Extra “White Paper” stage of scrutiny needed to improve Welsh legislative process – says National Assembly report

3 February 2011

A Cross-Party committee of Assembly Members has called for an additional layer of scrutiny in order to improve the standard of legislation going through the National Assembly for Wales.

The Constitutional Affairs Committee wants to see the Welsh Government publish papers setting out policy proposal in detail in advance of publishing a proposed Measure, similar to the White Paper stage at Westminster.

It is one of the main recommendations of the Committee after a six-month long inquiry into the way in which the Welsh Government drafts Assembly Measures.

“Despite there being relatively little experience of drafting such legislation, we have heard no fundamental concerns that the drafting of the new Welsh laws is suspect, inferior or unclear,” said Committee Chair, Janet Ryder AM.

“That is not to say we have no concerns and that the Measures passed so far are above criticism. Far from it. Some Measures, particularly the early ones, were too skeletal in nature with far too much detail being left to subordinate legislation.

“That’s why we recommend that before any new laws are proposed in future, the Government sets out very clearly in a White Paper why the new law is needed and why the policy it seeks to achieve cannot be achieved through other action.”