AMs get chance to propose new laws

A ballot for Assembly Members who are not part of the government to pass laws for Wales under the Assembly’s new powers has taken place.

Nerys Evans AM will be given the chance to introduce a Measure on the end use and final destination of the recyclable materials collected by local authorities, while Huw Lewis AM will seek to obtain a Legislative Competence Order on the provision of bus and coach services.

The Government of Wales Act gives the Assembly power to make its own legislation on devolved matters such as health, education, social services, local government. These are known as Assembly Measures,

Before making Measures in relation to a particular area of devolved government, the National Assembly for Wales will need to obtain ‘legislative competence’ – the legal authority to pass Measures from the UK Parliament.

Legislative competence can be granted either in Acts of Parliament or using the new route of “Legislative Competence Orders” (LCO), and once the Assembly is granted legislative competence on a topic by the UK Parliament, it can begin the process of passing Assembly Measures.