Statutory Instruments
2011 No. 752
Constitutional Law
Devolution, Wales
The National Assembly for Wales (Letters Patent) Order 2011
Made 16th March 2011
Laid before the National Assembly for Wales 23rd March 2011
Coming into force 5th May 2011

At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 16th day of March 2011
Present,
The Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty in Council
Her Majesty, in exercise of the powers conferred on Her by section 116(3) of the Government of Wales Act 2006, is pleased, by and with the advice of Her Privy Council, to order as follows:
2006 c. 32.

Title, commencement and interpretation
1. (1) The title of this Order is the National Assembly for Wales (Letters Patent) Order 2011 and it comes into force on 5th May 2011.
(2) In this Order “Letters Patent” (“Breinlythyrau”) means Letters Patent signed with Her Majesty’s own hand signifying Her Assent to a Bill passed by the National Assembly for Wales.

Form of Letters Patent
2. The form of words to be used in Letters Patent is that set out in the Schedule to this Order subject only to such variations as are necessitated by the circumstances.

Preparation of Letters Patent
3. Letters Patent may be printed or written or partly printed and partly written, and may be prepared on paper or parchment.

Publication of Letters Patent
4. As soon as is reasonably practicable after Letters Patent under the Welsh Seal are notified to the Clerk, the Keeper of the Welsh Seal must arrange for the Letters Patent to be published in the London, Edinburgh and Belfast Gazettes.
Judith Simpson
Clerk of the Privy Council

SCHEDULE Form of Letters Patent
Article 2

“ELIZABETH THE SECOND by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Our other Realms and Territories Queen Head of the Commonwealth Defender of the Faith To Our Trusty and well beloved the members of the National Assembly for Wales GREETING:
FORASMUCH as one or more Bills have been passed by the National Assembly for Wales and have been submitted to Us for Our Royal Assent by the Clerk of the National Assembly for Wales in accordance with the Government of Wales Act 2006 the short Titles of which Bills are set forth in the Schedule hereto but those Bills by virtue of the Government of Wales Act 2006 do not become Acts of the National Assembly for Wales nor have effect in the Law without Our Royal Assent signified by Letters Patent under Our Welsh Seal signed with Our own hand We have therefore caused these Our Letters Patent to be made and have signed them and by them do give Our Royal Assent to those Bills which shall be taken and accepted as good and perfect Acts of the Assembly and be put in due execution accordingly COMMANDING ALSO the Keeper of Our Welsh Seal to seal these Our Letters with that Seal.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent
WITNESS Ourself at . . . the . . . day of. . . in the . . . year of Our Reign
By The Queen Herself Signed with Her Own Hand.”

EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Order)
Section 107(2) of the Government of Wales Act 2006 (c. 32) (“the 2006 Act”) provides that a Bill passed by the National Assembly for Wales (“the Assembly”) becomes an Act on receipt of Royal Assent.
Section 115(4) of the 2006 Act provides that such 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 of the Assembly.
Section 116(1) of the 2006 Act provides for there to be a Welsh Seal.
Section 116(3) of the 2006 Act provides that Her Majesty may by Order in Council make provision as to the form and manner of preparation and the publication of such Letters Patent.
This Order prescribes the form of words to be used in Letters Patent signifying Royal Assent to Bills passed by the Assembly. It also makes provision as to the preparation and publication of the Letters Patent.

Art. 1 in force at 5.5.2011, see art. 1(1)
Art. 2 in force at 5.5.2011, see art. 1(1)
Art. 3 in force at 5.5.2011, see art. 1(1)
Art. 4 in force at 5.5.2011, see art. 1(1)
Sch. in force at 5.5.2011, see art. 1(1)