Public encouraged to get involved in making laws for Wales

1 July 2011

Members of the public are being encouraged to engage with Assembly Members after an announcement that the first ballot - the system through which non-Government Assembly Members can propose Welsh laws - of the new Assembly will take place in the autumn.

Assembly Members wishing to propose legislation will now have the summer to consult the public and draft policy proposals.

In the last Assembly the ballot enabled a number of non-Government proposed laws to be passed, including Jenny Randerson AM’s Healthy Eating in Schools Measure, Dai Lloyd AM’s Playing Fields Measure and, most recently, Ann Jones AM’s Domestic Fire Safety Measure.

Presiding Officer, Rosemary Butler AM, said: “This will be the first ballot held during the Fourth Assembly and it offers Assembly Members the opportunity to make use of the Assembly’s extended legislative powers.

“Assembly Members can now begin exploring proposals for legislation and consulting people to enable them to develop robust proposals which will be put into the ballot and drawn in the autumn term.

“Laws passed in the Assembly affect people across Wales so it’s vital that the public takes this opportunity to inform the law-making process by engaging with their Assembly Members, sharing issues of importance and helping to shape legislation for Wales.”

• In order to be eligible for the ballot, the Member must provide specific pre-ballot information including the proposed title of the Member’s Bill and an Explanatory Memorandum setting out the policy objectives of the Bill and details of any support received for it.

• The Assembly’s Standing Orders require the Presiding Officer to hold a ballot for Member Bills ‘from time to time’.

• More information on the legislative process can be found here.