged in activities relating to the well-being of children or young persons.

Matter 15.7

Planning by local authorities for the discharge of their functions relating to the well-being of children or young persons.

Matter 15.8

Continuing, dissolving or creating an office or body concerned with safeguarding and promoting the well-being of children or young persons; the functions of such an office or body, including in particular—

1. reviewing the effect on children or young persons of the exercise by any person of functions related to their well-being;
2. reviewing and monitoring—
   1. advocacy services;
   2. arrangements for dealing with complaints and representations made by, or on behalf of, children or young persons in respect of persons with functions related to their well-being or persons providing them with social care services;
3. examining cases of particular children or young persons;
4. considering, and making representations about, any matter affecting the well-being of children or young persons.

Matter 15.9

Supporting the provision of care by carers and promoting the well-being of carers.

This matter includes (but is not limited to) social care services to help carers.

In this matter “carers” means individuals who provide or intend to provide a substantial amount of care on a regular basis for—

1. a child with a physical or mental impairment, or
2. an individual aged 18 or over,

but it does not include individuals who provide or intend to provide care—

1. by virtue of a contract of employment or other contract with any person, or
2. as a volunteer for a body (whether or not incorporated)

Matter 15.10

Social care services connected to mental health.

This matter does not include the independent mental capacity advocacy services established by Part 1 of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Interpretation of this field

In this field—

• “advocacy services” means services providing assistance (by way of representation or otherwise) in connection with the well-being of any person;
  “children” means persons who have not attained the age of 18;
  “development” means physical, intellectual, emotional, social or behavioural development;
  “health” means physical or mental health;
  “local authorities” means the councils of counties or county boroughs in Wales;
  “persons formerly looked after” means persons who, at any time before attaining the age of 18—
  1. have been in the care of a public authority, or
  2. have been provided with accommodation by a public authority in order to secure their well-being;
• “public authorities” means each public authority within the meaning of section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998, apart from courts or tribunals;
  “social care services” means any of the following provided in connection with the well-being of any person: residential or non-residential care services; information, advice, counselling or advocacy services; financial or any other assistance;
  “vulnerable children” means children—
  1. who are unlikely to achieve or maintain, or have the opportunity of achieving or maintaining, a reasonable standard of health or development without the provision for them of social care services,
  2. whose health or development is likely to be significantly impaired, or further impaired, without the provision for them of social care services,
  3. who have a physical or mental impairment,
  4. who are in the care of a public authority, or
  5. who are provided with accommodation by a public authority in order to secure their well-being;
• “well-being”, in relation to individuals, means well-being so far as relating to any of the following—
  1. health and emotional well-being;
  2. protection from harm and neglect;
  3. education, training and recreation;
  4. the contribution made by them to society;
  5. social and economic well-being;
  6. securing their rights;
• “young persons” means persons who have attained the age of 18 but not the age of 25.

Field 16. sport and recreation

Matter 16.1

The provision of recreational facilities and activities for children or young persons.

In this matter “children” and “young persons” have the same meaning as in field 15.

Matter 16.2

The establishment and maintenance of a route (or a number of routes) for the coast to enable the public to make recreational journeys.

This matter does not include—

1. enabling the public to make journeys by mechanically propelled vehicles (except permitted journeys by qualifying invalid carriages);
2. the creation of new highways (whether under the Highways Act 1980 or otherwise).

Matter 16.3

Securing public access to relevant land for the purposes of open-air recreation.

Land is relevant land if it—

1. is at the coast,
2. can be used for the purposes of open-air recreation in association with land within paragraph (a), or
3. can be used for the purposes of open-air recreation in association with a route within matter 16.2.

In this matter the reference to land at the coast is not limited to coastal land within the meaning of section 3 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

Matter 16.4

The functions of local authorities in the support, improvement and promotion of sport and recreational activities.

This matter does not include licensing of sale and supply of alcohol, provision of entertainment and late night refreshment.

Interpretation of this field

In this field—

• “coast” means the coast of Wales adjacent to the sea, including the coast of any island (in the sea) comprised in Wales;
  “estuarial waters” means any waters within the limits of transitional waters within the meaning of the Water Framework Directive (that is to say, Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy);
  “highway” has the same meaning as in the Highways Act 1980;
  “local authorities” means the councils of counties and county boroughs in Wales;
  “public foot crossing”, in relation to a river, means a bridge over which, or tunnel through which, there is a public right of way, or a public right of access, by virtue of which the public are able to cross the river on foot;
  “qualifying invalid carriage” means an invalid carriage within the meaning of section 20 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 (use of invalid carriages on highways) which complies with the prescribed requirements within the meaning of that section;
  “relevant upstream waters”, in relation to a river, means the waters from the seaward limit of the estuarial waters of the river upstream to the first public foot crossing;
  “sea” includes the relevant upstream waters of a river;

and a journey by a qualifying invalid carriage is a permitted journey if the carriage is being used in accordance with the prescribed conditions within the meaning of section 20 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.

Field 17. tourism

Field 18. town and country planning

Matter 18.1

Provision for and in connection with—

1. plans of the Welsh Ministers in relation to the development and use of land in Wales, and
2. removing requirements for any such plans.

This does not include provision about the status to be given to any such plans in connection with the decision on an application for an order granting development consent under the Planning Act 2008.

Matter 18.2

Provision for and in connection with the review by local planning authorities of matters which may be expected to affect—

1. the development of the authorities’ areas, or
2. the planning of the development of the authorities’ areas.

Matter 18.3

Provision for and in connection with—

1. plans of local planning authorities in relation to the development and use of land in their areas, and
2. removing requirements for any such plans.

This does not include provision about the status to be given to any such plans in connection with the decision on an application for an order granting development consent under the Planning Act 2008.

Interpretation of this field

In this field—

• “local planning authority” in relation to an area means—
  “Wales” has the meaning given by Schedule 1 to the Interpretation Act 1978.

Field 19. water and flood defence

Field 20. Welsh language

Matter 20.1

Promoting or facilitating the use of the Welsh language; and the treatment of the Welsh and English languages on the basis of equality.

This matter does not include the use of the Welsh language in courts.

This matter does not include imposing duties on persons other than the following—

1. public authorities;
2. persons providing services to the public under an agreement, or in accordance with arrangements, made with a public authority;
3. persons providing services to the public established by an enactment;
4. persons established by prerogative instrument—
   1. to advance learning and knowledge by teaching or research or by developing or awarding qualifications;
   2. to collect, preserve or provide access to recorded knowledge or to objects and things which further understanding;
   3. to support, improve, promote or provide access to heritage, culture, sport or recreational activities;
   4. engaged in promoting a wider knowledge and representing the interests of Wales to other countries;
   5. engaged in central banking;
5. persons upon whom functions of providing services to the public are conferred or imposed by an enactment;
6. persons providing services to the public who receive public money amounting to £400,000 or more in a financial year;
7. persons overseeing the regulation of a profession, industry or other similar sphere of activity;
8. providers of social housing;
9. persons providing the public with the following kinds of services or with other services which relate to any of those services—
10. 1. gas, water or electricity services (including supply or distribution);
    2. sewerage services (including disposal of sewage);
    3. postal services and post offices;
    4. telecommunications services;
    5. education, training (where the provider receives public money for its provision), or career guidance, and services to encourage, enable or assist participation in education, training or career guidance;
    6. bus and railway services;
    7. services to develop or award educational or vocational qualifications;
11. persons opting or agreeing to be subject to the imposition of the duties.

With regard to imposing duties in relation to paragraph (b), this matter only includes duties in respect of services to the public provided under an agreement, or in accordance with arrangements, made with a public authority.

A person who receives public money amounting to £400,000 or more in a financial year does not fall within paragraph (f) unless—

1. that person also received public money in a previous financial year, or
2. a decision has been made that that person will receive public money in a subsequent financial year.

With regard to imposing duties in relation to paragraph (i)—

1. this matter only includes duties in respect of the services and the other related services mentioned, and
2. in respect of the related services, this matter does not include the provision of related services in a shop, other than post office counter services and the sale of tickets or provision of timetables for bus and railway services.

This matter does not include imposing duties about broadcasting.

This matter does not include imposing duties on a person (other than on a Welsh language authority) unless there is a means for that person to challenge those duties, as they apply to that person, on grounds of reasonableness and proportionality.

Matter 20.2

Provision about or in connection with the freedom of persons wishing to use the Welsh language to do so with one another (including any limitations upon it).

Interpretation of this field

In this field—

• “broadcasting” means the commissioning, production, scheduling, transmission or distribution of programmes (including advertisements, subtitles, continuity announcements and teletext), access services, interactivity, online content and other output of a similar nature for television, radio, the internet or other online or wireless platforms;“bus service” means a scheduled service, by public service vehicle (within the meaning of section 1 of the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981), for the carriage of passengers at separate fares, other than a service—
  “enactment” includes any future enactment;“shop” means any premises where the sale of goods is the principal trade or business carried on;“postal services” means the service of conveying letters, parcels, packets or other articles from one place to another by post and the incidental services of receiving, collecting, sorting and delivering such articles;“public authority” means each public authority within the meaning of section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998;“public money” means—
  1. moneys made available directly or indirectly by—
     1. the National Assembly for Wales;
     2. the Welsh Ministers;
     3. Parliament;
     4. Ministers of the Crown; or
     5. an institution of the European Union;
  2. moneys provided by virtue of any enactment;
• “telecommunications service” means any service that consists of providing access to, or facilities for making use of, any system which exists (whether wholly or partly in the United Kingdom or elsewhere) for the purpose of facilitating the transmission of communications by any means involving the use of electrical, magnetic or electro-magnetic energy (including the apparatus comprised in the system), but does not include broadcasting, radio, or television;“Welsh language authority” means a person upon whom an enactment confers or imposes functions of—
  1. imposing or enforcing on other persons duties relating to the Welsh language,
  2. determining the duties relating to the Welsh language that are imposed on other persons, or
  3. deciding challenges to the duties relating to the Welsh language that are imposed on other persons.

Part 2. Exceptions to Matters and General Restrictions

Title 1. Exceptions to matters

These are the exceptions mentioned in section 94(4)(a) and (7)—

Field 3 of Part 1. Culture

1. Public lending right.
2. Classification of films, and video recordings.

Field 4 of Part 1. Economic development

1. Generation of electricity at generating stations whose construction, extension or operation requires—
   1. the consent of the Secretary of State, or
   2. the authority of an order granting development consent under the Planning Act 2008,
2. and for this purpose, the reference to consent of the Secretary of State is a reference to consent under powers to regulate generation of electricity.
3. Transmitting, distributing or supplying electricity.
4. Energy conservation, apart from the encouragement of energy efficiency otherwise than by prohibition or regulation.
5. Nuclear energy and nuclear installations, including—
   1. nuclear safety, and
   2. liability for nuclear occurrences,
6. but this paragraph does not include disposal of very low level radioactive waste moved from a site whose use requires a nuclear site licence under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965

Field 10 of Part 1. Highways and transport

1. Registration of local bus services, and the application and enforcement of traffic regulation conditions in relation to those services.
2. Road freight transport services, including goods vehicles operating licensing.
3. Regulation of the use of relevant vehicles on roads, the construction and use of relevant vehicles, and conditions under which relevant vehicles may be so used, apart from—
   1. regulation of use of relevant vehicles carrying animals for the purposes of protecting human, animal, fish or plant health or the environment,
   2. regulation relating to matter 10.1, and
   3. regulation of the description of vehicle which may be used pursuant to learner transport arrangements (including description by reference to a vehicle’s construction or equipment), but not including the setting of technical standards for construction or equipment which differ from the standards that would or might otherwise apply to that vehicle.
4. For the purpose of this paragraph, “relevant vehicles” means motor vehicles, mobile machinery and agricultural and forestry tractors.
5. Road traffic offences.
6. Driver licensing.
7. Driving instruction.
8. Insurance of motor vehicles.
9. Drivers’ hours.
10. Traffic regulation on special roads (apart from regulation relating to matter 10.1).
11. Pedestrian crossings.
12. Traffic signs (apart from the placing and maintenance of traffic signs within the meaning of section 177 of the Transport Act 2000 for purposes relating to matter 10.1).
13. Speed limits.
14. Public service vehicle operator licensing.
15. Provision and regulation of railway services, apart from financial assistance which—
    1. does not relate to the carriage of goods,
    2. is not made in connection with a railway administration order, and
    3. is not made in connection with Regulation (EC) No 1370/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council on public passenger transport services by rail and by road.
16. Transport security (apart from regulation relating to the carriage of supervising adults on vehicles used pursuant to learner transport arrangements)
17. Aviation, air transport, airports and aerodromes, apart from—
    1. financial assistance to providers or proposed providers of air transport services or airport facilities or services,
    2. strategies by the Welsh Ministers or local or other public authorities about provision of air services, and
    3. regulation of the use of aircraft carrying animals for the purpose of protecting—
       1. human health, apart from the health of persons in aircraft,
       2. animal, fish or plant health, or
       3. the environment
18. Shipping, apart from—
    1. financial assistance for shipping services to, from or within Wales, and
    2. regulation of the use of vessels carrying animals for the purposes of protecting—
       1. human health, apart from the health of persons on vessels,
       2. animal, fish or plant health, or
       3. the environment.
19. Navigational rights and freedoms, apart from regulation of works which may obstruct or endanger navigation.
20. Technical and safety standards of vessels.
21. Harbours, docks, piers and boatslips, apart from—
    1. those used or required wholly or mainly for the fishing industry, for recreation, or for communications between places in Wales (or for two or more of those purposes), and
    2. regulation for the purposes of protecting human, animal, fish or plant health or the environment.
22. Carriage of dangerous goods, including transport of radioactive material.
    In paragraphs (2) and (14) “learner transport arrangements” means arrangements of the kind described in matter 5.10 which consist of the provision of motor vehicles and are made by—
    1. public authorities (within the meaning of field 15) exercising functions relating to education or training, or
    2. institutions or other bodies concerned with the provision of education or training.

Field 15 of Part 1. Social Welfare

1. Child support.
2. Child trust funds, apart from subscriptions to such funds by—
   1. a county council or county borough council in Wales, or
   2. the Welsh Ministers.
3. Tax credits.
4. Child benefit and guardian’s allowance.
5. Social security.
6. Independent living funds.
7. Motability.
8. Vaccine damage payments.
9. Intercountry adoption, apart from adoption agencies and their functions, and functions of the “Central Authority” under the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Intercountry Adoption.
10. The Children’s Commissioner established under the Children Act 2004.
11. Family law and proceedings apart from—
    1. welfare advice to courts, representation and provision of information, advice and other support to children ordinarily resident in Wales and their families, and
    2. Welsh family proceedings officers.
12. Welfare foods.

Field 16 of Part 1. Sport and recreation

1. Betting, gaming and lotteries.

Field 19 of Part 1. Water and flood defence

1. Appointment and regulation of any water undertaker whose area is not wholly or mainly in Wales.
2. Licensing and regulation of any licensed water supplier within the meaning of the Water Industry Act 1991, apart from regulation in relation to licensed activities using the supply system of a water undertaker whose area is wholly or mainly in Wales.

Title 2. General Restrictions

Subheading 1. Functions of Ministers of the Crown

1

1. A provision of an Assembly Measure cannot remove or modify, or confer power by subordinate legislation to remove or modify, any function of a Minister of the Crown.
2. A provision of an Assembly Measure cannot confer or impose, or confer power by subordinate legislation to confer or impose, any function on a Minister of the Crown.

Subheading 2. Criminal offences

2

1. A provision of an Assembly Measure cannot create, or confer power by subordinate legislation to create, any criminal offence punishable—
   1. on summary conviction, with imprisonment for a period exceeding the prescribed term or with a fine exceeding the amount specified as level 5 on the standard scale, or
   2. on conviction on indictment, with a period of imprisonment exceeding two years.
2. In sub-paragraph (1) “the prescribed term” means—
   1. where the offence is a summary offence, 51 weeks, and
   2. where the offence is triable either way, twelve months.

Subheading 3. Police areas

1. A provision of an Assembly Measure cannot make any alteration in police areas.

Subheading 4. Enactments other than this Act

3

1. A provision of an Assembly Measure cannot make modifications of, or confer power by subordinate legislation to make modifications of, any of the provisions listed in the Table below—
   Table
   Key: Column 1 = Enatctment; Column 2 = Provisions protected from modification
   Row 1
   Column 1
   European Communities Act 1972 (c. 68)
   Column 2
   The whole Act
   Row 2
   Column 1
   Data Protection Act 1998 (c. 29)
   Column 2
   The whole Act
   Row 3
   Column 1
   Government of Wales Act 1998 (c. 38)
   Column 2
   Sections 144(7), 145, 145A and 146A(1)
   Row 4
   Column 1
   Human Rights Act 1998 (c. 42)
   Column 2
   The whole Act
   Row 5
   Column 1
   Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (c. 36)
   Column 2
   The whole Act
   Row 6
   Column 1
   Re-Use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/1505)
   Column 2
   The whole set of Regulations
2. Sub-paragraph (1), so far as it applies in relation to sections 145, 145A and 146A(1) of the Government of Wales Act 1998, does not apply to a provision to which sub-paragraph (3) applies.
3. This sub-paragraph applies to a provision of an Assembly Measure which—
   1. is a provision relating to matter 14.1,
   2. provides for the enforcement of a provision relating to matter 14.1 or is otherwise appropriate for making such a provision effective, or
   3. is otherwise incidental to, or consequential on, such a provision.
4. A provision of an Assembly Measure cannot make modifications of, or confer power by subordinate legislation to make modifications of, any provision of an Act of Parliament other than this Act which requires sums required for the repayment of, or the payment of interest on, amounts borrowed by the Welsh Ministers to be charged on the Welsh Consolidated Fund.
5. A provision of an Assembly Measure cannot make modifications of, or confer power by subordinate legislation to make modifications of, any functions of the Comptroller and Auditor General or the National Audit Office.

Subheading 5. This Act

6

1. A provision of an Assembly Measure cannot make modifications of, or confer power by subordinate legislation to make modifications of, provisions contained in this Act.
2.  Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply to—
   1. sections 20, 22, 24, 35(1), 36(1) to (5) and (7) to (11), 53, 54, 78 and 156(2) to (5); or
   2. paragraph 8(3) of Schedule 2.
3. Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply to any provision—
   1. making modifications of so much of any enactment as is modified by this Act, or
   2. repealing so much of any provision of this Act as amends any enactment, if the provision ceases to have effect in consequence of any provision of, or made under, an Assembly Measure.

Part 3. Exceptions from General Restrictions in Part 2

Subheading 1. Interpretation

1.  In this Part “general restrictions in Part 2” means paragraphs 1 to 6 of Part 2.

Subheading 2. Functions of Ministers of the Crown

7

1. The general restrictions in Part 2 do not prevent a provision of an Assembly Measure removing or modifying, or conferring power by subordinate legislation to remove or modify, any function of a Minister of the Crown if the Secretary of State consents to the provision.
2. Part 2 does not prevent a provision of an Assembly Measure relating to matter 20.1 or 20.2 of Part 1, conferring or imposing, or conferring power by subordinate legislation to confer or impose, any function on a Minister of the Crown if the Secretary of State consents to the provision, but functions so conferred or imposed may not be made enforceable against Ministers of the Crown by means of criminal offences.

Subheading 3. Police areas

1. Part 2 does not prevent a provision of an Assembly Measure making an alteration to the boundary of a police area in Wales if the Secretary of State consents to the provision.

Subheading 4. Comptroller and Auditor General and National Audit Office

1. The general restrictions in Part 2 do not prevent a provision of an Assembly Measure modifying, or conferring power by subordinate legislation to modify, any enactment relating to the Comptroller and Auditor General or the National Audit Office if the Secretary of State consents to the provision.

Subheading 5. Restatement

1. Part 2 does not prevent a provision of an Assembly Measure—
   1. restating the law (or restating it with such modifications as are not prevented by that Part), or
   2. repealing or revoking any spent enactment,
2. or conferring power by subordinate legislation to do so.

Subheading 6. Subordinate Legislation

1. The general restrictions in Part 2 do not prevent an Assembly Measure making modifications of, or conferring power by subordinate legislation to make modifications of, an enactment for or in connection with any of the following purposes—
   1. making different provision about the document by which a power to make, confirm or approve subordinate legislation is to be exercised,
   2. making provision (or no provision) for the procedure, in relation to the Assembly, to which legislation made in the exercise of such a power (or the instrument or other document in which it is contained) is to be subject, and
   3. applying any enactment comprised in or made under an Assembly Measure relating to the documents by which such powers may be exercised.

Subheading 7. Data Protection Act 1998

1. Part 2 does not prevent an Assembly Measure making modifications of, or conferring power by subordinate legislation to make modifications of, section 31(6) of the Data Protection Act 1998 so that it applies to complaints under any Assembly Measure relating to matter 9.1 in Part 1.

Schedule 6. [Schedule 6 omitted due to length – full text of schedules can be found online at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/32/schedules]

Schedule 7. Acts of the Assembly

Part 1. Subjects

Subheading 1. Agriculture, forestry, animals, plants and rural development

1. Agriculture. Horticulture. Forestry. Fisheries and fishing. Animal health and welfare. Plant health. Plant varieties and seeds. Rural development.
   In this Part of this Schedule “animal” means—
   1. all mammals apart from humans, and
   2. all animals other than mammals;
2. and related expressions are to be construed accordingly.
   Exceptions
   • Hunting with dogs.
     Regulation of scientific or other experimental procedures on animals.
     Import and export control, and regulation of movement, of animals, plants and other things, apart from (but subject to provision made by or by virtue of any Act of Parliament relating to the control of imports or exports)—
     1. the movement into and out of, and within, Wales of animals, animal products, plants, plant products and other things related to them for the purposes of protecting human, animal or plant health, animal welfare or the environment or observing or implementing obligations under the Common Agricultural Policy, and
     2. the movement into and out of, and within, Wales of animal feedstuff , fertilisers and pesticides (or things treated by virtue of any enactment as pesticides) for the purposes of protecting human, animal or plant health or the environment.
   • Authorisations of veterinary medicines and medicinal products.

Subheading 2. Ancient monuments and historic buildings

1. Archaeological remains. Ancient monuments. Buildings and places of historical or architectural interest. Historic wrecks.

Subheading 3. Culture

1. Arts and crafts. Museums and galleries. Libraries. Archives and historical records. Cultural activities and projects.
   Exceptions
   • Public lending right.
     Broadcasting.
     Classification of films, and video recordings.
     Government indemnities for objects on loan.
     Payments to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs in respect of property accepted in satisfaction of tax, apart from property in which there is a Welsh national interest.

Subheading 4. Economic development

1. Economic regeneration and development, including social development of communities, reclamation of derelict land and improvement of the environment. Promotion of business and competitiveness.
   Exceptions
   • Fiscal, economic and monetary policy and regulation of international trade.
     Regulation of anti-competitive practices and agreements, abuse of dominant position and monopolies and mergers.
     Intellectual property, apart from plant varieties.
     Creation, operation, regulation and dissolution of types of business association.
     Insolvency.
     Product standards, safety and liability, apart from in relation to food (including packaging and other materials which come into contact with food), agricultural and horticultural products, animals and animal products, seeds, fertilisers and pesticides (and things treated by virtue of any enactment as pesticides).
     Consumer protection, including the sale and supply of goods to consumers, consumer guarantees, hire purchase, trade descriptions, advertising and price indications, apart from in relation to food (including packaging and other materials which come into contact with food), agricultural and horticultural products, animals and animal products, seeds, fertilisers and pesticides (and things treated by virtue of any enactment as pesticides).
     Financial services, including investment business, banking and deposit-taking, collective investment schemes and insurance.
     Occupational and personal pension schemes (including schemes which make provision for compensation for loss of office or employment, compensation for loss or diminution of emoluments, or benefits in respect of death or incapacity resulting from injury or disease), apart from schemes for or in respect of Assembly members, the First Minister, Welsh Ministers appointed under section 48, the Counsel General or Deputy Welsh Ministers and schemes for or in respect of members of local authorities.
     Financial markets, including listing and public offers of securities and investments, transfers of securities, insider dealing and money laundering.
     Telecommunications, wireless telegraphy (including electromagnetic disturbance), internet services and electronic encryption.
     Postal services, post offices and the Post Office, apart from financial assistance for the provision of services (other than postal services and services relating to money or postal orders) to be provided from public post offices.
     Generation, transmission, distribution and supply of electricity
     Energy conservation, apart from the encouragement of energy efficiency otherwise than by prohibition or regulation.
     Coal, including mining and subsidence, apart from land restoration and other environmental matters.
     Oil and gas
     Nuclear energy and nuclear installations and the Office for Nuclear Regulation
     1. including nuclear safety and liability for nuclear occurrences;
     2. but not including disposal of very low level radioactive waste moved from a site requiring a nuclear site licence
   • Units and standards of weights and measurement and the regulation of trade so far as involving weighing, measuring and quantities.
     Industrial Development Advisory Board.

Subheading 5. Education and Training

1. Education, vocational, social and physical training and the careers service. Promotion of advancement and application of knowledge.
   Exception
   Research Councils.

Subheading 6. Environment

1. Environmental protection, including pollution, nuisances and hazardous substances. Prevention, reduction, collection, management, treatment and disposal of waste. Land drainage and land improvement. Countryside and open spaces (including the designation and regulation of national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty). Nature conservation and sites of special scientific interest. Protection of natural habitats, coast and marine environment (including seabed). Biodiversity. Genetically modified organisms. Smallholdings and allotments. Common land. Town and village greens. Burial and cremation, except coroners’ functions.

Subheading 7. Fire and rescue services and fire safety

1. Fire and rescue services. Provision of automatic fire suppression systems in newly constructed and newly converted residential premises. Promotion of fire safety otherwise than by prohibition or regulation.

Subheading 8. Food

1. Food and food products. Food safety (including packaging and other materials which come into contact with food). Protection of interests of consumers in relation to food.
   “Food” includes drink.

Subheading 9. Health and health services

1. Promotion of health. Prevention, treatment and alleviation of disease, illness, injury, disability and mental disorder. Control of disease. Family planning. Provision of health services, including medical, dental, ophthalmic, pharmaceutical and ancillary services and facilities. Clinical governance and standards of health care. Organisation and funding of national health service.
   Exceptions
   • Abortion.
     Human genetics, human fertilisation, human embryology, surrogacy arrangements.
     Xenotransplantation.
     Regulation of health professionals (including persons dispensing hearing aids).
     Poisons.
     Misuse of and dealing in drugs.
     Human medicines and medicinal products, including authorisations for use and regulation of prices.
     Standards for, and testing of, biological substances (that is, substances the purity or potency of which cannot be adequately tested by chemical means).
     Vaccine damage payments.
     Welfare foods.
     Health and Safety Executive and Employment Medical Advisory Service and provision made by health and safety regulations.

Subheading 10. Highways and transport

1. Highways, including bridges and tunnels. Streetworks. Traffic management and regulation. Transport facilities and services.
   Exceptions
   • Registration of local bus services, and the application and enforcement of traffic regulation conditions in relation to those services.
     Road freight transport services, including goods vehicles operating licensing.
     Regulation of the construction and equipment of motor vehicles and trailers, and regulation of the use of motor vehicles and trailers on roads, apart from—
     1. any such regulation which—
        1. relates to schemes for imposing charges in respect of the use or keeping of vehicles on Welsh trunk roads (“trunk road charging schemes”), or
        2. relates to the descriptions of motor vehicles and trailers which may be used under arrangements for persons to travel to and from the places where they receive education or training, unless the regulation is the setting of technical standards for construction or equipment of motor vehicles or trailers which differ from the standards that would or might otherwise apply to them; and
     2. regulation of the use of motor vehicles and trailers carrying animals for the purpose of protecting human, animal or plant health, animal welfare or the environment.
   • Road traffic offences.
     Driver licensing.
     Driving instruction.
     Insurance of motor vehicles.
     Drivers’ hours.
     Traffic regulation on special roads, apart from regulation relating to trunk road charging schemes.
     Pedestrian crossings.
     Traffic signs, apart from the placing and maintenance of traffic signs relating to trunk road charging schemes.
     Speed limits.
     International road transport services for passengers.
     Public service vehicle operator licensing.
     Documents relating to vehicles and drivers for purposes of travel abroad and vehicles brought temporarily into Wales by persons resident outside the United Kingdom.
     Vehicle excise duty and vehicle registration.
     Provision and regulation of railway services, apart from financial assistance which—
     1. does not relate to the carriage of goods,
     2. is not made in connection with a railway administration order, and
     3. is not made in connection with Regulation (EC) No 1370/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council on public passenger transport services by rail and by road.
   • Transport security, apart from regulation relating to the carriage of adults who supervise persons travelling to and from the places where they receive education or training.
     Railway heritage.
     Aviation, air transport, airports and aerodromes, apart from—
     1. financial assistance to providers or proposed providers of air transport services or airport facilities or services,
     2. strategies by the Welsh Ministers or local or other public authorities about provision of air services, and
     3. regulation of use of aircraft carrying animals for the purposes of protecting human, animal or plant health, animal welfare or the environment.
   • Shipping, apart from—
     1. financial assistance for shipping services to, from or within Wales, and
     2. regulation of use of vessels carrying animals the purposes of protecting human, animal or plant health, animal welfare or the environment.
   • Navigational rights and freedoms, apart from regulation of works which may obstruct or endanger navigation.
     Technical and safety standards of vessels.
     Harbours, docks, piers and boatslips, apart from—
     1. those used or required wholly or mainly for the fishing industry, for recreation, or for communication between places in Wales (or for two or more of those purposes), and
     2. regulation for the purposes of protecting human, animal or plant health, animal welfare or the environment.
   • Carriage of dangerous goods (including transport of radioactive material).
     Technical specifications for fuel for use in internal combustion engines.

Subheading 11. Housing

1. Housing. Housing finance except schemes supported from central or local funds which provide assistance for social security purposes to or in respect of individuals by way of benefits. Encouragement of home energy efficiency and conservation, otherwise than by prohibition or regulation. Regulation of rent. Homelessness. Residential caravans and mobile homes.

Subheading 12. Local Government

1. Constitution, structure and areas of local authorities. Electoral arrangements for local authorities. Powers and duties of local authorities and their members and officers. Local government finance.
   “Local authorities” does not include police and crime commissioners.
   Exceptions
   • Local government franchise.
     Electoral registration and administration.
     Registration of births, marriages, civil partnerships and deaths.
     Licensing of sale and supply of alcohol, provision of entertainment and late night refreshment.
     Orders to protect people from behaviour that causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
     Local land charges, apart from fees.
     Sunday trading.
     Provision of advice and assistance overseas by local authorities in connection with carrying on there of local government activities.

Subheading 13. National Assembly for Wales

1. Complaints about Assembly members (including provision for and about an office or body for investigating such complaints and reporting outcome of investigations). Assembly Commission. Salaries, allowances, pensions and gratuities for and in respect of Assembly members, the First Minister, Welsh Ministers appointed under section 48, the Counsel General and Deputy Welsh Ministers. Register of interests of Assembly members and the Counsel General. Meaning of Welsh words and phrases in Assembly Measures and Acts of the Assembly, in subordinate legislation made under Assembly Measures and Acts of the Assembly and in other subordinate legislation if made by the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General. Private legislation in the Assembly. Financial assistance for political groups to which Assembly members belong. The Welsh Seal. Arrangements for the printing of Acts of the Assembly, of subordinate legislation made under Assembly Measures and Acts of the Assembly and of other subordinate legislation if made by the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General.

Subheading 14. Public administration

1. Public Services Ombudsman for Wales. Auditor General for Wales. Audit, examination, regulation and inspection of auditable public authorities. Inquiries in respect of matters in relation to which the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General exercise functions. Equal opportunities in relation to equal opportunity public authorities. Access to information held by open access public authorities. The following are “auditable public authorities” and “equal opportunity public authorities”—
   1. the Assembly,
   2. the Assembly Commission,
   3. the Welsh Assembly Government,
   4. persons who exercise functions of a public nature and in respect of whom the Welsh Ministers exercise functions,
   5. persons who exercise functions of a public nature and at least half of the cost of whose functions in relation to Wales are funded (directly or indirectly) by the Welsh Ministers, and
   6. persons established by enactment and having power to issue a precept or levy.
2. The following are “open access public authorities”—
   1. the Assembly,
   2. the Assembly Commission,
   3. the Welsh Assembly Government, and
   4. authorities which are Welsh public authorities, within the meaning of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (c. 36).
3. Exception
   Regulation of the profession of auditor.

Subheading 15. Social welfare

1. Social welfare including social services. Protection and well-being of children (including adoption and fostering) and of young adults. Care of children, young adults, vulnerable persons and older persons, including care standards. Badges for display on motor vehicles used by disabled persons.
   Exceptions
   • Child support.
     Child trust funds, apart from subscriptions to such funds by—
     1. a county council or county borough council in Wales, or
     2. the Welsh Ministers.
   • Tax credits.
     Child benefit and guardian’s allowance.
     Social security.
     Independent Living Funds.
     Motability.
     Intercountry adoption, apart from adoption agencies and their functions, and functions of “the Central Authority” under the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Intercountry Adoption.
     The Children’s Commissioner (established under the Children Act 2004 (c. 31)).
     Family law and proceedings, apart from—
     1. welfare advice to courts, representation and provision of information, advice and other support to children ordinarily resident in Wales and their families, and
     2. Welsh family proceedings officers.

Subheading 16. Sport and recreation

1. Sport and recreational activities.
   Exception
   Betting, gaming and lotteries.

Subheading 17. Tourism

1. Tourism.

Subheading 18. Town and country planning

1. Town and country planning, including listed buildings and conservation areas. Caravan sites. Spatial planning. Mineral workings. Urban development. New towns. Protection of visual amenity.
   Exception
   Development consent under the Planning Act 2008.

Subheading 19. Water and flood defence

1. Water supply, water resources management (including reservoirs), water quality and representation of consumers of water and sewerage services. Flood risk management and coastal protection.
   Exceptions
   • Appointment and regulation of any water undertaker whose area is not wholly or mainly in Wales.
     Licensing and regulation of any licensed water supplier within the meaning of the Water Industry Act 1991 (c. 56), apart from regulation in relation to licensed activities using the supply system of a water undertaker whose area is wholly or mainly in Wales.

Subheading 20. Welsh Language

1. Welsh language
   Exception
   Use of the Welsh language in courts.

Part 2. General Restrictions

Subheading 1. Functions of a Minister of the Crown

1

1. A provision of an Act of the Assembly cannot remove or modify, or confer power by subordinate legislation to remove or modify, any pre-commencement function of a Minister of the Crown.
2. A provision of an Act of the Assembly cannot confer or impose, or confer power by subordinate legislation to confer or impose, any function on a Minister of the Crown.
3. In this Schedule “pre-commencement function” means a function which is exercisable by a Minister of the Crown before the day on which the Assembly Act provisions come into force.

Subheading 2. Enactments other than this Act

2

1. A provision of an Act of the Assembly cannot make modifications of, or confer power by subordinate legislation to make modifications of, any of the provisions listed in the Table below—
   Table
   Key: Column 1 = Enactment; Column 2 = Provisions protected from modification
   Row 1
   Columnn 1 European Communities Act 1972 (c. 68)
   Column 2
   The whole Act
   Row 2
   Column 1
   Data Protection Act 1998 (c. 29)
   Column 2
   The whole Act
   Row 3
   Column 1
   Government of Wales Act 1998 (c. 38)
   Column 2
   Sections 144(7), 145, 145A and 146A(1)
   Row 4
   Column 1
   Human Rights Act 1998 (c. 42)
   Column 2
   The whole Act
   Row 5
   Column 1
   Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (c. 36)
   Column 2
   The whole Act
   Row 6
   Column 1
   Re-Use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/1505)
   Column 2
   The whole set of Regulations
   Row 7
   Column 1
   The Public Audit (Wales) Act 2013 (anaw 3)
   Column 2
   Sections 2(1) to (3), 3(2) to (4), 6(2) to (3) and section 8(1) in so far as that section relates to the Auditor General’s exercise of functions free from the direction or control of the Assembly or Welsh Assembly Government.
2. Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply to any provision making modifications, or conferring power by subordinate legislation to make modifications, of section 31(6) of the Data Protection Act 1998 so that it applies to complaints under an enactment relating to the provision of redress for negligence in connection with the diagnosis of illness or the care or treatment of any patient (in Wales or elsewhere) as part of the health service in Wales.
3. Sub-paragraph (1), so far as it applies in relation to sections 145, 145A and 146A(1) of the Government of Wales Act 1998, does not apply to a provision to which sub-paragraph (4) applies.
4. This sub-paragraph applies to a provision of an Act of the Assembly which—
   1. is a provision relating to the oversight or supervision of the Auditor General or of the exercise of the Auditor General’s functions,
   2. provides for the enforcement of a provision falling within paragraph (a) or is otherwise appropriate for making such a provision effective, or
   3. is otherwise incidental to, or consequential on, such a provision.
5. A provision of an Act of the Assembly cannot make modifications of, or confer power by subordinate legislation to make modifications of, any provision of an Act of Parliament other than this Act which requires sums required for the repayment of, or the payment of interest on, amounts borrowed by the Welsh Ministers to be charged on the Welsh Consolidated Fund.
6. A provision of an Act of the Assembly cannot make modifications of, or confer power by subordinate legislation to make modifications of, any functions of the Comptroller and Auditor General or the National Audit Ofice.

Subheading 3. This Act

5

1. A provision of an Act of the Assembly cannot make modifications of, or confer power by subordinate legislation to make modifications of, provisions contained in this Act.
2. Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply to the following provisions—
   1. sections 20, 22, 24, 35(1), 36(1) to (5) and (7) to (11), 53, 54, 78, 146, 147, 148 and 156(2) to (5);
   2. paragraph 8(3) of Schedule 2.
   3. any provision of Schedule 8.
3. Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply to any provision—
   1. making modifications of so much of any enactment as is modified by this Act, or
   2. repealing so much of any provision of this Act as amends any enactment, if the provision ceases to have effect in consequence of any provision of, or made under, an Act of the Assembly.

Part 3. Exceptions from Part 2

Subheading 1. Functions of Ministers of the Crown

6

1. Part 2 does not prevent a provision of an Act of the Assembly removing or modifying, or conferring power by subordinate legislation to remove or modify, any pre-commencement function of a Minister of the Crown if—
   1. the Secretary of State consents to the provision, or
   2. the provision is incidental to, or consequential on, any other provision contained in the Act of the Assembly.
2. Part 2 does not prevent a provision of an Act of the Assembly conferring or imposing, or conferring power by subordinate legislation to confer or impose, any function on a Minister of the Crown if the Secretary of State consents to the provision.

Subheading 2. Comptroller and Auditor General and National Audit Office

1. Part 2 does not prevent a provision of an Act of the Assembly modifying, or conferring power by subordinate legislation to modify, any enactment relating to the Comptroller and Auditor General or the National Audit Office if the Secretary of State consents to the provision.

Subheading 3. Restatement

1. Part 2 does not prevent an Act of the Assembly—
   1. restating the law (or restating it with such modifications as are not prevented by that Part), or
   2. repealing or revoking any spent enactment,
2. or conferring power by subordinate legislation to do so.

Subheading 4. Subordinate legislation

1. Part 2 does not prevent an Act of the Assembly making modifications of, or conferring power by subordinate legislation to make modifications of, an enactment for or in connection with any of the following purposes—
   1. making different provision about the document by which a power to make, confirm or approve subordinate legislation is to be exercised,
   2. making provision (or no provision) for the procedure, in relation to the Assembly, to which legislation made in the exercise of such a power (or the instrument or other document in which it is contained) is to be subject, and
   3. applying any enactment comprised in or made under an Act of the Assembly relating to the documents by which such powers may be exercised.

SCHEDULE 8. [Schedule 8 omitted due to length – full text of schedules can be found online at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/32/schedules]

Schedule 9. Devolution Issues

Part 1. Preliminary

1

1. In this Schedule “devolution issue” means—
   1. a question whether an Assembly Measure or Act of the Assembly, or any provision of an Assembly Measure or Act of the Assembly, is within the Assembly’s legislative competence,
   2. a question whether any function (being a function which any person has purported, or is proposing, to exercise) is exercisable by the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General,
   3. a question whether the purported or proposed exercise of a function by the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General is, or would be, within the powers of the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General (including a question whether a purported or proposed exercise of a function is, or would be, outside those powers by virtue of section 80(8) or 81(1)),
   4. a question whether there has been any failure to comply with a duty imposed on the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General (including any obligation imposed by virtue of section 80(1) or (7)), or
   5. a question of whether a failure to act by the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General is incompatible with any of the Convention rights.
2. In this Schedule “civil proceedings” means proceedings other than criminal proceedings.
3. A devolution issue is not to be taken to arise in any proceedings merely because of any contention of a party to the proceedings which appears to the court or tribunal before which the proceedings take place to be frivolous or vexatious.

Part 2. Proceedings in England and Wales

Subheading 1. Application of Part 2

1. This Part applies in relation to devolution issues in proceedings in England and Wales.

Subheading 2. Institution of proceedings

4

1. Proceedings for the determination of a devolution issue may be instituted by the Attorney General or the Counsel General.
2. The Counsel General may defend any such proceedings instituted by the Attorney General.
3. This paragraph does not limit any power to institute or defend proceedings exercisable apart from this paragraph by any person.

Subheading 3. Notice of devolution issue

5

1. A court or tribunal must order notice of any devolution issue which arises in any proceedings before it to be given to the Attorney General and the Counsel General (unless a party to the proceedings).
2. A person to whom notice is given in pursuance of sub-paragraph (1) may take part as a party in the proceedings, so far as they relate to a devolution issue.

Subheading 4. Reference of devolution issue to High Court or Court of Appeal

1. A magistrates’ court may refer any devolution issue which arises in civil proceedings before it to the High Court.
2. 7
3. 1. A court may refer any devolution issue which arises in civil proceedings before it to the Court of Appeal.
   2. Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply—
      1. to a magistrates’ court, the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court, or
      2. to the High Court if the devolution issue arises in proceedings on a reference under paragraph 6.
4. A tribunal from which there is no appeal must refer any devolution issue which arises in proceedings before it to the Court of Appeal; and any other tribunal may make such a reference.
5. A court, other than the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court, may refer any devolution issue which arises in criminal proceedings before it to—
   1. the High Court if the proceedings are summary proceedings, or
   2. the Court of Appeal if the proceedings are proceedings on indictment.

Subheading 5. References from Court of Appeal to Supreme Court

1. The Court of Appeal may refer any devolution issue which arises in proceedings before it (otherwise than on a reference under paragraph 7, 8 or 9) to the Supreme Court.

Subheading 6. Appeals from superior courts to Supreme Court

1. An appeal against a determination of a devolution issue by the High Court or the Court of Appeal on a reference under paragraph 6, 7, 8 or 9 lies to the Supreme Court but only—
   1. with permission of the court from which the appeal lies, or
   2. failing such permission, with permission of the Supreme Court.

Part 3. Proceedings in Scotland

Subheading 1. Application of Part 3

1. This Part applies in relation to devolution issues in proceedings in Scotland.

Subheading 2. Institution of proceedings

13

1. Proceedings for the determination of a devolution issue may be instituted by the Advocate General for Scotland.
2. The Counsel General may defend any such proceedings instituted by the Advocate General for Scotland.
3. This paragraph does not limit any power to institute or defend proceedings exercisable apart from this paragraph by any person.

Subheading 3. Intimation of devolution issue

14

1. A court or tribunal must order intimation of any devolution issue which arises in any proceedings before it to be given to the Advocate General for Scotland and the Counsel General (unless a party to the proceedings).
2. A person to whom notice is given in pursuance of sub-paragraph (1) may take part as a party in the proceedings, so far as they relate to a devolution issue.

Subheading 4. Reference of devolution issue to higher court

1. A court, other than any court consisting of three or more judges of the Court of Session or the Supreme Court, may refer any devolution issue which arises in civil proceedings before it to the Inner House of the Court of Session.
2. A tribunal from which there is no appeal must refer any devolution issue which arises in proceedings before it to the Inner House of the Court of Session; and any other tribunal may make such a reference.
3. A court, other than any court consisting of two or more judges of the High Court of Justiciary, may refer any devolution issue which arises in criminal proceedings before it to the High Court of Justiciary.

Subheading 5. References from superior courts to Supreme Court

1. Any court consisting of three or more judges of the Court of Session may refer any devolution issue which arises in proceedings before it (otherwise than on a reference under paragraph 15 or 16) to the Supreme Court.
2. Any court consisting of two or more judges of the High Court of Justiciary may refer any devolution issue which arises in proceedings before it (otherwise than on a reference under paragraph 17) to the Supreme Court.

Subheading 6. Appeals from superior courts to Supreme Court

1. An appeal against a determination of a devolution issue by the Inner House of the Court of Session on a reference under paragraph 15 or 16 lies to the Supreme Court.
2. An appeal against a determination of a devolution issue by—
   1. a court consisting of two or more judges of the High Court of Justiciary (whether in the ordinary course of proceedings or on a reference under paragraph 17), or
   2. a court consisting of three or more judges of the Court of Session from which there is no appeal to the Supreme Court apart from this paragraph,
3. lies to the Supreme Court, but only with permission of the court from which the appeal lies or, failing such permission, with permission of the Supreme Court.

Part 4. Proceedings in Northern Ireland

Subheading 1. Application of Part 4

1. This Part applies in relation to devolution issues in proceedings in Northern Ireland.

Subheading 2. Institution of proceedings

23

1. Proceedings for the determination of a devolution issue may be instituted by the Advocate General for Northern Ireland.
2. The Counsel General may defend any such proceedings instituted by the Advocate General for Northern Ireland.
3. This paragraph does not limit any power to institute or defend proceedings exercisable apart from this paragraph by any person.

Subheading 3. Notice of devolution issue

24

1. A court or tribunal must order notice of any devolution issue which arises in any proceedings before it to be given to the Advocate General for Northern Ireland and the Counsel General (unless a party to the proceedings).
2. A person to whom notice is given in pursuance of sub-paragraph (1) may take part as a party in the proceedings, so far as they relate to a devolution issue.

Subheading 4. Reference of devolution issue to Court of Appeal

1. A court, other than the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland or the Supreme Court, may refer any devolution issue which arises in any proceedings before it to the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland.
2. A tribunal from which there is no appeal must refer any devolution issue which arises in proceedings before it to the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland; and any other tribunal may make such a reference.

Subheading 5. References from Court of Appeal to Supreme Court

1. The Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland may refer any devolution issue which arises in proceedings before it (otherwise than on a reference under paragraph 25 or 26) to the Supreme Court.

Subheading 6. Appeals from Court of Appeal to Supreme Court

1. An appeal against a determination of a devolution issue by the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland on a reference under paragraph 25 or 26 lies to the Supreme Court but only—
   1. with permission of the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland, or
   2. failing such permission, with permission of the Supreme Court.

Part 5. General

Subheading 1. Direct references to Supreme Court

29

1. The relevant officer may require any court or tribunal to refer to the Supreme Court any devolution issue which has arisen in any proceedings before it to which that person is a party.
2. In sub-paragraph (1) “the relevant officer” means—
   1. in relation to proceedings in England and Wales, the Attorney General or the Counsel General,
   2. in relation to proceedings in Scotland, the Advocate General for Scotland, and
   3. in relation to proceedings in Northern Ireland, the Advocate General for Northern Ireland.

30

1. The Attorney General or the Counsel General may refer to the Supreme Court any devolution issue which is not the subject of proceedings.
2. Where a reference is made under sub-paragraph (1) by the Attorney General in relation to a devolution issue which relates to the proposed exercise of a function by the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General—
   1. the Attorney General must notify the Counsel General of that fact, and
   2. the function must not be exercised by the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General in the manner proposed during the period beginning with the receipt of the notification and ending with the reference being decided or otherwise disposed of.

Subheading 2. Costs

31

1. A court or tribunal before which any proceedings take place may take account of any additional expense of the kind mentioned in sub-paragraph (3) in deciding any question as to costs or expenses.
2. In deciding any such question the court or tribunal may award the whole or part of the additional expense as costs or expenses to the party who incurred it (whatever the decision on the devolution issue).
3. The additional expense is any additional expense which the court or tribunal considers that any party to the proceedings has incurred as a result of the participation of any person in pursuance of paragraph 5, 14 or 24.

Subheading 3. Procedure of courts and tribunals

1. Any power to make provision for regulating the procedure before any court or tribunal includes power to make provision for the purposes of this Schedule including, in particular, provision—
   1. for prescribing the stage in the proceedings at which a devolution issue is to be raised or referred,
   2. for the staying or sisting of proceedings for the purpose of any proceedings under this Schedule, and
   3. for determining the manner in which and the time within which any notice or intimation is to be given.

Subheading 4. References to be for decision

1. Any function conferred by this Schedule to refer a devolution issue to a court is to be construed as a function of referring the issue to the court for decision.

Schedules 10-12. [Schedules 10-12 omitted due to length – full text of schedules can be found online at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/32/schedules]

FIXED-TERM PARLIAMENTS ACT 2011

Preamble

An Act to make provision about the dissolution of Parliament and the determination of polling days for parliamentary general elections; and for connected purposes.

[15th September 2011]

Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

1. Polling days for parliamentary general elections

1. This section applies for the purposes of the Timetable in rule 1 in Schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983 and is subject to section 2.
2. The polling day for the next parliamentary general election after the passing of this Act is to be 7 May 2015.
3. The polling day for each subsequent parliamentary general election is to be the first Thursday in May in the fifth calendar year following that in which the polling day for the previous parliamentary general election fell.
4. But, if the polling day for the previous parliamentary general election—
   1. was appointed under section 2(7), and
   2. in the calendar year in which it fell, fell before the first Thursday in May,
5. subsection (3) has effect as if for “fifth” there were substituted “ fourth ”.
6. The Prime Minister may by order made by statutory instrument provide that the polling day for a parliamentary general election in a specified calendar year is to be later than the day determined under subsection (2) or (3), but not more than two months later.
7. A statutory instrument containing an order under subsection (5) may not be made unless a draft has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.
8. The draft laid before Parliament must be accompanied by a statement setting out the Prime Minister’s reasons for proposing the change in the polling day.

2. Early parliamentary general elections

1. An early parliamentary general election is to take place if—
   1. the House of Commons passes a motion in the form set out in subsection (2), and
   2. if the motion is passed on a division, the number of members who vote in favour of the motion is a number equal to or greater than two thirds of the number of seats in the House (including vacant seats).
2. The form of motion for the purposes of subsection (1)(a) is—
   “That there shall be an early parliamentary general election.”
3. An early parliamentary general election is also to take place if—
   1. the House of Commons passes a motion in the form set out in subsection (4), and
   2. the period of 14 days after the day on which that motion is passed ends without the House passing a motion in the form set out in subsection (5).
4. The form of motion for the purposes of subsection (3)(a) is—
   “That this House has no confidence in Her Majesty’s Government.”
5. The form of motion for the purposes of subsection (3)(b) is—
   “That this House has confidence in Her Majesty’s Government.”
6. Subsection (7) applies for the purposes of the Timetable in rule 1 in Schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983.
7. If a parliamentary general election is to take place as provided for by subsection (1) or (3), the polling day for the election is to be the day appointed by Her Majesty by proclamation on the recommendation of the Prime Minister (and, accordingly, the appointed day replaces the day which would otherwise have been the polling day for the next election determined under section 1).

3. Dissolution of Parliament

1. The Parliament then in existence dissolves at the beginning of the 25th working day before the polling day for the next parliamentary general election as determined under section 1 or appointed under section 2(7).
2. Parliament cannot otherwise be dissolved.
3. Once Parliament dissolves, the Lord Chancellor and, in relation to Northern Ireland, the Secretary of State have the authority to have the writs for the election sealed and issued (see rule 3 in Schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983).
4. Once Parliament dissolves, Her Majesty may issue the proclamation summoning the new Parliament which may—
   1. appoint the day for the first meeting of the new Parliament;
   2. deal with any other matter which was normally dealt with before the passing of this Act by proclamations summoning new Parliaments (except a matter dealt with by subsection (1) or (3)).
5. In this section “working day” means any day other than—
   1. a Saturday or Sunday;
   2. a Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or Good Friday;
   3. a day which is a bank holiday under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 in any part of the United Kingdom;
   4. a day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning.
6. But, if—
   1. on a day (“the relevant day”) one or more working days are fixed or appointed as bank holidays or days for public thanksgiving or mourning, and
   2. as a result, the day for the dissolution of a Parliament would (apart from this subsection) be brought forward from what it was immediately before the relevant day to a day that is earlier than 30 days after the relevant day,
7. the day or days in question are to continue to be treated as working days (even if the polling day is subsequently changed).

4. General election for Scottish Parliament not to fall on same date as parliamentary general election under section 1(2)

1. This section applies in relation to the ordinary general election for membership of the Scottish Parliament the poll for which would, apart from this section and disregarding sections 2(5) and 3(3) of the Scotland Act 1998, be held on 7 May 2015 (that is, the date specified in section 1(2) of this Act).
2. Section 2(2) of the 1998 Act has effect as if, instead of providing for the poll for that election to be held on that date, it provided (subject to sections 2(5) and 3(3) of that Act) for the poll to be held on 5 May 2016 (and section 2(2) has effect in relation to subsequent ordinary general elections accordingly).

5. General election for National Assembly for Wales not to fall on same date as parliamentary general election under section 1(2)

1. This section applies in relation to the ordinary general election for membership of the National Assembly for Wales the poll for which would, apart from this section and disregarding sections 4 and 5(5) of the Government of Wales Act 2006, be held on 7 May 2015 (that is, the date specified in section 1(2) of this Act).
2. Section 3(1) of the 2006 Act has effect as if, instead of providing for the poll for that election to be held on that date, it provided (subject to sections 4 and 5(5) of that Act) for the poll to be held on 5 May 2016 (and section 3(1) has effect in relation to subsequent ordinary general elections accordingly).

6. Supplementary provisions

1. This Act does not affect Her Majesty’s power to prorogue Parliament.
2. This Act does not affect the way in which the sealing of a proclamation summoning a new Parliament may be authorised; and the sealing of a proclamation to be issued under section 2(7) may be authorised in the same way.
3. The Schedule (which contains consequential amendments etc) has effect.

7. Final provisions

1. This Act may be cited as the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011.
2. This Act comes into force on the day it is passed.
3. An amendment or repeal made by this Act has the same extent as the enactment or relevant part of the enactment to which the amendment or repeal relates.
4. The Prime Minister must make arrangements—
   1. for a committee to carry out a review of the operation of this Act and, if appropriate in consequence of its findings, to make recommendations for the repeal or amendment of this Act, and
   2. for the publication of the committee’s findings and recommendations (if any).
5. A majority of the members of the committee are to be members of the House of Commons.
6. Arrangements under subsection (4)(a) are to be made no earlier than 1 June 2020 and no later than 30 November 2020.

[Schedules omitted due to length – full text of schedules can be found online at <a href=”http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2011/14/schedules]

” style=”user-select: auto;”>http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2011/14/schedules]