Government of Wales Act 2006

115 Royal Assent U.K.

(1) It is for the [F1 Presiding Officer] to submit Bills for Royal Assent.

(2) The [F2 Presiding Officer] may not submit a Bill for Royal Assent at any time when—

(a) the Attorney General or the Counsel General is entitled to make a reference in relation to the Bill under section [F3 111B or] 112,

(b) such a reference has been made but has not been decided or otherwise disposed of by the Supreme Court, or

(c) an order may be made in relation to the Bill under section 114.

(3) The [F4 Presiding Officer] may not submit a Bill in its unamended form for Royal Assent if—

(a) 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 [F5 Senedd's] legislative competence, or

(b) a reference made in relation to the Bill under section 112 has been withdrawn following a request for withdrawal of the reference under section 113(2)(b).

[F6 (3A) The Presiding Officer may not submit a Bill for Royal Assent if the Supreme Court has decided on a reference made in relation to the Bill under section 111B(2)(b) (reference following Presiding Officer's decision that Bill does not contain protected subject-matter) that any provision of the Bill relates to a protected subject-matter unless, since the decision, the Bill has been approved in accordance with standing orders made by virtue of section 111(7).]

(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.

[F7 (4A) The Keeper of the Welsh Seal (see section 116(2)) must make arrangements to send the Letters Patent to the National Library of Wales.]

(5) The date of Royal Assent is to be written on the Act of the [F5 Senedd] by the Clerk, and forms part of the Act.

[F8 (5A) On the copy of the Act of the [F5 Senedd ] on which the Clerk writes the date of Royal Assent the Clerk must write—

(a) the calendar year, and

(b) any prefix and number which has been assigned to that Act of the [F5 Senedd] .

(5B) The information written on the Act of the [F5 Senedd] in pursuance of subsection (5A) forms part of the Act .

(5C) The copy of the Act of the [F5 Senedd] on which the date of Royal Assent and the information in subsection (5A) is written is to be known as the official print of the Act .

(5D) The Clerk must make a copy of the official print and certify it as a true copy.

(5E) The Clerk must send the certified copy to the Queen’s Printer and the official print to the National Library of Wales.

(5F) The National Library of Wales must ensure that the official prints and Letters Patent it receives are preserved and open to public inspection at all reasonable times.]

(6) The standing orders must include provision for notification by the Clerk to the [F5 Senedd] of the date of Royal Assent to an Act of the [F5 Senedd] .

(7) The validity of an Act of the [F5 Senedd] is not affected by any failure to comply with provision made by or by virtue of subsection (4), (5) or (6).

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 115(1) substituted (1.4.2018) by Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), ss. 12(1), 71(4) (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(c)

F2 Words in s. 115(2) substituted (1.4.2018) by Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), ss. 12(1), 71(4) (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(c)

F3 Words in s. 115(2)(a) inserted (31.3.2017 for specified purposes, 1.4.2018 in so far as not already in force) by Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), ss. 10(8)(a), 71(2)(c) (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(c)

F4 Words in s. 115(3) substituted (1.4.2018) by Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), ss. 12(1), 71(4) (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(c)

F5 Words in Act substituted (6.5.2020) by Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020 (anaw 1), s. 42(2), Sch. 1 para. 2(19) (with Sch. 1 para. 2(11)-(14))

F6 S. 115(3A) inserted (31.3.2017 for specified purposes, 1.4.2018 in so far as not already in force) by Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), ss. 10(8)(b), 71(2)(c) (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(c)

F7 S. 115(4A) inserted (5.5.2011) by The Government of Wales Act 2006 (Commencement of Assembly Act Provisions, Transitional and Saving Provisions and Modifications) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1011), art. 5(2)

F8 S. 115(5A)-(5F) inserted (5.5.2011) by The Government of Wales Act 2006 (Commencement of Assembly Act Provisions, Transitional and Saving Provisions and Modifications) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1011), art. 5(3)

Commencement Information

I1 S. 115 in force at 5.5.2011 by S.I. 2011/1011, art. 3