Historic day for National Assembly as it passes first ever Bill

The first ever National Assembly for Wales Bill has been passed by Assembly Members.

Following the “yes” vote in 2011’s referendum the Assembly received enhanced law-making powers which meant it can now pass primary laws affecting only Wales, which are to be called Acts.

In an historic debate today Members considered and voted on the detail of the Local Government Byelaws (Wales) Bill, as part of stages 3&4 of the Assembly’s legislative process.

Introduced by Carl Sargeant AM, the Minister for Local Government and Communities, the Bill aims to simplify procedures for making and enforcing local authority byelaws and introduces an alternative procedure for local authorities to follow in making a number of byelaws.

Having been passed by the National Assembly, the Bill, in due course, will receive Royal Assent. Following this, the Bill becomes an ‘Act of the Assembly’.

“This is another significant step in the history of the National Assembly for Wales’ law-making process,” said Rosemary Butler AM, Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales.

“This is the first piece of legislation to come before the National Assembly since it gained full law-making powers as a result of the ‘yes’ vote in last year’s referendum.

“It was also the first Bill to be scrutinised using the new committee structure that was introduced at the start of the Fourth Assembly.”

More information on the Local Government Byelaws (Wales) Bill can be found here.

A guide to the National Assembly for Wales’s legislative process can be found here.

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