Government of Wales Bill

House of Commons portcullis

House of Commons

Session 1997-98
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Other Bills before Parliament

Government of Wales Bill

This is the text of the Government of Wales Bill, as presented to the House of Commons on 26 November 1997

EXPLANATORY AND FINANCIAL MEMORANDUM

Government of Wales Bill

ARRANGEMENT OF CLAUSES

PART I

THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FOR WALES

The Assembly

Clause

1. The Assembly.

Membership of the Assembly

2. Membership.

Ordinary elections

3. Time of ordinary elections.

4. Voting at ordinary elections.

5. Additional member system: party lists and individual candidates.

6. Additional member system: calculation of electoral region figure.

7. Additional member system: return of members.

Vacancies

8. Vacancies in Assembly constituency seats.

9. Vacancies in Assembly electoral region seats.

The franchise and conduct of elections

10. Entitlement to vote.

11. Power to make provision about elections etc.

Disqualification

12. Disqualification from being Assembly member.

13. Exceptions and relief from disqualification.

14. Effect of disqualification.

15. Judicial proceedings as to disqualification.

Remuneration for Assembly members

16. Salaries and allowances.

17. Limit on salaries of members of other public bodies.

18. Pensions etc.

19. Publication of information about remuneration paid.

Oath of allegiance

20. Oath or affirmation of allegiance.

PART II

ASSEMBLY FUNCTIONS

Introduction

21. Introductory.

Transfer of Ministerial functions to Assembly

22. Transfer of Ministerial functions.

23. Transfers: supplementary.

24. General transfer of property, rights and liabilities etc.

25. General transfer: supplementary.

26. Power to make specific transfers etc.

27. Transfers of property: supplementary.

Other functions

28. Reform of Welsh health authorities.

29. Reform of other Welsh public bodies.

30. Power to implement Community law.

31. Consultation about public appointments.

32. Consultation about government's legislative programme.

33. Support of culture etc.

34. Consideration of matters affecting Wales.

Ancillary powers etc.

35. Staff.

36. Inquiries.

37. Legal proceedings.

38. Contracts.

39. Supplementary powers.

40. Agency arrangements and provision of services.

Supplementary

41. Power to make different provision for Wales.

42. Construction of references to Ministers and departments.

43. Parliamentary procedures for subordinate legislation.

44. Laying of reports and statements.

PART III

ASSEMBLY PROCEDURE

Introductory

45. Regulation of procedure.

46. Equal treatment of English and Welsh languages.

47. Equal opportunities in conduct of business.

Initial provisions

48. First meeting.

49. First standing orders.

50. The Commissioners.

Offices and committees

51. Presiding officer and deputy.

52. Assembly First Secretary.

53. Committees.

54. Sub-committees.

55. Delegation to committees, sub-committees and staff.

The statutory committees

56. Subject committees.

57. Members of subject committees etc.

58. Executive committee.

59. Subordinate legislation scrutiny committee.

60. Members of scrutiny committee etc.

61. Audit Committee.

62. Regional committees.

Procedures relating to subordinate legislation

63. Standing orders to provide procedures.

64. Regulatory appraisals.

65. Making of Assembly general subordinate legislation.

66. Disapplication of procedural requirements.

67. Financial initiative.

Other provisions about standing orders

68. Preservation of order.

69. Openness.

70. Accountability.

71. Integrity.

72. Publication.

Evidence and documents relating to public bodies

73. Power to require attendance and production of documents.

74. Witnesses and documents: supplementary.

Miscellaneous

75. Role of Secretary of State for Wales.

76. Defamation.

77. Contempt of court.

78. Corrupt practices.

79. Official secrets.

PART IV

ASSEMBLY FINANCE

Payments to Assembly etc.

80. Grants to Assembly.

81. Statement of estimated payments etc.

82. Loans to Assembly by Secretary of State.

83. Accounts relating to loans under section 82.

84. Destination of receipts etc.

Expenditure by Assembly etc.

85. Expenditure by Assembly.

86. Statement of proposed expenditure etc.

87. National Loans Fund lending.

88. Accounts relating to funds paid to Assembly for lending.

89. Source of sums paid by Assembly.

The Auditor General for Wales

90. Auditor General for Wales.

91. Remuneration.

92. Staff etc.

93. Expenses, fees and accounts.

94. Audit of Auditor General's accounts.

95. Access to documents by Auditor General.

96. Auditor General for Wales: miscellaneous.

Financial accountability of Assembly etc.

97. Preparation and audit of Assembly's annual accounts.

98. Accounting officers.

99. Accounts of Assembly subsidiaries etc.

100. Examinations into Assembly's use of resources.

101. Examinations by Comptroller and Auditor General.

102. Audit Committee reports.

103. Publication of accounts and audit reports etc.

Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in Wales

104. Chief Inspector's finances.

PART V

OTHER PROVISIONS ABOUT THE ASSEMBLY

Community law, human rights and international obligations

105. Observing Community law and human rights.

106. Community obligations of Assembly.

107. Power to prevent incompatible action etc.

Decisions about Assembly functions

108. Resolution of devolution issues.

109. Power to vary retrospective decisions.

Local government and the voluntary sector

110. Relations with local government.

111. Relations with voluntary organisations.

Miscellaneous

112. Publication and inspection of documents.

113. Principle of equality of opportunity.

114. English and Welsh texts of Assembly instruments.

115. Provision of information to Treasury.

116. Stamp duty.

117. Minor and consequential amendments.

PART VI

REFORM OF WELSH PUBLIC BODIES

The Welsh Development Agency

118. Extension of functions.

119. Land acquisition and disposal etc.

120. Other amendments.

The Development Board for Rural Wales

121. Cessation of functions.

122. Transfer of property, staff etc. to Welsh Development Agency.

123. Transitional provisions.

124. Winding-down.

125. Abolition etc.

The Land Authority for Wales

126. Cessation of functions.

127. Consequential amendments.

128. Transfer of property, staff etc. to Welsh Development Agency.

129. Transitional provisions.

130. Winding-down.

131. Abolition etc.

Housing for Wales

132. Transfer of functions, property, staff etc. to Secretary of State.

133. Transitional provisions.

134. Winding-down.

135. Abolition etc.

Accountability

136. Accounts, audit and reports.

137. Examinations into use of resources.

138. Transfer etc. of functions of Comptroller and Auditor General.

Miscellaneous

139. Health Authorities.

140. Agricultural wages committees.

PART VII

SUPPLEMENTARY

141. Power to amend enactments.

142. Repeals.

143. Transitional provisions etc.

144. Orders and directions.

145. Interpretation.

146. Defined expressions.

147. Financial provisions.

148. Commencement.

149. Short title.

SCHEDULES

    Schedule 1 - Assembly constituencies and Assembly electoral regions.

    Schedule 2 - Fields referred to in sections 22 and 56.

    Schedule 3 - Public bodies subject to reform by Assembly.

    Part I - Bodies which may lose or gain functions.

    Part II - Bodies which may lose functions or gain functions with consent.

    Part III - Bodies which may only gain functions.

    Part IV - Bodies which may only gain functions and only with consent.

    Schedule 4 - Bodies and offices covered by section 73.

    Schedule 5 - Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in Wales.

    Schedule 6 - Devolution issues.

    Part I - Preliminary.

    Part II - Proceedings in England and Wales.

    Part III - Proceedings in Scotland.

    Part IV - Proceedings in Northern Ireland.

    Part V - General.

    Schedule 7 - Relations with local government: supplementary.

    Schedule 8 - Minor and consequential amendments about Assembly.

    Schedule 9 - Welsh Development Agency: land provisions.

    Schedule 10 - Welsh Development Agency: other amendments.

    Part I - Amendments of Welsh Development Agency Act 1975.

    Part II - Amendments of other enactments.

    Schedule 11 - Development Board for Rural Wales.

    Schedule 12 - Housing for Wales.

    Schedule 13 - Audit etc. of Welsh public bodies.

    Part I - Bodies subject generally to audit etc. provisions.

    Part II - Bodies partially subject to audit etc. provisions.

    Part III - Bodies subject only to examinations of use of resources.

    Schedule 14 - Repeals.

    Part I - Welsh Development Agency.

    Part II - Development Board for Rural Wales.

    Part III - Land Authority for Wales.

    Part IV - Housing for Wales.

© Parliamentary copyright 1997
Prepared 27 November 1997