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Government of Wales Bill


 

Government of Wales Bill

 
 

EXPLANATORY NOTES

Explanatory notes to the Bill, prepared by the Wales Office, are published separately

as Bill 100—EN.

EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Mr Secretary Hain has made the following statement under section 19(1)(a) of the

Human Rights Act 1998:

In my view the provisions of the Government of Wales Bill are compatible with the

Convention rights.

 

Bill 100                                                                                                

54/1

 

 

 

Government of Wales Bill

 

Contents

Part 1

National Assembly for Wales

The Assembly

1   

The Assembly

2   

Assembly constituencies and electoral regions

General elections

3   

Ordinary general elections

4   

Power to vary date of ordinary general election

5   

Extraordinary general elections

6   

Voting at general elections

7   

Candidates at general elections

8   

Calculation of electoral region figures

9   

Allocation of seats to electoral region members

Vacancies

10   

Constituency vacancies

11   

Electoral region vacancies

Franchise and conduct of elections

12   

Entitlement to vote

13   

Power to make provision about elections etc.

Duration of membership

14   

Term of office of Assembly members

15   

Resignation of members

Disqualification

16   

Disqualification from being Assembly member

17   

Exceptions and relief from disqualification

 

Bill 100                                                                                                

54/1

 
 

Government of Wales Bill

ii

 

18   

Effect of disqualification

19   

Judicial proceedings as to disqualification

Remuneration, oaths etc.

20   

Remuneration of Assembly members

21   

Limit on salaries of Assembly members

22   

Remuneration: supplementary

23   

Oath or affirmation of allegiance

24   

Assistance to groups of Assembly members

Presiding Officer and administration

25   

Presiding Officer etc.

26   

Clerk of Assembly

27   

Assembly Commission

Committees

28   

Committees and sub-committees

29   

Composition of committees

30   

Audit Committee

Proceedings etc.

31   

Standing orders

32   

Participation by UK Ministers etc.

33   

Consultation about UK Government’s legislative programme

34   

Participation by Counsel General

35   

Equality of treatment

36   

Integrity

Witnesses and documents

37   

Power to call

38   

Notice

39   

Offences

40   

General

Legal issues

41   

Proceedings by or against Assembly etc.

42   

Defamation

43   

Contempt of court

44   

Corrupt practices

Part 2

Welsh Assembly Government

Government

45   

Welsh Assembly Government

 
 

Government of Wales Bill

iii

 

Ministers, staff etc.

46   

The First Minister

47   

Choice of First Minister

48   

Welsh Ministers

49   

Counsel General

50   

Deputy Welsh Ministers

51   

Limit on number of Ministers

52   

Staff

Remuneration, oaths etc.

53   

Remuneration

54   

Remuneration: supplementary

55   

Oath or affirmation

Functions

56   

Introduction

57   

Exercise of functions

58   

Transfer of Ministerial functions

59   

Implementation of Community law

60   

Promotion etc. of well-being

61   

Support of culture etc.

62   

Representations about matters affecting Wales

63   

Consultation about cross-border bodies

64   

Polls for ascertaining views of the public

65   

Private Bills

66   

Provision of information to Treasury

67   

Legal proceedings

68   

Contracts

69   

Charges for documents

70   

Financial assistance

71   

Supplementary

"Inclusive" approach to exercise of functions

72   

Partnership Council

73   

Local government scheme

74   

Voluntary sector scheme

75   

Business organisations

76   

Regulatory impact assessments

77   

Equality of opportunity

78   

Sustainable development

Community law, human rights and international obligations

79   

Community law

80   

Human rights

81   

International obligations etc.

Functions: supplementary

82   

Agency arrangements and provision of services

83   

Different exercise of functions by Welsh Ministers etc.

 
 

Government of Wales Bill

iv

 

84   

Construction of references to Ministers and departments

85   

Laying of reports and statements

Property, rights and liabilities

86   

Property, rights and liabilities of Welsh Ministers etc.

87   

Transfer of Ministerial property, rights and liabilities

Supplementary

88   

Rights and liabilities of the Crown in different capacities

89   

Documents

90   

Validity of acts

91   

Official secrets

Part 3

Assembly Measures

Power

92   

Assembly Measures

93   

Legislative competence

94   

Amendment of Schedule 5

95   

Scrutiny of proposed Orders in Council by Supreme Court

Procedure

96   

Introduction of proposed Assembly Measures

97   

Proceedings on proposed Assembly Measures

98   

Scrutiny of proposed Assembly Measures by Supreme Court

99   

ECJ references

100   

Power to intervene in certain cases

101   

Approval of proposed Assembly Measures

Part 4

Acts of the Assembly

Referendum

102   

Referendum about commencement of Assembly Act provisions

103   

Proposal for referendum by Assembly

104   

Commencement of Assembly Act provisions

105   

Effect on Measures of commencement of Assembly Act provisions

Power

106   

Acts of the Assembly

107   

Legislative competence

108   

Legislative competence: supplementary

 
 

Government of Wales Bill

v

 

Procedure

109   

Introduction of Bills

110   

Proceedings on Bills

111   

Scrutiny of Bills by Supreme Court

112   

ECJ references

113   

Power to intervene in certain cases

114   

Royal Assent

115   

Welsh Seal and Letters Patent

Part 5

Finance

Welsh Consolidated Fund

116   

Welsh Consolidated Fund

Payments into Welsh Consolidated Fund

117   

Grants

118   

Statement of estimated payments

119   

Destination of receipts

Borrowing

120   

Borrowing by Welsh Ministers

121   

Lending by Secretary of State

122   

Accounts relating to loans

Expenditure

123   

Payments out of Welsh Consolidated Fund

124   

Annual Budget motions

125   

Supplementary Budget motions

126   

Appropriation without Budget resolution

127   

Contingencies

128   

Approvals to draw

129   

Payments in by mistake

Financial accountability of Welsh Assembly Ministers

130   

Welsh Ministers’ accounts

131   

Account relating to Welsh Consolidated Fund

132   

Accounting officers for Welsh Ministers

133   

Accounts of subsidiaries of Welsh Ministers

134   

Examinations into Welsh Ministers’ use of resources

135   

Examinations by Comptroller and Auditor General

Financial accountability of Assembly Commission

136   

Assembly Commission’s accounts

137   

Accounting officers for Assembly Commission

138   

Accounts of subsidiaries of Assembly Commission

139   

Examinations into Assembly Commission’s use of resources

 
 

 
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Revised 8 December 2005