Government of Wales Bill
[AS AMENDED ON REPORT]
Contents
Part 1
National Assembly for Wales
The Assembly
1
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
HL Bill 133
54/1
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
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
53
Remuneration
54
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 scheme
76
Regulatory impact assessments
77
Equality of opportunity
78
The Welsh language
79
Sustainable development
Community law, human rights and international obligations etc.
80
Community law
81
Human rights
82
International obligations etc.
Functions: supplementary
83
Agency arrangements and provision of services
iv
84
Different exercise of functions by Welsh Ministers etc.
85
Construction of references to Ministers and departments
86
Laying of reports and statements
Property, rights and liabilities
87
Property, rights and liabilities of Welsh Ministers etc.
88
Transfer of Ministerial property, rights and liabilities
89
Rights and liabilities of the Crown in different capacities
90
Documents
91
Validity of acts
92
Official secrets
Part 3
Assembly Measures
Power
93
94
Legislative competence
95
Legislative competence: supplementary
96
Scrutiny of proposed Orders in Council
Procedure
97
Introduction of proposed Assembly Measures
98
Proceedings on proposed Assembly Measures
99
Scrutiny of proposed Assembly Measures by Supreme Court
100
ECJ references
101
Power to intervene in certain cases
102
Approval of proposed Assembly Measures
Part 4
Acts of the Assembly
Referendum
103
Referendum about commencement of Assembly Act provisions
104
Proposal for referendum by Assembly
105
Commencement of Assembly Act provisions
106
Effect on Measures of commencement of Assembly Act provisions
107
108
109
v
110
Introduction of Bills
111
Proceedings on Bills
112
Scrutiny of Bills by Supreme Court
113
114
115
Royal Assent
116
Welsh Seal and Letters Patent
Part 5
Finance
Welsh Consolidated Fund
117
Payments into Welsh Consolidated Fund
118
Grants
119
Statement of estimated payments
120
Destination of receipts
Borrowing
121
Borrowing by Welsh Ministers
122
Lending by Secretary of State
123
Accounts relating to loans
Expenditure
124
Payments out of Welsh Consolidated Fund
125
Annual Budget motions
126
Supplementary Budget motions
127
Appropriation without Budget resolution
128
Contingencies
129
Approvals to draw
130
Payments in by mistake
Financial accountability of Welsh Ministers
131
Welsh Ministers’ accounts
132
Account relating to Welsh Consolidated Fund
133
Accounting officers for Welsh Ministers
134
Accounts of subsidiaries of Welsh Ministers
135
Examinations into Welsh Ministers’ use of resources
136
Examinations by Comptroller and Auditor General
Financial accountability of Assembly Commission
137
Assembly Commission’s accounts
138
Accounting officers for Assembly Commission
139
Accounts of subsidiaries of Assembly Commission
140
Examinations into Assembly Commission’s use of resources
vi
Whole of Government of Wales accounts
141
Whole of government accounts: Welsh Ministers
142
Functions of Auditor General
Treatment of accounts and audit reports etc.
143
Audit Committee reports
144
Publication of accounts and audit reports etc.
Auditor General for Wales
145
Auditor General
Part 6
Miscellaneous and supplementary
Welsh public records
146
Status of Welsh public records
147
Transfer of responsibility
148
Meaning of “Welsh public records”
Miscellaneous
149
Resolution of devolution issues
150
Power to make consequential provision
151
Power to remedy ultra vires acts
152
Intervention in case of functions relating to water etc.
153
Power to vary retrospective decisions
154
Interpretation of legislation
155
Functions exercisable in relation to Wales
156
English and Welsh texts of legislation
157
Orders and directions
158
Interpretation
159
Index of defined expressions
160
Minor and consequential amendments
161
Commencement
162
Transitional etc. provision
163
Repeals and revocations
164
Financial provision
165
Extent
166
Short title
Schedule 1 —
Alteration of Assembly electoral regions
Schedule 2 —
Schedule 3 —
Transfer etc. of functions: further provisions
vii
Part 1 —
Functions transferable etc.
Part 2 —
Exercise of transferred functions
Part 3 —
Schedule 4 —
Transfers of ministerial property, rights and liabilities
Schedule 5 —
Matters
General restrictions
Exceptions from Part 2
Schedule 6 —
Referendums on commencement of Assembly Act provisions
Schedule 7 —
Subjects
Schedule 8 —
Schedule 9 —
Devolution issues
Preliminary
Proceedings in England and Wales
Proceedings in Scotland
Part 4 —
Proceedings in Northern Ireland
Part 5 —
Schedule 10 —
Schedule 11 —
Transitional provisions
Schedule 12 —