Part 4Acts of the F29Senedd
Procedure
I2110Introduction of Bills
1
A Bill may, subject to the standing orders, be introduced in the F29Senedd —
a
by the First Minister, any Welsh Minister appointed under section 48 any Deputy Welsh Minister or the Counsel General, or
b
by any other F27Member of the Senedd .
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 F29Senedd's legislative competence.
3
The Presiding Officer must, on or before the introduction of a Bill in the F29Senedd —
a
decide whether or not, in the view of the Presiding Officer, the provisions of the Bill would be within the F29Senedd's legislative competence, and
b
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—
a
may provide for a statement under this section to be published, and
b
if they do so, must provide for it to be published in both English and Welsh.
110AF26Introduction of Bills: justice impact assessment
1
The standing orders must include provision requiring the person in charge of a Bill, on or before the introduction of the Bill, to make a written statement setting out the potential impact (if any) on the justice system in England and Wales of the provisions of the Bill (a ““justice impact assessment””).
2
The form of the justice impact assessment and the manner in which it is to be made are to be determined under the standing orders.
3
The standing orders must provide for the justice impact assessment to be published.
I3111Proceedings on Bills
1
The standing orders must include provision—
a
for general debate on a Bill with an opportunity for F28Members of the Senedd to vote on its general principles,
b
for the consideration of, and an opportunity for F28Members of the Senedd to vote on, the details of a Bill, and
c
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 F29Senedd 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—
a
Bills which restate the law,
b
Bills which repeal or revoke spent enactments, and
c
private Bills.
4
The standing orders must include provision for securing that the F29Senedd 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 F29Senedd 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)—
F5za
the Supreme Court decides 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,
a
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 F29Senedd's legislative competence,
b
F30... or
c
an order is made in relation to the Bill under section 114.
F66A
The standing orders must provide for an opportunity for the reconsideration of a Bill after its rejection if (and only if), on a reference made in relation to the Bill under section 111B(2)(a) (reference following Presiding Officer's decision that Bill contains protected subject-matter), the Supreme Court decides that no provision that is subject to the reference relates to a protected subject-matter.
F77
The standing orders must, in particular, ensure that—
a
any Bill amended on reconsideration in accordance with standing orders made by virtue of subsection (6)(a) F31... or (c), and
b
any Bill reconsidered in accordance with standing orders made by virtue of subsection (6)(za) or (6A),
is subject to a final stage at which it can be approved or rejected.
8
111AF4Bills with protected subject-matter: super-majority requirement
1
For the purposes of this Part a provision of a Bill relates to a protected subject-matter if it would modify, or confer power to modify, any of the matters listed in subsection (2) (but not if the provision is incidental to or consequential on another provision of the Bill).
2
The matters are—
a
the name of the F29Senedd ,
b
the persons entitled to vote as electors at an election for membership of the F29Senedd ,
c
the system by which members of the F29Senedd are returned,
d
the specification or number of constituencies, regions or any equivalent electoral area,
e
the number of members to be returned for each constituency, region or equivalent electoral area, and
f
the number of persons who may hold the office of Welsh Minister appointed under section 48 or the office of Deputy Welsh Minister.
3
The Presiding Officer must, after the last time when a Bill may be amended but before the decision whether to pass or reject it—
a
decide whether or not, in the view of the Presiding Officer, any provision of the Bill relates to a protected subject-matter, and
b
state that decision.
4
111BScrutiny of Bills by the Supreme Court (protected subject-matter)
1
The Counsel General or the Attorney General may refer the question whether any provision of a Bill relates to a protected subject-matter 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—
a
at any time during the period of four weeks beginning with the rejection of the Bill, if the Presiding Officer has decided under section 111A(3) that a provision of the Bill relates to a protected subject-matter, or
b
at any time during the period of four weeks beginning with the passing of the Bill, if the Presiding Officer has decided under section 111A(3) that no provision of the Bill relates to a protected subject-matter, unless the number of F28Members of the Senedd voting in favour of the Bill at its passing is at least two-thirds of the total number of F29Senedd seats.
3
No reference may be made in relation to a Bill—
a
by the Counsel General if the Counsel General has notified the Presiding Officer that no reference is to be made in relation to it by the Counsel General, or
b
by the Attorney General if the Attorney General has notified the Presiding Officer 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, since the notification, been approved or rejected in accordance with standing orders made by virtue of section 111(7).
I4112Scrutiny of Bills by Supreme Court F10(legislative competence)
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 F29Senedd'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—
a
the period of four weeks beginning with the passing of the Bill, and
b
any period of four weeks beginning with any F11... 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—
a
by the Counsel General if the Counsel General has notified the F18Presiding Officer that no reference is to be made in relation to it by the Counsel General, or
b
by the Attorney General if the Attorney General has notified the F18Presiding Officer 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.
F32113ECJ references
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I5114Power to intervene in certain cases
1
This section applies if a Bill contains provisions which the Secretary of State has reasonable grounds to believe—
a
would have an adverse effect on F19a reserved matter,
F20b
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
c
would have an adverse effect on the operation of the law as it applies in England, or
d
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 F21Presiding Officer 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—
a
the period of four weeks beginning with the passing of the Bill,
b
any period of four weeks beginning with any F12... approval of the Bill in accordance with provision included in the standing orders in compliance with section 111(7), or
c
if a reference is made in relation to the Bill under section F13111B or 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 F22Presiding Officer 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.
I6115Royal Assent
1
It is for the F23Presiding Officer to submit Bills for Royal Assent.
2
The F24Presiding 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 F14111B 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 F25Presiding Officer may not submit a Bill in its unamended form for Royal Assent if—
a
F33b
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F153A
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.
F14A
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 F29Senedd by the Clerk, and forms part of the Act.
F25A
On the copy of the Act of the F29Senedd 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 F29Senedd .
5B
The information written on the Act of the F29Senedd in pursuance of subsection (5A) forms part of the Act .
5C
The copy of the Act of the F29Senedd 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
7
The validity of an Act of the F29Senedd is not affected by any failure to comply with provision made by or by virtue of subsection (4), (5) or (6).
I1116Welsh Seal F16: Letters Patent and proclamations
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—
a
the form and manner of preparation, and
b
the publication,
4
A statutory instrument containing an Order in Council under subsection (3) is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the F29Senedd .
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))