Historic new law passed by Assembly
History has been made at the National Assembly for Wales today (Tuesday May 6th) with the passing of the first ever Assembly Measure, the NHS Redress (Wales) Measure 2007. The Measure will make it easier and quicker for patients to claim compensation when treatment provided by the NHS in Wales has been negligent.
This is the first ever piece of primary legislation made by the National Assembly, the first Welsh law to be passed since Hywel Dda (Hywel the Good) passed laws in the tenth century and the first bilingual law ever to be passed in Britain.
The Measure will now be submitted to HM The Queen for approval by Her Majesty in Council. Once Royal Approval is received the Measure will become law in Wales.
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas AM, The Assembly’s Presiding Officer said: “I am proud to have chaired the first ever final stage debate on a proposed Assembly Measure and to have overseen the passing of the first law to be made in Wales since the days of Hywel Dda. That this has happened within a year of the Government of Wales Act becoming law is a tribute to the Assembly and Welsh Ministers and to the UK Parliament – all have shown themselves willing and able to rise to the task of making the new legislative process work.
“I am pleased with the way we have risen to the challenges of the new law-making Constitution of Wales since last May. We have seen the introduction of Measures, and a series of Proposed Legislative Orders, to obtain powers, by Welsh Ministers and by individual AMs.”
Notes to editors: The 2006 Government of Wales Act gave the Assembly the power to make laws, known as Measures, in areas where it has devolved power. Measures can be proposed by the Welsh Government, individual AMs or Committees. The NHS Redress Measure was proposed by the Government. There is a four-stage process for the consideration of a proposed Measure:
Stage 1 – consideration and agreement of the general principles of the Measure;
Stage 2 – detailed consideration of the Measure and any amendments tabled by a committee of Assembly Members;
Stage 3 – detailed consideration in plenary of the Measure and any selected amendments;
Stage 4 – passing the final text of the Measure.
In the case of the NHS Redress Measure, stages 3 and 4 are took place together.