Search Legislation

Government of Wales Act 2006

 Help about what version

What Version

 Help about advanced features

Advanced Features

Status:

Point in time view as at 20/10/2014.

Changes to legislation:

Government of Wales Act 2006, Part 1 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 26 April 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Changes and effects yet to be applied by the editorial team are only applicable when viewing the latest version or prospective version of legislation. They are therefore not accessible when viewing legislation as at a specific point in time. To view the ‘Changes to Legislation’ information for this provision return to the latest version view using the options provided in the ‘What Version’ box above.

Part 1U.K.Subjects

[F1Agriculture, forestry, animals, plants and rural development]U.K.

[F21U.K. 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—

(a)all mammals apart from humans, and

(b)all animals other than mammals;

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)—

    • (a) the movement into and out of, and within, Wales of animals, animal products,F3. . . plants, plant products and other things related to them for the purposes of protecting human, animal [F4or plant] health, animal welfare or the environment or observing or implementing obligations under the Common Agricultural Policy, and

    • (b) the movement into and out of, and within, Wales of animal feedstuff ,F5. . . fertilisers and pesticides (or things treated by virtue of any enactment as pesticides) for the purposes of protecting human, animal [F6or plant] health or the environment.

  • Authorisations of veterinary medicines and medicinal products.

Ancient monuments and historic buildingsU.K.

2U.K.Archaeological remains. Ancient monuments. Buildings and places of historical or architectural interest. Historic wrecks.

CultureU.K.

3U.K.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.

Economic developmentU.K.

4U.K.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, [F7animals 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, [F7animals 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.

  • [F8Occupational 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 [F9and 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 [F10, distribution] and supply of electricity F11. . . .

  • 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 F12. . . .

  • [F13Nuclear energy and nuclear installations[F14and the Office for Nuclear Regulation]

[F15(a)including nuclear safety and liability for nuclear occurrences;

(b)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.

Textual Amendments

Education and trainingU.K.

5U.K.Education, vocational, social and physical training and the careers service. Promotion of advancement and application of knowledge.

Exception—

Research Councils.

EnvironmentU.K.

6U.K.Environmental protection, including pollution, nuisances and hazardous substances. [F16Prevention, 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 [F17, except coroners' functions].

[F18Fire and rescue services and fire safety]U.K.

7U.K.Fire and rescue services. [F19Provision of automatic fire suppression systems in newly constructed and newly converted residential premises.] Promotion of fire safety otherwise than by prohibition or regulation.

FoodU.K.

8U.K.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.

Health and health servicesU.K.

9U.K.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.

  • F20. . . Health and Safety Executive and Employment Medical Advisory Service and provision made by health and safety regulations.

Textual Amendments

F20Sch. 7 Pt. 1 para. 9 Exceptions: words in entry omitted (1.4.2008) by virtue of The Legislative Reform (Health and Safety Executive) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/960), art. 22, Sch. 3 (with Sch. 2)

Highways and transportU.K.

10U.K.Highways, including bridges and tunnels. Streetworks. Traffic management and regulation. Transport facilities and services.

Exceptions—

  • [F21Registration 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.

  • [F22Regulation of the construction and equipment of motor vehicles and trailers, and regulation of the use of motor vehicles and trailers on roads, apart from—

    (a)

    any such regulation which—

    (i)

    relates to schemes for imposing charges in respect of the use or keeping of vehicles on Welsh trunk roads (“trunk road charging schemes”), or

    (ii)

    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

    (b)

    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.

  • [F23Traffic 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—

    • (a) does not relate to the carriage of goods,

    • (b) is not made in connection with a railway administration order, and

    (c)

    [F24is 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 F25.

  • [F26Transport] security.[F27, 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—

    • (a) financial assistance to providers or proposed providers of air transport services or airport facilities or services,

    • (b) strategies by the Welsh Ministers or local or other public authorities about provision of air services, and

    • (c) regulation of use of aircraft carrying animals for [F28the purposes of protecting human, animal [F29or plant] health], animal welfare or the environment.

  • Shipping, apart from—

    • (a) financial assistance for shipping services to, from or within Wales, and

    • (b) regulation of use of vessels carrying animals [F28the purposes of protecting human, animal [F29or 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,[F30 apart from—

(a)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

(b)regulation for the purposes of protecting human, animal [F29or plant] health, animal welfare or the environment.]

  • Carriage of dangerous goods (including transport of radioactive material).

  • [F31Technical specifications for fuel for use in internal combustion engines.]]

Textual Amendments

F22Sch. 7 Pt. 1 para. 10: exception beginning "Regulation of the construction and equipment of motor vehicles" substituted (16.12.2010) by The National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) (Amendment of Schedule 7 to the Government of Wales Act 2006) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/2968), arts. 1(2), 7(1)(2)

F23Sch. 7 Pt. 1 para. 10: exceptions beginning "Traffic regulation on special roads" substituted (16.12.2010) by The National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) (Amendment of Schedule 7 to the Government of Wales Act 2006) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/2968), arts. 1(2), 7(1)(3)

F24Sch. 7 Pt. 1 para. 10: exception beginning "Provision and regulation of railway services" para. (c) substituted (16.12.2010) by The National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) (Amendment of Schedule 7 to the Government of Wales Act 2006) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/2968), arts. 1(2), 7(1)(4)

F25OJ No. L315, 3.12.2007, p. 1.

F29Sch. 7 Pt. 1 para. 10: words in exceptions beginning "Aviation", "Shipping", "Harbours" substituted (16.12.2010) by The National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) (Amendment of Schedule 7 to the Government of Wales Act 2006) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/2968), arts. 1(2), 7(1)(6)

HousingU.K.

11U.K.[F32Housing. 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.

Local governmentU.K.

12U.K.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 [F33police 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.

  • [F34Orders 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.

Textual Amendments

F34Words in Sch. 7 para. 12 substituted (20.10.2014) by Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 (c. 12), s. 185(1), Sch. 11 para. 43 (with ss. 21, 33, 42, 58, 75, 93); S.I. 2014/2590, art. 3(g)(vi) (as amended (20.10.2014) by S.I. 2014/2754, arts. 1, 3(a))

National Assembly for WalesU.K.

13U.K.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.

Public administrationU.K.

14U.K.Public Services Ombudsman for Wales. [F35Auditor General for Wales.]. Audit, examination, regulation and inspection of auditable public authorities. Inquiries [F36in 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”—

(a)the Assembly,

(b)the Assembly Commission,

(c)the Welsh Assembly Government,

(d)persons who exercise functions of a public nature and in respect of whom the Welsh Ministers exercise functions,

(e)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

(f)persons established by enactment and having power to issue a precept or levy.

The following are “open access public authorities”—

(a)the Assembly,

(b)the Assembly Commission,

(c)the Welsh Assembly Government, and

(d)authorities which are Welsh public authorities, within the meaning of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (c. 36).

Exception—

Regulation of the profession of auditor.

Social welfareU.K.

15U.K.Social welfare including social services. Protection and well-being of children (including adoption and fostering) [F37and of young adults]. Care of [F38children,] young adults, vulnerable persons and older persons, including care standards. Badges for display on motor vehicles used by disabled persons.

Exceptions—

  • Child support.

  • [F39Child trust funds, apart from subscriptions to such funds by—

    (a)

    a county council or county borough council in Wales, or

    (b)

    the Welsh Ministers.]

  • Tax credits.

  • Child benefit and guardian's allowance.

  • Social security.

  • [F40Independent 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—

    • (a) [F41welfare advice] to courts, representation and provision of information, advice and other support to children ordinarily resident in Wales and their families, and

    • (b) Welsh family proceedings officers.

Sport and recreationU.K.

16U.K.Sport and recreational activities.

Exception—

Betting, gaming and lotteries.

TourismU.K.

17U.K.Tourism.

Town and country planningU.K.

18U.K.Town and country planning, including listed buildings [F42and conservation areas]. Caravan sites. Spatial planning. Mineral workings. Urban development. New towns. Protection of visual amenity.

  • [F43Exception—

  • [F44Development consent under the Planning Act 2008].]

Water and flood defenceU.K.

19U.K.Water supply[F45, 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.]

Welsh languageU.K.

20U.K.Welsh language

Exception—

Use of the Welsh language in courts.

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

You have chosen to open The Whole Act

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act as a PDF

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open the Whole Act

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open Schedules only

The Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Point in Time: This becomes available after navigating to view revised legislation as it stood at a certain point in time via Advanced Features > Show Timeline of Changes or via a point in time advanced search.

Close

See additional information alongside the content

Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

Explanatory Notes

Text created by the government department responsible for the subject matter of the Act to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes were introduced in 1999 and accompany all Public Acts except Appropriation, Consolidated Fund, Finance and Consolidation Acts.

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.

Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources