Government of Wales Act 2006

The Senedd established by Part 1 and the Welsh Government established by Part 2 are a permanent part of the United Kingdom's constitutional arrangements.

The purpose of this section is, with due regard to the other provisions of this Act, to signify the commitment of the Parliament and Government of the United Kingdom to the Senedd and the Welsh Government.

In view of that commitment it is declared that the Senedd and the Welsh Government are not to be abolished except on the basis of a decision of the people of Wales voting in a referendum.

The law that applies in Wales includes a body of Welsh law made by the Senedd and the Welsh Ministers.

The purpose of this section is, with due regard to the other provisions of this Act, to recognise the ability of the Senedd and the Welsh Ministers to make law forming part of the law of England and Wales.

There is to be a parliament for Wales to be known as Senedd Cymru or the Welsh Parliament (referred to in this Act as “the Senedd.

There are— (a) 16 Senedd constituencies, and (b) six seats for each constituency, and the Senedd is to consist of the members for those constituencies.

Members of the Senedd are to be known by that name or as Aelodau o'r Senedd.

Members of the Senedd are to be returned in accordance with the provision made by and under this Act for— (a) the holding of general elections of Members of the Senedd (for the return of the entire Senedd), and (b) the filling of vacancies in Senedd seats.

The validity of any Senedd proceedings is not affected by any vacancy in its membership.

In this Act “ Senedd proceedings” means any proceedings of— (a) the Senedd, (b) committees of the Senedd, or (c) sub-committees of such committees.

The Senedd constituencies are the constituencies specified in regulations under section 49J of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru etc. Act 2013 (anaw 4).

Until the first set of regulations made under‍‍ that section takes effect, the reference in subsection (1) above to regulations under that section is to be read as a reference to regulations under paragraph 9 of Schedule 2 to the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024 (asc 4).

The poll at an ordinary general election is to be held on the first Thursday in May in the fourth calendar year following that in which the previous ordinary general election was held, unless— (a) subsection (1A) prevents the poll being held on that day, or (b) the day of the poll is determined by a proclamation under section 4.

The poll is not to be held on the same date as the date of the poll at— (a) a parliamentary general election ..., ... (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Where subsection (1A) prevents the poll being held on the day specified in subsection (1), the poll is to be held on such day, subject to subsection (1A), as the Welsh Ministers may by order specify unless the day of the poll is determined by a proclamation under section 4(2) as modified by section 4(2A).

If the poll is to be held on the first Thursday in May or on the day specified by an order under subsection (1B) , the Senedd — (a) is dissolved by virtue of this section at the beginning of the minimum period which ends with that day, and (b) must meet within the period of fourteen days beginning immediately after the day of the poll.

In subsection (2) “the minimum period” means the period determined in accordance with an order under section 13.

In calculating any period of days for the purposes of subsection (2)(b), the following days are to be disregarded— (a) Saturday and Sunday, (b) any day which is a bank holiday in Wales under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 (c. 80), and (c) any day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning.

No order is to be made under subsection (1B) unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing it has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the Senedd.

Subject to section 3(1A), the Presiding Officer may propose, for the holding of the poll at an ordinary general election, a day which is not more than one month earlier, nor more than one month later, than the first Thursday in May.

If the Presiding Officer proposes a day under subsection (1), Her Majesty may by proclamation under the Welsh Seal— (a) dissolve the Senedd, (b) require the poll at the election to be held on the day proposed, and (c) require the Senedd to meet within the period of fourteen days beginning immediately after the day of the poll.

Where a day is specified by an order under section 3(1B), subsection (1) applies as if the reference to the first Thursday in May were a reference to that day.

In calculating any period of days for the purposes of provision made by virtue of subsection (2)(c), the following days are to be disregarded— (a) Saturday and Sunday, (b) Good Friday, (c) any day which is a bank holiday in Wales under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 (c. 80), and (d) any day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning.

The Welsh Ministers may by order make provision for— (a) any provision of, or made under, the Representation of the People Acts, or (b) any other enactment relating to the election of Members of the Senedd , to have effect with such modifications or exceptions as the Welsh Ministers consider appropriate in connection with the alteration of the day of the poll under this section .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A statutory instrument containing an order under this section is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the Senedd.

The Presiding Officer must propose a day for the holding of a poll at an extraordinary general election if subsection (2) or (3) applies.

This subsection applies if— (a) the Senedd resolves that it should be dissolved, and (b) the resolution of the Senedd is passed on a vote in which the number of Members of the Senedd voting in favour of it is not less than two-thirds of the total number of Senedd seats.

This subsection applies if any period during which the Senedd is required under section 47 to nominate a Member of the Senedd for appointment as the First Minister ends without such a nomination being made.

If the Presiding Officer proposes a day under subsection (1), Her Majesty may by proclamation under the Welsh Seal— (a) dissolve the Senedd and require an extraordinary general election to be held, (b) require the poll at the election to be held on the day proposed, and (c) require the Senedd to meet within the period of fourteen days beginning immediately after the day of the poll.

If a poll is held under this section within the period of six months ending with the day on which the poll at the next ordinary general election would be held (disregarding section 4), that ordinary general election is not to be held.

But subsection (5) does not affect the year in which the subsequent ordinary general election is to be held.

In calculating any period of days for the purposes of subsection (4)(c), the following days are to be disregarded— (a) Saturday and Sunday, (b) Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Good Friday, (c) any day which is a bank holiday in Wales under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 (c. 80), and (d) any day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning.

Each person entitled to vote at a general election in a Senedd constituency may give a vote for— (a) a registered political party that has submitted a list of candidates to be Members of the Senedd for the constituency, or (b) an individual who is a candidate (“an individual candidate”) to be a Member of the Senedd for the constituency.

An order under section 13 must provide for the ballot paper used at a general election in a Senedd constituency to include the names of the candidates who stand nominated to be Members of the Senedd for the constituency.

In this Act “registered political party” means a party registered under Part 2 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (c. ‍41).

A registered political party may submit a list of candidates to be Members of the Senedd for a particular Senedd constituency at a general election.

The list must be submitted to the constituency returning officer.

The list must not include more than eight people (but may include only one).

The list must not include a person— (a) who is included on another list submitted under this section (whether for the constituency or another constituency); (b) who is an individual candidate to be a Member of the Senedd (whether for the constituency or another constituency).

A person may not be an individual candidate to be a Member of the Senedd for a constituency if that person is— (a) included on a list submitted under this section (whether for the constituency or another constituency); (b) an individual candidate to be a Member of the Senedd for another constituency.

In this Act “constituency returning officer”, in relation to a Senedd constituency, means the person designated as the returning officer for the constituency in accordance with an order under section 13 (power of the Welsh Ministers to make provision about elections etc.).

This section and section 9 are about the allocation, to registered political parties or individual candidates, of the seats for a Senedd constituency at a general election.

For each registered political party by which a list of candidates has been submitted under section 7 (candidates at general elections) for the constituency— (a) the votes given in the constituency for the party are to be added up, and (b) the number arrived at under paragraph (a) is to be divided by the seat allocation divisor.

On the first calculation for a party under subsection (2)(b), the seat allocation divisor for the party is one (section 9 makes provision about recalculations under that subsection with an increased divisor).

For each individual candidate to be a Member of the Senedd for the constituency, the votes given in the constituency for the candidate are to be added up.

The number arrived at— (a) in the case of a registered political party, under subsection (2)(b), or (b) in the case of an individual candidate, under subsection (4), is referred to in section 9 as the “seat allocation figure” for that party or individual candidate.

The first seat for a Senedd constituency is to be allocated to the registered political party or individual candidate with the highest seat allocation figure.

The second and subsequent seats for the constituency are to be allocated to the party or individual candidate with the highest seat allocation figure after any recalculation required by subsection (3) has been carried out.

This subsection requires a recalculation of the seat allocation figure for a registered political party— (a) for the first application of subsection (2), if the application of subsection (1) resulted in the allocation to the party of a seat for the constituency, or (b) for any subsequent application of subsection (2), if the previous application of that subsection resulted in the allocation to the party of a seat for the constituency, and each recalculation is to be carried out under section 8(2)(b) after adding one to the previous seat allocation divisor for that party.

An individual candidate already allocated a seat as a Member of the Senedd for the constituency is to be disregarded when applying subsection (2).

Seats for the constituency that are allocated to a party are to be filled by the candidates on the party’s list in the order in which they appear on the list.

Once a party’s list has been exhausted (by the application of subsection (1) or (2)), the party is to be disregarded when applying subsection (2).

If, on the application of subsection (1) or on an application of subsection (2), the highest seat allocation figure is the seat allocation figure for two or more parties or individual candidates (referred to in subsection (8) as the “tied seat allocation figure”), subsection (1) or (2) (as the case may be) applies to each of them.

But if subsection (7) would mean that more than the full number of seats for the constituency were allocated, subsection (1) or (2) is not to be applied until— (a) a recalculation of the seat allocation figure for any party with the tied seat allocation figure has been carried out under section 8(2)(b) after adding one to the number arrived at under section 8(2)(a), and (b) one has been added to the number arrived at under section 8(4) for any individual candidate with the tied seat allocation figure.

If, after that, the highest seat allocation figure is still the seat allocation figure for two or more parties or individual candidates (so it is still the case that more than the full number of seats for the constituency would be allocated), the constituency returning officer must decide between them by lots.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

This section makes provision about what is to happen if the seat of a Member of the Senedd becomes vacant.

If the Member was an individual candidate when returned as a Member of the Senedd, the seat remains vacant until the next general election.

If the Member was returned as a Member of the Senedd from a list submitted under section 7 by a registered political party, the constituency returning officer must notify to the Presiding Officer the name of the person (if any) who is to fill the vacancy.

A person’s name may be notified under subsection (3) only if the person— (a) is included on the list mentioned in subsection (3), (b) is willing to serve as a Member of the Senedd, and (c) is not a person to whom subsection (5) applies.

This subsection applies to a person if— (a) the person is not a member of the registered political party that submitted the list, and (b) the party gives notice to the constituency returning officer that the person’s name is not to be notified to the Presiding Officer as the name of the person who is to fill the vacancy.

But if there is more than one person who satisfies the conditions in subsection (4), the constituency returning officer may only notify the name of whichever of them was the higher, or the highest, on the list.

If there is no-one who satisfies the conditions in subsection (4), the seat remains vacant until the next general election.

A person whose name is notified under subsection (3) is to be treated as having been declared to be returned as a Member of the Senedd on the day on which notification of the person’s name is received by the Presiding Officer.

For the purposes of this section, a person included on the list mentioned in subsection (3)— (a) who was returned as a Member of the Senedd at the election for which the list was submitted (even if the return was void), or (b) who was subsequently returned as a Member of the Senedd under this section (even if the return was void), is treated on and after their return as not having been included on the list.

The persons entitled to vote at an election of Members of the Senedd ... in a Senedd constituency are those who on the day of the poll— (a) would be entitled to vote as electors at a local government election in an electoral area wholly or partly included in the Senedd constituency ..., and (b) are registered in the register of local government electors at an address within the Senedd constituency.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

But a person is not entitled as an elector— (a) to cast more than one vote in the same Senedd constituency at any general election, or (b) to vote in more than one Senedd constituency at any general election, ... (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Welsh Ministers may by order make provision that would be within the legislative competence of the Senedd, if included in an Act of the Senedd, as to— (a) the conduct of elections of Members of the Senedd, (b) the questioning of an election of Members of the Senedd and the consequences of irregularities, and (c) the return of a Member of the Senedd otherwise than at an election.

The provision that may be made under subsection (1)(a) includes, in particular, provision— (a) about the registration of electors, (b) for disregarding alterations in a register of electors, (c) about the limitation of the election expenses of candidates ..., (d) for the combination of polls, (e) ... and (f) for modifying section 9(7) to ensure the allocation of the correct number of seats for the constituency.

The Welsh Ministers must make provision, of the kind that may be made under subsection (1)(a), prohibiting the making or publishing of false or misleading statements of fact before or during an election for the purpose of affecting the return of any candidate.

The provision required by subsection (2A) may include, in particular, provision— (a) about what is or is not a statement of fact; (b) prohibiting false statements only or both false and misleading statements; (c) specifying the period in which any prohibition has effect; (d) prohibiting false or misleading statements of fact relating to matters specified in the order or matters generally; (e) prohibiting false or misleading statements of fact made or published by persons or categories of person specified in the order or any person; (f) prohibiting the making or publishing of false or misleading statements knowingly or recklessly; (g) specifying exemptions or exceptions to any prohibition.

The provision that may be made under subsection (1)(c) includes, in particular, provision modifying section 11(4) to (6).

An order under this section may— (a) apply or incorporate, with or without modifications or exceptions, any provision of or made under the election enactments, and (b) so far as may be necessary in consequence of any provision made by an order under this section, make modifications of any provision made by or under any enactment relating to the registration of parliamentary electors or local government electors.

For the avoidance of doubt, an order under this section may— (a) confer a power or duty on any person (including a power or duty to make subordinate legislation); (b) create criminal offences.

In subsection (4)(a) “"the election enactments”” means— (a) the Representation of the People Acts, (b) the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, (c) ... and (d) any other enactments relating to parliamentary elections ... or local government elections.

No return of a Member of the Senedd at an election may be questioned except by an election petition under the provisions of Part 3 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 as applied or incorporated in an order under this section.

No order is to be made under this section unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing it has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the Senedd.

The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision for— (a) the combination of polls at ordinary general elections of Members of the Senedd with polls at parliamentary by-elections, and (b) the combination of polls at extraordinary general elections of Members of the Senedd ... with polls at parliamentary by-elections or parliamentary general elections.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Secretary of State may not make regulations under this section without the agreement of the Welsh Ministers.

Regulations under this section may— (a) apply or incorporate, with or without modifications or exceptions, any provision made by or under the election enactments, and (b) modify any form contained in, or in regulations or rules made under, the Representation of the People Acts so far as may be necessary to enable it to be used both for the original purpose and in relation to elections of Members of the Senedd.

In subsection (5)(a) “"the election enactments”” has the meaning given by section 13(5).

No regulations are to be made under this section unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing them has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.

A Minister of the Crown or the Welsh Ministers may by regulations make provision about the use of the UK digital service in relation to absent voting applications.

The provision that may be made under subsection (1) includes, in particular, provision— (a) conferring functions on a Minister of the Crown to enable absent voting applications to be submitted through the UK digital service; (b) where such applications are, or are to be, so submitted— (i) authorising a Minister of the Crown, in prescribed circumstances, to complete applications in part for people; (ii) about how any requirement for an applicant to provide a signature in connection with an application may be satisfied; (c) about the disclosure of prescribed information or evidence through the UK digital service; (d) about the disclosure of prescribed information or evidence in connection with an absent voting application in relation to which the UK digital service is, or is to be, used.

Subject to subsection (4), the disclosure or other processing of information in accordance with provision made under this section does not breach— (a) any obligation of confidence owed by the person processing the information; (b) any other restriction on the processing of information (however imposed).

Provision made under this section does not require or authorise the disclosure or other processing of personal data that would contravene the data protection legislation (but in determining whether particular processing of data would do so, take into account the duty imposed or the powers conferred by such provision).

The Welsh Ministers may not make regulations under this section without the agreement of a Minister of the Crown.

No regulations may be made under this section by a Minister of the Crown unless a draft of a statutory instrument containing them has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.

No regulations may be made under this section by the Welsh Ministers unless a draft of a statutory instrument containing them has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the Senedd.

In this section— “absent voting application” means an application (including a partially completed application) to vote by post or proxy at an election for membership of the Senedd, or at elections for membership of the Senedd, in accordance with an order under section 13; “the data protection legislation” has the same meaning as in the Data Protection Act 2018 (see section 3(9) of that Act); “personal data” and “processing” have the same meaning as in the Data Protection Act 2018 (see section 3(2) and (4) of that Act); “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made under this section; “the UK digital service” means a digital service provided by a Minister of the Crown for the registration of electors, and a reference to an absent voting application submitted through the UK digital service is a reference to such an application submitted using that service as an intermediary.

The term of office of a Member of the Senedd — (a) begins when the Member of the Senedd is declared to be returned, and (b) ends with the dissolution of the Senedd.

A Member of the Senedd may at any time resign by giving notice in writing to the Presiding Officer.

A person is disqualified from being a Member of the Senedd, and from being a candidate to be a Member of the Senedd, if that person— (a) falls within any of the categories of person specified in Part 1 of Schedule 1A, or (b) holds any of the offices specified in the Table in Part 2 of Schedule 1A.

A person is disqualified from being a Member of the Senedd (but not from being a candidate to be a Member of the Senedd) if that person— (za) is a member of the House of Commons (but see sections 17A ...), (zb) is a member of the House of Lords (but see section 17C), (zc) is a member of the council of a county, a county borough or a community in Wales (but see section 17D), (zd) is a member of the Scottish Parliament, (ze) is a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, (zf) is a member of the European Parliament, or (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (b) holds any of the offices for the time being designated by Order in Council as offices disqualifying persons from being Members of the Senedd, (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A person returned at an election as a Member of the Senedd is not disqualified under subsection (1)(zd), (ze), (zf) or (b) at any time before the person purports to take the oath of allegiance (or make the corresponding affirmation) in compliance with section 23(1) or 55(2).

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

An Order in Council under paragraph (b) of subsection (1)— (a) may designate particular offices or offices of any description, and (b) may designate an office by reference to any characteristic of a person holding it, and for the purposes of this section “office” includes any post or employment.

No recommendation is to be made to Her Majesty in Council to make an Order in Council under subsection (1)(b) unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing the Order in Council has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the Senedd.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Senedd may resolve that the disqualification of any person who was, or is alleged to have been, disqualified from being a Member of the Senedd on a ground within section 16(1) ... is to be disregarded if it appears to the Senedd — (a) that the ground has been removed, and (b) that it is proper so to resolve.

A resolution under subsection (3) does not— (a) affect any proceedings under Part 3 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2) as applied by or incorporated in an order under section 13, or (b) enable the Senedd to disregard any disqualification which has been established in such proceedings or in proceedings under section 19.

A person returned at an election as a Member of the Senedd is not disqualified under section 16(1)(za) (disqualification by virtue of being an MP) at any time in the period of 8 days beginning with the day the person is so returned.

Subsection (3) applies where a person— (a) is returned at an election as a Member of the Senedd, (b) on being so returned is a candidate for election to the House of Commons, and (c) is subsequently returned at that election as a member of that House.

The person is not disqualified under section 16(1)(za) at any time in the period of 8 days beginning with the day the person is returned as a member of the House of Commons.

A person is a “candidate for election to the House of Commons” if the person's nomination paper for election as a member of the House of Commons has been delivered to the returning officer under rule 6 of Schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983 (parliamentary election rules).

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A person returned at an election as a Member of the Senedd is not disqualified under section 16(1)(zb) (disqualification by virtue of being a member of the House of Lords) at any time in the period of eight days beginning with the day the person is so returned.

A Member of the Senedd who becomes a member of the House of Lords is not disqualified under section 16(1)(zb) at any time before the end of the period of eight days beginning with the day the person makes and subscribes the oath required by the Parliamentary Oaths Act 1866 (c. 19) (or the corresponding affirmation).

A person is not disqualified from being a Member of the Senedd under section 16(1)(zb) at any time when the person— (a) has leave of absence from the House of Lords, or (b) has made an application for leave of absence which has not been withdrawn or refused.

A person who is on leave of absence from the House of Lords immediately before Parliament is dissolved is not disqualified from being a Member of the Senedd under section 16(1)(zb) at any time in the period— (a) beginning with the dissolution of the old Parliament, and (b) ending at the end of the period of eight days beginning with the day of the first meeting of the new Parliament.

A person returned at an election as a Member of the Senedd is not disqualified under section 16(1)(zc) (disqualification by virtue of being a member of the council of a county or county borough or community council in Wales) at any time before the person purports to take the oath of allegiance (or make the corresponding affirmation) in compliance with section 23(1) or 55(2).

A Member of the Senedd who is returned at an election as a member of the council of a county or county borough or community council in Wales is not disqualified under section 16(1)(zc) at any time before the person makes a declaration of acceptance of office under section 83 of the Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70).

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

If a person who is disqualified from being a candidate to be a Member of the Senedd (see section 16(A1)) is nominated as a candidate at a general election of Members of the Senedd ..., the person's nomination is void.

If a person who is disqualified from being a Member of the Senedd is returned as a Member of the Senedd, the person's return is void and the person's seat is vacant.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

If a person who is a Member of the Senedd becomes disqualified— (a) from being a Member of the Senedd, ... (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . the person ceases to be a Member of the Senedd (so that the person's seat is vacant).

Subsections (1) to (3) have effect subject to any resolution of the Senedd under section 17(3).

In addition, subsection (3) has effect subject to— (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (aa) section 31 of the Elections Act 2022 (disqualification of offenders for holding elective office etc); (b) section 427 of the Insolvency Act 1986 (c. 45) (bankruptcy etc.).

If, in consequence of either of the provisions mentioned in subsection (5), the seat of a person who is disqualified from being a Member of the Senedd is not vacant, the person does not cease to be a Member of the Senedd until the person's seat becomes vacant.

But for any period for which the person is disqualified but the person's seat is not vacant— (a) the person must not participate in any Senedd proceedings, and (b) any of the person's other rights and privileges as a Member of the Senedd may be withdrawn by the Senedd.

The validity of any Senedd proceedings is not affected by the disqualification of any person— (a) from being a Member of the Senedd, ... (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any person who claims that a person purporting to be a Member of the Senedd is, or at any time since being returned as a Member of the Senedd has been, disqualified from being— (a) a Member of the Senedd , ... (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . may apply to the High Court for a declaration to that effect.

An application under subsection (1) in respect of any person may be made whether the grounds on which it is made are alleged to have subsisted at the time when the person was returned or to have arisen subsequently.

No declaration may be made under this section in respect of any person— (a) on grounds which subsisted when the person was returned, if an election petition is pending or has been tried in which the person's disqualification on those grounds is or was in issue, or (b) on any ground, if a resolution of the Senedd under section 17(3) requires that any disqualification incurred by the person on that ground is to be disregarded.

On an application under this section— (a) the person in respect of whom the application is made is to be the respondent, and (b) the applicant must give such security for the costs of the proceedings as the court may direct.

The amount of the security may not exceed £5,000 or such other sum as the Welsh Ministers may specify by order.

The decision of the court on an application under this section is final.

A statutory instrument containing an order under subsection (5) is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the Senedd.

Provision must be made for the payment of salaries to Members of the Senedd.

Provision may be made for the payment of allowances to Members of the Senedd.

Provision may be made for the payment of pensions, gratuities or allowances to, or in respect of, any person who— (a) has ceased to be a Member of the Senedd, or (b) has ceased to hold office as the Presiding Officer or a Deputy Presiding Officer, or such other office in connection with the Senedd as the Senedd may determine, but continues to be a Member of the Senedd.

Such provision may, in particular, include provision for— (a) contributions or payments towards provision for such pensions, gratuities or allowances, and (b) the establishment and administration (whether by the Senedd Commission or otherwise) of one or more pension schemes.

Sums required for the making of payments by virtue of provision under subsection (1) or (3) to or in respect of a person who holds or has held the office of Presiding Officer or Deputy Presiding Officer are to be charged on the Welsh Consolidated Fund.

Provision under this section is to be made by determination made by the Board.

The Senedd Commission must give effect to any determination made by the Board under this section.

In this section (and in sections 22, 24, 53 and 54) “the Board” means the Independent Remuneration Board of the Senedd established by section 1 of the National Senedd for Wales (Remuneration) Measure 2010 (nawm 4 —).

The Senedd must make provision to ensure that the amount of the salary payable to a Member of the Senedd in accordance with section 20 is reduced if a salary is payable to the Member of the Senedd — (za) under section 4 of the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009 (salaries of members of the House of Commons), or (a) pursuant to a resolution (or combination of resolutions) of the House of Lords relating to the remuneration of members of that House, ... (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The provision made must ensure that the amount of salary is reduced— (a) to a particular proportion of what it otherwise would be or to a particular amount, or (b) by the amount of any salary payable to the Member of the Senedd as mentioned in subsection (1)(za) or (a), by a particular proportion of that amount or by some other particular amount.

Provision may be made under this section by— (a) the standing orders, or (b) resolutions of the Senedd, and may include provision conferring functions on the Senedd Commission.

Different provision may be made under section 20 or 21 for different cases.

The Senedd Commission must ensure that information concerning— (a) the amounts paid to each Member of the Senedd as salary and allowances, and (b) the total amount paid to Members of the Senedd as salaries and allowances, is published for each financial year . . . .

The Senedd Commission must lay before the Senedd every determination made by the Board under section 20(6) as soon as is reasonably practicable after it is made.

For the purposes of sections 20 and 21 a person who— (a) ceases to be a Member of the Senedd when the Senedd is dissolved, but (b) is nominated as a candidate at the subsequent general election, is to be treated as a Member of the Senedd until the end of the day on which the poll at the election is held.

Where a person— (a) ceases to be a Member of the Senedd when the Senedd is dissolved, but (b) continues to hold office as Presiding Officer or as a member of the Senedd Commission by virtue of paragraph 1(1) or (2) of Schedule 2, the fact that the person is no longer a Member of the Senedd does not affect any entitlement under sections 20 and 21 in respect of the holding of office as Presiding Officer or as a member of the Senedd Commission (or both) until the end of the day on which the person ceases to hold it.

Provision made under section 20(3) does not affect pensions or allowances in payment before the provision was made.

A Member of the Senedd must take the oath of allegiance in the form set out in section 2 of the Promissory Oaths Act 1868 (c. 72) (or make the corresponding affirmation) as soon as is reasonably practicable after being returned as a Member of the Senedd (whether for the first time or subsequently).

The standing orders must specify the person before whom the oath is to be taken (or the affirmation made).

Subsection (1) does not require a Member of the Senedd to take the oath of allegiance (or make the corresponding affirmation) again if it has been taken (or made) by the Member of the Senedd in compliance with section 55(2) since being returned (or last returned).

Until a Member of the Senedd has taken the oath (or made the affirmation) the Member of the Senedd must not do anything as a Member of the Senedd, other than— (a) take part in proceedings of the Senedd at which Members of the Senedd take the oath or make the affirmation, or (b) take part in any earlier proceedings for the election of the Presiding Officer or Deputy Presiding Officer.

If a Member of the Senedd has not taken the oath (or made the affirmation) within— (a) the period of two months beginning with the day on which the Member of the Senedd was declared to be returned, or (b) such longer period as the Senedd may have allowed before the end of that period of two months, at the end of that period of two months or longer period the Member of the Senedd ceases to be a Member of the Senedd (so that the Member's seat is vacant).

Until a Member of the Senedd has taken the oath (or made the affirmation), no salary, allowance, gratuity or payment towards the provision of a pension, allowance or gratuity is to be paid under this Act to or in respect of the Member of the Senedd.

But subsection (6) does not affect any entitlement to payments in respect of the period before the Member of the Senedd took the oath (or made the affirmation) once the Member of the Senedd has done so.

The Senedd Commission must make to (or in respect of) political groups to which Members of the Senedd belong such payments as the Board from time to time determines for the purpose of assisting Members of the Senedd who belong to those political groups to perform their functions as Members of the Senedd.

A determination under subsection (1) may make provision— (a) for calculating the amount of any payment to (or in respect of) a political group, (b) for the conditions subject to which payments to (or in respect of) a political group are to be made, and (c) for claims for such payments to be made to the Senedd Commission.

A determination under subsection (1) may make different provision for different political groups.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The standing orders must include provision for determining for the purposes of this Act whether any Member of the Senedd belongs to a political group and, if so, to which; and (in particular)— (a) may include provision for treating a Member of the Senedd as not belonging to a political group unless a specified number of Members of the Senedd belong to it, and (b) must include provision requiring the Presiding Officer to decide any questions arising under the provision included by virtue of this subsection.

The Senedd Commission must lay before the Senedd every determination made by the Board under section 24(1) as soon as is reasonably practicable after it is made.

The Senedd Commission must ensure that information concerning the sums paid under this section is published for each financial year.

The Senedd must, at its first meeting following a general election, elect from among the Members of the Senedd — (a) a presiding officer (referred to in this Act as “the Presiding Officer”), and (b) a deputy presiding officer (see subsection (1B)(a)).

The Senedd may at any time elect one additional deputy presiding officer from among the Members of the Senedd (but there may be no more than one additional deputy presiding officer at any time).

In this Act, “Deputy Presiding Officer” means, unless the context requires otherwise— (a) the person elected under paragraph (b) of subsection (1); (b) a person elected under subsection (1A), but in section 23(4)(b) “Deputy Presiding Officer means only the person elected under paragraph (b) of subsection (1).

The person elected under paragraph (a) of subsection (1) is to be known as the Presiding Officer or by such other title as the standing orders may provide; and the person elected under paragraph (b) of that subsection and a person elected under subsection (1A) are each to be known as Deputy Presiding Officer or by such other title as the standing orders may provide.

The Presiding Officer holds office until the conclusion of the next election of a Presiding Officer under subsection (1).

A Deputy Presiding Officer holds office until the Senedd is dissolved; but the standing orders may make provision for a Deputy Presiding Officer elected under subsection (1A) to hold office for a shorter time.

But the Presiding Officer or a Deputy Presiding Officer— (a) may at any time resign, (b) ceases to hold office on ceasing to be a Member of the Senedd otherwise than by reason of a dissolution, and (c) may be removed from office by the Senedd.

If the Presiding Officer or the Deputy Presiding Officer elected under paragraph (b) of subsection (1) ceases to hold office under subsection (5) (or dies), the Senedd must elect a replacement from among the Members of the Senedd (and references in this section to a person elected under paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (1) include a reference to a person elected under this subsection).

Subject to subsection (9), the Presiding Officer and the Deputy Presiding Officer elected under paragraph (b) of subsection (1) must not belong to— (a) the same political group, or (b) different political groups both of which are political groups with an executive role.

Subject to subsection (9), a Deputy Presiding Officer elected under subsection (1A) must not belong to— (a) the same political group as either the Presiding Officer or Deputy Presiding Officer elected under paragraph (b) of subsection (1), or (b) where the Presiding Officer and the Deputy Presiding Officer elected under paragraph (b) of subsection (1) both belong to political groups without an executive role, a political group without an executive role.

For the purposes of this Act a political group is a political group with an executive role if the First Minister or one or more of the Welsh Ministers appointed under section 48 belong to it.

The Senedd may resolve that one or both of subsections (7) and (7A) are not to apply for so long as the resolution so provides; but if the motion for the resolution is passed on a vote it is of no effect unless at least two-thirds of the Members of the Senedd voting support it.

The Presiding Officer's functions may be exercised by a Deputy Presiding Officer if— (a) the office of Presiding Officer is vacant, or (b) the Presiding Officer is for any reason unable to act.

The Presiding Officer may (subject to the standing orders) authorise a Deputy Presiding Officer to exercise functions of the Presiding Officer.

The standing orders may include provision for the Presiding Officer's functions to be exercisable by any person specified in, or determined in accordance with, the standing orders if— (a) the office of Presiding Officer is vacant or the Presiding Officer is for any reason unable to act, and (b) the office of Deputy Presiding Officer is vacant or, for any reason, no Deputy Presiding Officer is able to act.

The standing orders may include provision as to the participation (including voting) in Senedd proceedings of the Presiding Officer and a Deputy Presiding Officer and any person acting by virtue of subsection (12).

The validity of any act of a person as Presiding Officer or Deputy Presiding Officer, or of any person acting by virtue of subsection (12), is not affected by any defect in the person's appointment by the Senedd.

Subsections (10) to (12) are subject to paragraph 11 of Schedule 2.

The Senedd Commission must appoint a person to be the Clerk of the Senedd (referred to in this Act as “the Clerk”).

The person appointed under subsection (1) is to be known as the Clerk of the Senedd, Clerc y Senedd or by such other title as the standing orders may provide.

The Clerk's functions may be exercised by any other member of the staff of the Senedd (or person seconded to work at the Senedd) authorised by the Senedd Commission if— (a) the office of Clerk is vacant, or (b) the Clerk is for any reason unable to act.

The Clerk may authorise any other member of the staff of the Senedd (or person seconded to work at the Senedd) to exercise functions on the Clerk's behalf.

There is to be a body corporate to be known as the Senedd Commission or Comisiwn y Senedd (referred to in this Act as “the Senedd Commission”).

The members of the Senedd Commission are to be— (a) the Presiding Officer, and (b) four other Members of the Senedd.

The standing orders must make provision for the appointment of the four other Members of the Senedd as members of the Senedd Commission.

The provision included in the standing orders in compliance with subsection (3) must (so far as it is reasonably practicable to do so) secure that not more than one of the members of the Senedd Commission (other than the Presiding Officer) belongs to any one political group.

The Senedd Commission must— (a) provide to the Senedd, or (b) ensure that the Senedd is provided with, the property, staff and services required for the Senedd's purposes.

The Senedd may give special or general directions to the Senedd Commission for the purpose of, or in connection with, the exercise of the Senedd Commission's functions.

Any property, rights or liabilities acquired or incurred in relation to matters to which the Senedd would otherwise be entitled or subject are to be treated for all purposes as property, rights or liabilities of the Senedd Commission.

For further provision about the Senedd Commission see Schedule 2.

The standing orders may provide— (a) for the appointment of committees of the Senedd, and (b) for such committees to have ... sub-committees.

The members of a committee of the Senedd, or of a sub-committee of such a committee, may not include anyone who is not a Member of the Senedd , except the members of the Standards of Conduct Committee or a sub-committee of the Standards of Conduct Committee.

The standing orders must make provision about the membership, chairing and procedure of committees of the Senedd and sub-committees of such committees.

The standing orders may include provision for excluding from the proceedings of a committee of the Senedd , or a sub-committee of such a committee, a Member of the Senedd who is not a member of the committee or sub-committee.

The validity of any proceedings of a committee of the Senedd, or of a sub-committee of such a committee, is not affected by— (a) any vacancy in its membership, (b) any defect in the appointment of its members or of the person who chairs it, or (c) any failure to comply with provisions of the standing orders relating to procedure.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The committees of the Senedd must include one to be known as the Audit Committee or Pwyllgor Archwilio or by such other name as the Senedd may determine; and, if the Senedd makes such a determination, references to the committee in— (a) any enactment (including any enactment comprised in or made under this Act) or prerogative instrument, or (b) any other instrument or document, have effect accordingly.

The Audit Committee is to have the number of members specified by the standing orders.

None of the following may be a member of the Audit Committee— (a) the First Minister or any person designated to exercise the functions of the First Minister, (b) a Welsh Minister appointed under section 48, (c) the Counsel General or any person designated to exercise the functions of the Counsel General, or (d) a Deputy Welsh Minister.

The Audit Committee must not be chaired by a Member of the Senedd who is a member of a political group with an executive role.

The committees of the Senedd must include one to be known as the Standards of Conduct Committee or Pwyllgor Safonau Ymddygiad or by such other name as the Senedd may determine; and, if the Senedd makes such a determination, references to the committee in— (a) any enactment (including any enactment comprised in or made under this Act) or prerogative instrument, or (b) any other instrument or document, have effect accordingly.

The Standards of Conduct Committee is to have functions relating to the standards of conduct of Members of the Senedd specified by the standing orders; and the standing orders may specify that it has other functions.

The Standards of Conduct Committee is to have the number of members specified by the standing orders.

The standing orders must provide for the membership of the Standards of Conduct Committee to include one or more lay members.

In this section and in section 30B, “lay member” means a member who is not a Member of the Senedd.

The standing orders may include provision— (a) for excluding from the proceedings of the Standards of Conduct Committee, or a sub-committee of the Committee, a member of the committee or sub-committee who is a lay member; (b) for the membership of sub-committees of the Standards of Conduct Committee, which may include provision for members of sub-committees who are not appointed by, nor members of, the Committee; (c) for sub-committees of the Standards of Conduct Committee that are composed entirely of one or more lay members for the purpose of carrying out appeals or reviews of Committee or sub-committee proceedings concerning the conduct of Members of the Senedd.‍

The standing orders must provide for— (a) lay members of the Committee to have the same participation and voting rights as other members of the Committee, and (b) the number of lay members and other members required for proceedings to be quorate, in Committee or sub-committee proceedings concerning the conduct of a Member of the Senedd.

The standing orders may provide for— (a) lay members of the Committee to have the same participation and voting rights as other members of the Committee, and (b) the number of lay members and other members required for proceedings to be quorate, in Committee or sub-committee proceedings concerning other matters, subject to subsection (9).

The standing orders may not allow lay members of the Committee to participate or vote as a member in Committee or sub-committee proceedings concerning the scrutiny of legislation.

Subsection (7) does not apply to sub-committees of the kind described in subsection (6)(c).

Standing orders may not provide for there to be more lay members of the Standards of Conduct Committee (“the Committee”) than members who are Members of the Senedd.

Lay members must be appointed by resolution of Senedd Cymru.

A motion for a resolution under subsection (2) may only be tabled with the consent of the Presiding Officer and in accordance with any provision made by standing orders.

The person who is the subject of the motion must have been selected on merit on the basis of fair and open competition in accordance with arrangements made by standing orders.

An appointment of a lay member is to be— (a) for a fixed term not exceeding 6 years, which may end after the expected date of the next ordinary general election of the Senedd; (b) on such other terms and conditions as may be made under arrangements made by standing orders.

If provision is made in standing orders for a sub-committee of the kind described in section 30A(6)(c), at least one person appointed as a lay member is to be legally qualified; but this does not require each sub-committee of that kind to include a legally qualified person.

A person is legally qualified for the purposes of subsection (6) if the person has a general qualification within the meaning of section 71(3)(c) of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 (c. 41).

A person is disqualified from appointment as a lay member if that person—‍ (a) holds an office specified in subsection (9), or (b) has at any time held an office that is specified in any of paragraphs (a) to (h) of subsection (9).

The offices are— (a) Member of the Senedd; (b) member of the House of Commons; (c) member of the House of Lords; (d) member of the Scottish Parliament; (e) member of the Northern Ireland Assembly; (f) Counsel General, where the person holding the office is not also a Member of the Senedd; (g) police and crime commissioner for a police area in Wales or England; (h) member of the council of a county or county borough in Wales; (i) member of the council of a community in Wales; (j) the disqualifying offices in the second column of the table in Part 2 of Schedule 1A, except the judicial offices.

A person may not be appointed to serve more than 2 terms of office as a lay member (whether or not the terms of office are consecutive).

A person who is a lay member ceases to be a lay member if the person— (a) is a candidate in a Senedd general election when the period for notice of withdrawal of candidature ends and has not given such notice before the end of the period, or (b) becomes disqualified from appointment as a lay member under subsection (8).

A lay member— (a) may resign by giving notice to the Committee; (b) may be removed by resolution of the Senedd, if the number of votes cast in favour of the resolution is not less than two thirds of the total number of votes cast.

A motion for a resolution under subsection (12)(b) may only be tabled with the consent of the Presiding Officer and in accordance with any provision made by standing orders.

Standing orders must make provision for the investigation and adjudication of complaints about misconduct by lay members.

The Senedd Commission may pay to lay members such remuneration and allowances as the Commission may determine.

In this section “lay member” includes— (a) a lay member of the Committee, and (b) a lay member of a sub-committee of the Committee who is not a member of the Committee.

Senedd proceedings are to be regulated by standing orders (referred to in this Act as “the standing orders”).

The standing orders must include provision for preserving order in Senedd proceedings, including provision for— (a) preventing conduct which would constitute a criminal offence or contempt of court, and (b) a sub judice rule.

The standing orders may include provision for excluding a Member of the Senedd from Senedd proceedings.

The standing orders may include provision for withdrawing from a Member of the Senedd any or all of the rights and privileges of membership of the Senedd.

The standing orders— (a) must include provision requiring the proceedings of the Senedd to be held in public, and for proceedings of a committee of the Senedd or a sub-committee of such a committee to be held in public except in circumstances provided for in the standing orders, and (b) may include provision as to the conditions to be complied with by members of the public attending the proceedings (including provision for excluding any member of the public who does not comply with the conditions).

The standing orders must include provision— (a) for reporting the proceedings of the Senedd, and for reporting proceedings of committees of the Senedd and sub-committees of such committees which are held in public, and (b) for publishing the reports of proceedings as soon as reasonably practicable after the proceedings take place.

The Senedd may by resolution remake or revise the standing orders; but if the motion for a resolution to remake or revise the standing orders is passed on a vote, it has no effect unless at least two-thirds of the Members of the Senedd voting support it.

The Clerk must from time to time publish the standing orders.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

If not a Member of the Senedd the Counsel General may participate in Senedd proceedings to the extent permitted by the standing orders, but may not vote.

And the standing orders may in other respects provide that they are to apply to the Counsel General if not a Member of the Senedd as to a Member of the Senedd.

The Counsel General may, in any Senedd proceedings, decline to answer any question or produce any document concerning the operation of the system of criminal prosecution in any particular case if considering that answering the question or producing the document— (a) might prejudice criminal proceedings in the case, or (b) would otherwise be contrary to the public interest.

The Senedd must, in the conduct of Senedd proceedings, give effect, so far as is both appropriate in the circumstances and reasonably practicable, to the principle that the English and Welsh languages should be treated on a basis of equality.

The official languages of the Senedd are English and Welsh.

The official languages must, in the conduct of Senedd proceedings, be treated on a basis of equality.

All persons have the right to use either official language when participating in Senedd proceedings.

Reports of Senedd proceedings must, in the case of proceedings which fall within section 1(5)(a) (proceedings of the Senedd), contain a record of what was said, in the official language in which it was said, and also a full translation into the other official language.

Paragraph 8 of Schedule 2 makes provision about how the Senedd Commission must enable effect to be given to subsections (1) to (1C).

The Senedd must make appropriate arrangements with a view to securing that Senedd proceedings are conducted with due regard to the principle that there should be equality of opportunity for all people.

The standing orders must include provision— (a) for a register of interests of Members of the Senedd, and (b) for the register to be published and made available for public inspection.

The standing orders must require Members of the Senedd to register in the register of interests registrable interests, as defined for the purposes of this subsection.

The standing orders must require any Member of the Senedd who has— (a) a financial interest, as defined for the purposes of this subsection, or (b) any other interest, or an interest of any other kind, as so defined, in any matter to declare that interest before taking part in Senedd proceedings relating to that matter.

The standing orders may include provision for preventing or restricting the participation in any Senedd proceedings of a Member of the Senedd who has an interest within subsection (2) or (3) in any matter to which the proceedings relate.

The standing orders must include provision prohibiting a Member of the Senedd from— (a) advocating or initiating any cause or matter on behalf of any person, by any means specified in the standing orders, in consideration of any payment or benefit in kind of a description so specified, or (b) urging, in consideration of any such payment or benefit in kind, any other Member of the Senedd to advocate or initiate any cause or matter on behalf of any person by any such means.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

a Member of the Senedd who— (a) takes part in Senedd proceedings without having complied with, or in contravention of, any provision included in the standing orders in pursuance of subsections (2) to (4), or (b) contravenes any provision included in the standing orders in pursuance of subsection (5), commits an offence.

A person guilty of an offence under subsection (7) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

A prosecution for an offence under subsection (7) cannot be instituted except by or with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The validity of any Senedd proceedings is not affected by any contravention or failure to comply with any provision included in the standing orders in pursuance of this section.

In this section— (a) references to a Member of the Senedd ... include the Counsel General, if not a Member of the Senedd, and (b) “financial interest” includes a benefit in kind.

Subject as follows, the Senedd may require any person— (a) to attend Senedd proceedings for the purpose of giving evidence, or (b) to produce for the purposes of the Senedd (or a committee of the Senedd or a sub-committee of such a committee) documents in the possession, or under the control, of the person, concerning any matter relevant to the exercise by the Welsh Ministers of any of their functions, relevant to the exercise of any of the Auditor General for Wales' functions, or relevant to the oversight and supervision of the Auditor General for Wales, or to the oversight and supervision of the exercise of any of his or her functions.

The Senedd may not impose a requirement under subsection (1) on a person who is not involved in the exercise of functions, or the carrying on of activities, in relation to Wales or the Welsh zone.

The Senedd may not impose a requirement under subsection (1) on a person who— (a) is or has been a Minister of the Crown, or (b) serves or has served in the department of a Minister of the Crown, in relation to the exercise of any functions of a Minister of the Crown.

The Senedd — (a) may not impose a requirement under subsection (1) on a person who is a full-time judge of any court, and (b) may not impose such a requirement on a person who is not within paragraph (a) but who is or has been a member of any court or tribunal in connection with the exercise of functions as such a member.

Where a requirement under subsection (1) is imposed on a person who is or has been a member of the staff of the Welsh ... Government (or a person seconded to work for the Welsh ... Government) in relation to the exercise of any functions of the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General, any of them may issue a direction under subsection (6).

A direction under this subsection is a direction— (a) that the person on whom the requirement was imposed need not comply with it, and (b) that the requirement is instead to be complied with by another person specified in the direction.

Subsection (1) applies in relation to requirements imposed on a person in connection with the discharge of the functions of the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority in relation to Wales with the omission of the words after paragraph (b).

Subsection (1) applies in relation to things done by the Domestic Abuse Commissioner by virtue of section 7(4)(b) or (c) of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (functions exercisable in relation to devolved Welsh authorities etc) as it applies in relation to the exercise by the Welsh Ministers of their functions.

The powers conferred by subsection (1)— (a) may be exercised by and for the purposes of the Audit Committee, and (b) may be exercised by and for the purposes of any other committee of the Senedd , or any sub-committee of any committee of the Senedd , if the committee or sub-committee is expressly authorised to do so by the Senedd (whether by the standing orders or otherwise).

A person is not obliged under this section to answer any question or produce any document which the person would be entitled to refuse to answer or produce in or for the purposes of proceedings in a court in England and Wales.

A person acting as prosecutor in criminal proceedings is not obliged under this section to answer any question or produce any document concerning the operation of the system of criminal prosecution in any particular case if the appropriate officer— (a) considers that answering the question or producing the document might prejudice criminal proceedings in the case or would otherwise be contrary to the public interest, and (b) has authorised the person to decline to answer the question or produce the document on that ground.

In subsection (9) “the appropriate officer” means— (a) if the proceedings were instituted by or on behalf of the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General, the Counsel General, and (b) otherwise, the Attorney General.

A requirement under section 37 is to be imposed on a person by the Clerk giving the person notice in writing specifying— (a) whether the requirement is imposed for the purposes of the Senedd or a specified committee or sub-committee, and (b) the matters mentioned in either paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of subsection (2).

Those matters are— (a) the time and place at which the person is to attend and the particular subject concerning which the person is required to give evidence; (b) the documents, or types of documents, which the person is to produce, the date by which and person to whom they are to be produced and the particular subject concerning which they are required.

Notice under subsection (1) is to be given— (a) in the case of an individual, by sending it in accordance with subsection (4) addressed to the person at the person's usual or last known address or, where the person has given an address for service of the notice, at that address, or (b) in any other case, by so sending it addressed to the person at the person's registered or principal office.

A notice is sent in accordance with this subsection if it is sent— (a) by a registered post service (within the meaning of the Postal Services Act 2000 (c. 26)), or (b) by a postal service which provides for its delivery by post to be recorded.

If a direction is issued under subsection (6) of section 37 in relation to a requirement imposed under subsection (1) of that section, the person or persons by whom it is issued must give notice in writing that the direction has been issued— (a) if the requirement was imposed for the purposes of the Senedd , to the Presiding Officer, and (b) otherwise, to the person who chairs the committee or sub-committee for the purposes of which it was imposed.

A person to whom a notice under section 38(1) has been given commits an offence if the person— (a) refuses or fails without reasonable excuse to attend proceedings as required by the notice, (b) refuses or fails without reasonable excuse, when attending proceedings as required by the notice, to answer any question concerning the subjects specified in the notice, (c) refuses or fails without reasonable excuse to produce any document required to be produced by the notice, or (d) intentionally alters, suppresses, conceals or destroys any such document.

Subsection (1) is subject to sections 34(3) and 37(5), (6), (8) and (9).

If a person charged with an offence under subsection (1)(a), (b) or (c) adduces evidence of a reasonable excuse for the refusal or failure, it is for the prosecution to prove that the person did not have such an excuse.

A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction— (a) to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, (b) to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks, or (c) to both.

Where an offence under subsection (1) which has been committed by a body corporate is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of— (a) a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate, or (b) any person who was purporting to act in any such capacity, that person, as well as the body corporate, is guilty of that offence and liable to be proceeded against accordingly.

In subsection (5) “director”, in the case of a body corporate whose affairs are managed by its members, means a member of the body corporate.

The Presiding Officer or such other person as may be authorised by the standing orders may— (a) require any person giving evidence in Senedd proceedings to take an oath (or make an affirmation), and (b) administer the oath (or affirmation) to the person.

A person commits an offence if the person— (a) is required to attend Senedd proceedings for the purpose of giving evidence by a notice under section 38(1), and (b) refuses to take an oath (or make an affirmation) when required to do so for the purposes of the Senedd proceedings.

A person guilty of an offence under subsection (2) is liable on summary conviction— (a) to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, (b) to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks, or (c) to both.

The standing orders may provide for the payment of allowances and expenses to persons— (a) attending Senedd proceedings for the purpose of giving evidence, or (b) producing for the purposes of the Senedd (or a committee of the Senedd or a sub-committee of such a committee) documents which they have been required or requested to produce, whether or not in pursuance of a notice under section 38(1).

The provision made by virtue of subsection (4) may confer functions on the Senedd Commission.

For the purposes of sections 37 to 39 and this section— (a) a person is to be taken to comply with a requirement to produce a document if the person produces a copy of the document or an extract of the relevant part of the document, (b) “document” means anything in which information is recorded in any form, and (c) references to producing a document are to producing the information recorded in it in a visible and legible form.

Proceedings by or against the Senedd are to be instituted by or against the Senedd Commission on behalf of the Senedd.

Proceedings by or against— (a) the Presiding Officer or a Deputy Presiding Officer, or (b) a member of the staff of the Senedd, are (unless instituted against or by the Senedd Commission) to be instituted by or against the Senedd Commission on behalf of the Presiding Officer, Deputy Presiding Officer or member of staff.

In any proceedings against the Senedd the court must not grant a mandatory, prohibiting or quashing order or an injunction, make an order for specific performance or stay the proceedings but may instead make a declaration.

In any proceedings against— (a) any Member of the Senedd, (b) the Presiding Officer or a Deputy Presiding Officer, (c) any member of the staff of the Senedd, or (d) the Senedd Commission, the court must not grant a mandatory, prohibiting or quashing order or an injunction, make an order for specific performance or stay the proceedings if the effect of doing so would be to give any relief against the Senedd which could not have been given in proceedings against the Senedd.

References in this section to an order include an order which is not final.

For the purposes of the law of defamation— (a) any statement made in Senedd proceedings, and (b) the publication under the authority of the Senedd of any statement, is absolutely privileged.

The Welsh Ministers may by regulations make provision for and in connection with establishing in any legal proceedings that any statement or publication is absolutely privileged by virtue of subsection (1).

No regulations are to be made under subsection (2) unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing them has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the Senedd .

In this section “statement” has the same meaning as in the Defamation Act 1996 (c. 31).

The strict liability rule does not apply in relation to any publication— (a) made in, for the purposes of, or for purposes incidental to, Senedd proceedings, or (b) to the extent that it consists of a report of Senedd proceedings which either is made by or under the authority of the Senedd or is fair and accurate and made in good faith.

In subsection (1)— “the strict liability rule”, and “publication”, have the same meaning as in the Contempt of Court Act 1981 (c. 49).

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

There is to be a Welsh ... Government, or Llywodraeth ... Cymru, whose members are— (a) the First Minister or Prif Weinidog (see sections 46 and 47), (b) the Welsh Ministers, or Gweinidogion Cymru, appointed under section 48, (c) the Counsel General to the Welsh ... Government or Cwnsler Cyffredinol i Lywodraeth ... Cymru (see section 49) (referred to in this Act as “the Counsel General”), and (d) the Deputy Welsh Ministers or Dirprwy Weinidogion Cymru (see section 50).

In this Act and in any other enactment or instrument the First Minister and the Welsh Ministers appointed under section 48 are referred to collectively as the Welsh Ministers.

The First Minister is to be appointed by Her Majesty after nomination in accordance with section 47.

The First Minister holds office at Her Majesty's pleasure.

The First Minister may at any time tender resignation to Her Majesty and ceases to hold office as First Minister when it is accepted.

A person ceases to hold office as the First Minister if another person is appointed to that office.

The functions of the First Minister are exercisable by a person designated by the Presiding Officer if— (a) the office of the First Minister is vacant, (b) the First Minister is for any reason unable to act, or (c) the First Minister has ceased to be a Member of the Senedd otherwise than by reason of a dissolution.

A person may not be designated to exercise the functions of the First Minister unless the person is— (a) a Member of the Senedd, or (b) if the Senedd has been dissolved, a person who ceased to be a Member of the Senedd by reason of the dissolution.

A person may be designated to exercise the functions of the First Minister only on the recommendation of the Welsh Ministers (unless there is no-one holding office as a Welsh Minister appointed under section 48).

If a person is designated to exercise the functions of the First Minister, the designation continues to have effect even if the Senedd is dissolved.

If one of the following events occurs, the Senedd must, before the end of the relevant period, nominate a Member of the Senedd for appointment as First Minister.

The events are— (a) the holding of a poll at a general election, (b) the Senedd resolving that the Welsh Ministers no longer enjoy the confidence of the Senedd, (c) the First Minister tendering resignation to Her Majesty, (d) the First Minister dying or becoming permanently unable to act and to tender resignation, and (e) the First Minister ceasing to be a Member of the Senedd otherwise than by reason of a dissolution.

The relevant period is the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which the event occurs; but— (a) if another of those events occurs within that period, the relevant period is (subject to paragraph (b)) extended to end with the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which that other event occurs, and (b) the relevant period ends if the Senedd passes a resolution under section 5(2)(a) or when Her Majesty appoints a person as the First Minister.

The Presiding Officer must recommend to Her Majesty the appointment of the person nominated by the Senedd under subsection (1).

The First Minister may, with the approval of Her Majesty, appoint Welsh Ministers from among the Members of the Senedd.

A Welsh Minister appointed under this section holds office at Her Majesty's pleasure.

A Welsh Minister appointed under this section may be removed from office by the First Minister.

A Welsh Minister appointed under this section may at any time resign.

A Welsh Minister appointed under this section must resign if the Senedd resolves that the Welsh Ministers no longer enjoy the confidence of the Senedd.

A Welsh Minister appointed under this section who resigns ceases to hold office immediately.

A Welsh Minister appointed under this section ceases to hold office on ceasing to be a Member of the Senedd otherwise than by reason of a dissolution.

The Counsel General is to be appointed by Her Majesty on the recommendation of the First Minister.

The Counsel General may be removed from office by Her Majesty on the recommendation of the First Minister.

No recommendation for the appointment or removal of a person as the Counsel General may be made by the First Minister without the agreement of the Senedd.

The Counsel General may at any time tender resignation to Her Majesty and ceases to hold office as Counsel General when it is accepted.

The Counsel General ceases to hold office if a Member of the Senedd is nominated under section 47(1) for appointment as First Minister.

The functions of the Counsel General are exercisable by a person designated by the First Minister if— (a) the office of the Counsel General is vacant, or (b) the Counsel General is for any reason unable to act.

But subsection (6) ceases to have effect at the end of the period of six months beginning with the day on which a person is designated under it and does not have effect again until after the office of the Counsel General has been filled, or the Counsel General has again become able to act.

The designation of a person under subsection (6) ceases to have effect if a Member of the Senedd is nominated under section 47(1) for appointment as First Minister.

A person holding office as the First Minister, a Welsh Minister appointed under section 48 or a Deputy Welsh Minister may not be appointed as the Counsel General or designated under subsection (6); and the Counsel General or a person so designated may not be appointed to any of those offices.

The First Minister may, with the approval of Her Majesty, appoint Deputy Welsh Ministers from among the Members of the Senedd to assist the First Minister, a Welsh Minister appointed under section 48 or the Counsel General in the exercise of functions.

A Deputy Welsh Minister holds office at Her Majesty's pleasure.

A Deputy Welsh Minister may be removed from office by the First Minister.

A Deputy Welsh Minister may at any time resign.

A Deputy Welsh Minister must resign if the Senedd resolves that the Welsh Ministers no longer enjoy the confidence of the Senedd.

A Deputy Welsh Minister who resigns ceases to hold office immediately.

A Deputy Welsh Minister ceases to hold office on ceasing to be a Member of the Senedd otherwise than by reason of a dissolution.

No more than 17 persons are to hold a relevant Welsh Ministerial office at any time.

A relevant Welsh Ministerial office means the office of Welsh Minister appointed under section 48 or the office of Deputy Welsh Minister.

The Welsh Ministers may by regulations amend subsection (1) to increase the maximum number of holders of a relevant Welsh Ministerial office— (a) from 17 to 18 or 19; (b) from 18 to 19.

The power in subsection (3) may not be used to lower the maximum number (including by revoking regulations made under that subsection).

A statutory instrument containing regulations under subsection (3) may not be made unless‍— (a) a draft of the instrument has been laid before‍ the Senedd, and (b) the number of Members of the Senedd voting in favour of a resolution of the Senedd approving the draft is at least two-thirds of the total number of Senedd seats.

The Welsh Ministers may appoint persons to be members of the staff of the Welsh ... Government.

Service as a member of the staff of the Welsh ... Government is service in the civil service of the State.

See Part 1 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 (in particular, sections 3 and 4) for provision affecting— (a) subsection (1), and (b) any other enactment about the appointment of persons as members of the staff of the Welsh ... Government.

See also section 1 of the Civil Service (Management Functions) Act 1992 under which functions conferred on the Minister for the Civil Service by section 3 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 may be delegated to the Welsh Ministers etc.

The Welsh Ministers are to pay the salaries and expenses of the members of the staff of the Welsh ... Government.

Section 1(2) and (3) of the Superannuation Act 1972 (c. 11) (delegation of functions relating to civil service superannuation schemes by Minister for the Civil Service to another Minister etc. and consultation by that Minister or another Minister) have effect as if the references to a Minister of the Crown other than the Minister for the Civil Service included the Welsh Ministers.

The Welsh Ministers must make payments to the Minister for the Civil Service, at such times as the Minister for the Civil Service may determine, of such amounts as may be so determined in respect of— (a) the provision of pensions, allowances or gratuities by virtue of section 1 of the Superannuation Act 1972 to or in respect of persons who are or have been members of the staff of the Welsh ... Government, and (b) the expenses incurred in administering those pensions, allowances and gratuities.

The Welsh Ministers may make payments towards the provision of pensions, allowances or gratuities to or in respect of any person who is or has been a member of the staff of the Welsh ... Government.

Without prejudice to any rule of law with respect to the carrying out of functions by members of the civil service of the State under authority, the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General may authorise the staff of the Welsh ... Government to carry out any function on their behalf.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Provision must be made for the payment of salaries to persons to whom this section applies.

Provision may be made for the payment of allowances to persons to whom this section applies.

Provision may be made for the payment of pensions, gratuities or allowances to, or in respect of, any person who has ceased to be a person to whom this section applies.

Such provision may, in particular, include provision for— (a) contributions or payments towards provision for such pensions, gratuities or allowances, and (b) the establishment and administration (whether by the Senedd Commission or otherwise) of one or more pension schemes.

This section applies to— (a) the First Minister, (b) every Welsh Minister appointed under section 48, (c) the Counsel General, and (d) every Deputy Welsh Minister.

Sums required for the making of payments by virtue of provision under this section are payable out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund.

Provision under this section is to be made by determination made by the Board.

The Senedd Commission must give effect to any determination made by the Board under this section.

Different provision may be made under section 53 for different cases.

The Senedd Commission must ensure that information concerning— (a) the amounts paid to each person to whom section 53 applies as salary and allowances, and (b) the total amount paid to such persons as salaries and allowances, is published for each financial year . . .

The Senedd Commission must lay before the Senedd every determination made by the Board under section 53(7) as soon as is reasonably practicable after it is made.

Provision made under section 53(3) does not affect pensions or allowances in payment before the provision was made.

On appointment as the First Minister, a Welsh Minister appointed under section 48 or the Counsel General a person must take the official oath in the form set out in section 3 of the Promissory Oaths Act 1868 (c. 72) (or make the corresponding affirmation).

On appointment as the First Minister, a Welsh Minister appointed under section 48, the Counsel General or a Deputy Welsh Minister a person must take the oath of allegiance in the form set out in section 2 of the Promissory Oaths Act 1868 (or make the corresponding affirmation).

But subsection (2) does not require a person who is a Member of the Senedd to take the oath of allegiance (or make the corresponding affirmation) again if it has been taken (or made) in compliance with the person's duty on the person's return (or, if returned more than once, most recent return) as a Member of the Senedd .

An oath required by this section is to be taken (or the corresponding affirmation made)— (a) before one of the Presiding Judges for the Wales and Chester Circuit (or for any appropriate area which is specified in a direction under section 72(4) of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 (c. 41)), or (b) (if no such Presiding Judge is available) before another judge nominated by the Senior Presiding Judge for England and Wales.

Until a person who is required to take an oath (or make an affirmation) by this section in respect of any office has done so, no salary, allowance, gratuity or payment towards the provision of a pension, allowance or gratuity is to be paid under this Act to or in respect of the person as a holder of that office.

But subsection (5) does not affect any entitlement to payments in respect of the period before the person took the oath (or made the affirmation) once the person has done so.

The persons to whom this section applies have the functions conferred or imposed on them by or by virtue of this Act or any other enactment or prerogative instrument.

This section applies to the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister and the Counsel General.

Functions may be conferred or imposed on the Welsh Ministers by that name.

Functions of the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister and the Counsel General are exercisable on behalf of Her Majesty.

Functions of the Welsh Ministers are exercisable by the First Minister or any of the Welsh Ministers appointed under section 48.

Any act or omission of, or in relation to, the First Minister or any of the Welsh Ministers appointed under section 48 is to be treated as an act or omission of, or in relation to, each of them.

But subsection (4) does not apply in relation to the exercise of functions conferred or imposed on the First Minister alone.

Where a function conferred or imposed on the Counsel General is (either generally or in particular circumstances) exercisable concurrently by the Welsh Ministers or the First Minister, subsection (4) applies in relation to the exercise of the function (or to its exercise in those circumstances) as if the Counsel General were included among the Welsh Ministers.

Her Majesty may by Order in Council— (a) provide for the transfer to the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General of any function so far as exercisable by a Minister of the Crown in relation to Wales or the Welsh zone, (b) direct that any function so far as so exercisable is to be exercisable by the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General — (i) concurrently or jointly with a Minister of the Crown, or (ii) only with the agreement of, or after consultation with, a Minister of the Crown, or (c) direct that any function so far as exercisable by a Minister of the Crown in relation to Wales or the Welsh zone is to be exercisable by the Minister of the Crown only with the agreement of, or after consultation with, the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General.

An Order in Council under this section may not make provision about a function of a Minister of the Crown exercisable in relation to the area of the Welsh zone beyond the seaward limit of the territorial sea unless the function is connected with fishing, fisheries or fish health.

Subsection (1A) does not have effect in relation to an Order in Council to the extent that it contains provision made by virtue of paragraph 4 of Schedule 3 (functions exercisable beyond the territorial sea).

An Order in Council under this section may, in particular, provide for any function exercisable by the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General by virtue of an Order in Council under subsection (1)(a) or (b) to be exercisable either generally or in such circumstances as may be specified in the Order in Council, concurrently with any other of the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General.

Her Majesty may by Order in Council— (a) make provision modifying (by reference to geographical extent or otherwise) a previously conferred or transferred water-related function; (b) provide for such a function to be exercisable— (i) concurrently or jointly with a Minister of the Crown or the Welsh Ministers, or (ii) only with the agreement of, or after consultation with, a Minister of the Crown or the Welsh Ministers.

In subsection (2A)— "previously conferred or transferred function” means a function exercisable by— the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General, a Minister of the Crown, or any authority or other body, by virtue of provision contained in or made under this Act or any other enactment; "water-related function” means a function exercisable in relation to water supply, water quality, water resources management, control of pollution of water resources, sewerage, rivers and other watercourses, land drainage, flood risk management or coastal protection.

An Order in Council under this section may make such modifications of— (a) any enactment (including any enactment comprised in or made under this Act) or prerogative instrument, or (b) any other instrument or document, as Her Majesty considers appropriate in connection with the provision made by the Order in Council.

No recommendation is to be made to Her Majesty in Council to make an Order in Council under this section unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing the Order in Council— (a) has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament, and (b) has been approved by the Welsh Ministers.

For further provision in connection with the transfer etc. of functions by Orders in Council under this section see Schedule 3.

Executive ministerial functions, so far as exercisable within devolved competence, are exercisable by the Welsh Ministers.

Executive ministerial functions that are ancillary to a function of the Welsh Ministers exercised outside devolved competence are also exercisable by the Welsh Ministers.

Functions exercisable by the Welsh Ministers under subsection (1) or (2) are not exercisable by a Minister of the Crown unless they are functions to which subsection (4) applies. If they are functions to which subsection (4) applies, they are exercisable by the Welsh Ministers concurrently with any relevant Minister of the Crown.

This subsection applies to— (a) functions ancillary to a function of the Welsh Ministers that is exercisable concurrently or jointly with a Minister of the Crown; (b) functions ancillary to a function of a Minister of the Crown; (c) functions that are not ancillary to another function; (d) functions in relation to observing and implementing assimilated obligations.

In this section— “executive ministerial function” means a function of Her Majesty of a kind that is exercisable on Her behalf by a Minister of the Crown (including a function involving expenditure or other financial matters), but not a function conferred or imposed by or by virtue of any legislation or the prerogative; “within devolved competence” and “outside devolved competence” are to be read in accordance with subsections (7) and (8).

For the purposes of this section a function is “ancillary to” another function if or to the extent that it is exercisable with a view to facilitating, or in a way that is conducive or incidental to, the exercise of the other function.

It is outside devolved competence— (a) to make any provision by subordinate legislation that would be outside the legislative competence of the Senedd if it were included in an Act of the Senedd (see section 108A), or (b) to confirm or approve any subordinate legislation containing such provision.

In the case of a function other than a function of making, confirming or approving subordinate legislation, it is outside devolved competence to exercise the function (or to exercise it in a particular way) if or to the extent that a provision of an Act of the Senedd conferring the function (or conferring it so as to be exercisable in that way) would be outside the legislative competence of the Senedd.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The power conferred by section 56 of the Finance Act 1973 (c. 51) (services provided in pursuance of an international obligation) on the Minister in charge of a government department to make (with the consent of the Treasury) regulations prescribing, or providing for the determination of, fees and charges in respect of things done by the department may be exercised by the Welsh Ministers (with the consent of the Treasury) for prescribing, or providing for the determination of, fees and charges in respect of corresponding things done by the Welsh Ministers.

A statutory instrument containing regulations made by the Welsh Ministers in the exercise of that power is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the Senedd .

Section 56(4) of the Finance Act 1973 does not cause the statutory instrument to be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament unless it contains regulations— (a) made by a Minister of the Crown or government department (whether or not jointly with the Welsh Ministers), (b) relating to an English border area, or (c) relating to a cross-border body (and not relating only to the exercise of functions, or the carrying on of activities, by the body in or with respect to Wales, the Welsh zone or a part of Wales or the Welsh zone).

Schedule 3A, which sets out functions of Ministers of the Crown and others that are exercisable concurrently or jointly with the Welsh Ministers, has effect.

The Welsh Ministers may do anything which they consider appropriate to achieve any one or more of the following objects— (a) the promotion or improvement of the economic well-being of Wales, (b) the promotion or improvement of the social well-being of Wales, and (c) the promotion or improvement of the environmental well-being of Wales.

The power under subsection (1) may be exercised in relation to or for the benefit of— (a) the whole or any part of Wales, or (b) all or any persons resident or present in Wales.

The power under subsection (1) includes power to do anything in relation to or for the benefit of any area outside Wales, or all or any persons resident or present anywhere outside Wales, if the Welsh Ministers consider that it is likely to achieve one or more of the objects in that subsection.

The power under subsection (1) includes power— (a) to enter into arrangements or agreements with any person, (b) to co-operate with, or facilitate or co-ordinate the activities of, any person, (c) to exercise on behalf of any person any functions of that person, and (d) to provide staff, goods, services or accommodation to any person.

The Welsh Ministers may do anything which they consider appropriate to support— (a) archaeological remains in Wales, (b) ancient monuments in Wales, (c) buildings and places of historical or architectural interest in Wales, (d) historic wrecks in Wales, (e) arts and crafts relating to Wales, (f) museums and galleries in Wales, (g) libraries in Wales, (h) archives and historical records relating to Wales, (i) cultural activities and projects relating to Wales, (j) sport and recreational activities relating to Wales, and (k) the Welsh language.

The Welsh Ministers, the First Minister and the Counsel General may make appropriate representations about any matter affecting Wales.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Welsh Ministers may hold a poll in an area consisting of Wales or any part (or parts) of Wales for the purpose of ascertaining the views of those polled about whether or how any of the functions of the Welsh Ministers (other than that under section 62) should be exercised.

The persons entitled to vote in a poll under this section are those who— (a) would be entitled to vote as electors at a local government election in an electoral area wholly or partly included in the area in which the poll is held, and (b) are registered in the register of local government electors at an address within the area in which the poll is held.

The Welsh Ministers may by order make provision— (a) as to the conduct of polls (or any poll) under this section, or (b) for the combination of polls (or any poll) under this section with polls at any elections.

An order under subsection (3) may apply or incorporate, with or without modifications or exceptions, any provision of or made under any enactment relating to elections or referendums; and the provision which may be made under paragraph (a) of that subsection includes, in particular, provision for disregarding alterations in a register of electors.

A statutory instrument containing an order under subsection (3) is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the Senedd .

The Welsh Ministers may promote private bills in Parliament and may oppose any private bill in Parliament.

Subsection (1) does not cause the Welsh Ministers to have power to apply for orders under section 1 or 3 of the Transport and Works Act 1992 (c. 42) by virtue of section 20 of that Act (which gives a body with power to promote and oppose private bills power to apply for and object to such orders).

Where it appears to the Treasury that any information in the possession, or under the control, of the Welsh Ministers is required for the exercise of any function by the Treasury, the Treasury may require the Welsh Ministers to provide the information to the Treasury in such form as the Treasury may reasonably specify.

The Office for Budget Responsibility has a right of access at any reasonable time to all information held by— (a) the Welsh Ministers, or (b) any devolved Welsh authority within paragraph (a) or (b) of section 157A(1) that is specified in regulations made by the Secretary of State, that it may reasonably require for the purpose of the performance of its duty under section 4 of the Budget Responsibility and National Audit Act 2011 (duty to examine and report on the sustainability of the public finances).

The Office is entitled to require from any person holding or accountable for such information any assistance or explanation that the Office reasonably thinks necessary for that purpose.

No regulations are to be made under subsection (1)(b) unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing them has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.

This section is subject to any enactment or rule of law that operates to prohibit or restrict the disclosure of information or the giving of any assistance or explanation.

Where the Counsel General considers it appropriate for the promotion or protection of the public interest, the Counsel General may institute in the Counsel General's name, defend or appear in any legal proceedings to which this section applies.

This section applies to legal proceedings relating to matters with respect to which any functions of the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General are exercisable.

The Secretary of State may by order provide that the Local Government (Contracts) Act 1997 (c. 65) applies in relation to contracts entered into by the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General but subject to any appropriate modifications.

A statutory instrument containing an order under this section is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

The Welsh Ministers may make a charge for supplying copies of (or of any part of) any document which they publish or make available for public inspection.

Subsection (1) has effect subject to any provision contained in, or made under, any enactment which makes provision for— (a) the making of charges for the inspection of documents, (b) the making of charges for supplying copies of documents (or parts of documents), or (c) the supply of copies of documents (or parts of documents) free of charge.

This section applies to the First Minister and the Counsel General as to the Welsh Ministers.

The First Minister may give financial assistance (whether by way of grant, loan or guarantee) to any person engaged in any activity which the First Minister considers will secure, or help to secure, the attainment of any objective which the Minister aims to attain in the exercise of any of the Minister's functions.

The First Minister may attach conditions to the giving of financial assistance by the Minister; and the conditions which may be attached include, in particular, conditions requiring the repayment of the whole or any part of a grant, or the making of any other payments, in any circumstances.

This section applies in relation to the Counsel General as in relation to the First Minister. (As regards the Welsh Ministers, see section 58A.)

The persons to whom this section applies may do anything (including the acquisition or disposal of any property or rights) which is calculated to facilitate, or is conducive or incidental to, the exercise of any of their other functions.

This section applies to the First Minister and the Counsel General. (As regards the Welsh Ministers, see section 58A.)

The Welsh Ministers must establish and maintain a body to be known as the Partnership Council for Wales or Cyngor Partneriaeth Cymru (“the Partnership Council”).

The Partnership Council is to consist of members appointed by the Welsh Ministers from among— (a) the Welsh Ministers, (b) the Deputy Welsh Ministers, and (c) the members of local authorities in Wales.

Before appointing members of the Partnership Council under subsection (2)(c), the Welsh Ministers must consult such associations of local authorities in Wales as they consider appropriate.

The Partnership Council may— (a) give advice to the Welsh Ministers about matters affecting the exercise of any of their functions, (b) make representations to the Welsh Ministers about any matters affecting, or of concern to, those involved in local government in Wales, and (c) give advice to those involved in local government in Wales.

For the purposes of this section the following are local authorities in Wales— (a) county councils, county borough councils and community councils in Wales, (b) National Park authorities for National Parks in Wales, (c) police and crime commissioners for police areas in Wales, (d) fire and rescue authorities for areas in Wales, and (e) authorities of any description specified for the purposes of this paragraph by order made by the Welsh Ministers.

No order may be made under subsection (5)(e) unless the Welsh Ministers have consulted the Partnership Council.

A statutory instrument containing an order under subsection (5)(e) is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the Senedd .

The Welsh Ministers must make a scheme (“the local government scheme”) setting out how they propose, in the exercise of their functions, to sustain and promote local government in Wales.

The Welsh Ministers— (a) must keep the local government scheme under review, and (b) may from time to time remake or revise it.

In determining the provision to be included in the local government scheme, the Welsh Ministers must have regard to any advice which has been given, and to any representations which have been made, to them by the Partnership Council.

The Welsh Ministers must publish the local government scheme when they make it and whenever they remake it; and, if they revise the scheme without remaking it, they must publish either the revisions or the scheme as revised (as they consider appropriate).

If the Welsh Ministers publish a scheme or revisions under subsection (4) they must lay a copy of the scheme or revisions before the Senedd .

After each financial year the Welsh Ministers must— (a) publish a report of how the proposals set out in the local government scheme were implemented in that financial year, and (b) lay a copy of the report before the Senedd .

The Welsh Ministers must make a scheme (“the voluntary sector scheme”) setting out how they propose, in the exercise of their functions, to promote the interests of relevant voluntary organisations.

In this section “relevant voluntary organisations” means bodies (other than local authorities or other public bodies) whose activities— (a) are carried on otherwise than for profit, and (b) directly or indirectly benefit the whole or any part of Wales (whether or not they also benefit any other area).

In determining the provision to be included in the voluntary sector scheme, the Welsh Ministers must consider how they intend to exercise such of their functions as relate to matters affecting, or of concern to, relevant voluntary organisations.

The voluntary sector scheme must specify— (a) how the Welsh Ministers propose to provide assistance to relevant voluntary organisations (whether by grants, loans, guarantees or any other means), (b) how the Welsh Ministers propose to monitor the use made of any assistance provided by them to relevant voluntary organisations, and (c) how the Welsh Ministers propose to consult relevant voluntary organisations about the exercise of such of their functions as relate to matters affecting, or of concern to, such organisations.

The Welsh Ministers— (a) must keep the voluntary sector scheme under review, and (b) may from time to time remake or revise it.

Before making, remaking or revising the voluntary sector scheme, the Welsh Ministers must consult such relevant voluntary organisations as they consider appropriate.

The Welsh Ministers must publish the voluntary sector scheme when they make it and whenever they remake it; and, if they revise the scheme without remaking it, they must publish either the revisions or the scheme as revised (as they consider appropriate).

If the Welsh Ministers publish a scheme or revisions under subsection (7) they must lay a copy of the scheme or revisions before the Senedd .

After each financial year the Welsh Ministers must— (a) publish a report of how the proposals set out in the voluntary sector scheme were implemented in that financial year, and (b) lay a copy of the report before the Senedd .

The Welsh Ministers must make a scheme (“the business scheme”) setting out how they propose, in the exercise of their functions, to take account of the interests of business.

The business scheme must specify how the Welsh Ministers propose— (a) to carry out consultation about the exercise of such of their functions as relate to matters affecting the interests of business, and (b) to consider the impact of the exercise of their functions on the interests of business.

The Welsh Ministers— (a) must keep the business scheme under review, and (b) may from time to time remake or revise it.

Before making, remaking or revising the business scheme, the Welsh Ministers must consult such organisations representative of business (including trade unions) and such other organisations as they consider appropriate.

The Welsh Ministers must publish the business scheme when they make it and whenever they remake it; and, if they revise the scheme without remaking it, they must publish either the revisions or the scheme as revised (as they consider appropriate).

If the Welsh Ministers publish a scheme or revisions under subsection (5) they must lay a copy of the scheme or revisions before the Senedd .

The Welsh Ministers must— (a) within the period of two years beginning with the day on which the business scheme is first made, and (b) subsequently at intervals of no more than two years, publish a report of how the proposals set out in the business scheme have been implemented.

The Welsh Ministers must lay before the Senedd a copy of each report published under subsection (7).

The Welsh Ministers must make a code of practice setting out their policy on— (a) the carrying out of regulatory impact assessments in connection with relevant Welsh subordinate legislation, and (b) the carrying out of consultation in connection with regulatory impact assessments, (“the regulatory impact assessment code”).

For the purposes of this section— (a) a regulatory impact assessment is an assessment as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with relevant Welsh subordinate legislation, and (b) subordinate legislation is relevant Welsh subordinate legislation if it is made by the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General and the statutory instrument (or a draft of the statutory instrument) containing it is required to be laid before the Senedd .

The Welsh Ministers— (a) must keep the regulatory impact assessment code under review, and (b) may from time to time remake or revise it.

Before making, remaking or revising the regulatory impact assessment code, the Welsh Ministers must consult such persons as they consider appropriate.

The Welsh Ministers must publish the regulatory impact assessment code when they make it and whenever they remake it; and, if they revise the code without remaking it, they must publish either the revisions or the code as revised (as they consider appropriate).

If the Welsh Ministers publish a code or revisions under subsection (5) they must lay a copy of the code or revisions before the Senedd .

The Welsh Ministers must make appropriate arrangements with a view to securing that their functions are exercised with due regard to the principle that there should be equality of opportunity for all people.

After each financial year the Welsh Ministers must publish a report containing— (a) a statement of the arrangements made in pursuance of subsection (1) which had effect during that financial year, and (b) an assessment of how effective those arrangements were in promoting equality of opportunity, and must lay a copy of the report before the Senedd .

The Welsh Ministers must adopt a strategy to be known as “the Welsh language strategy” or “strategaeth y Gymraeg” setting out how they propose to promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language.

See Part 1 of the Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Act 2025 (asc 2) (referred to in Welsh as Deddf y Gymraeg ac Addysg (Cymru) 2025 (dsc 2)) for further requirements relating to the Welsh language strategy.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Welsh Ministers— (a) must keep under review ... the Welsh language strategy ..., and (b) may from time to time adopt a new strategy or revise it.

Before adopting or revising a strategy ..., the Welsh Ministers must consult the Welsh Language Commissioner and such other persons as they consider appropriate.

The Welsh Ministers must publish the Welsh language strategy ... when they first adopt it and— (a) if they adopt a new strategy ... they must publish it, and (b) if they revise the Welsh language strategy ... (rather than adopting a new strategy ...) they must publish either the revisions or the strategy or scheme as revised (as they consider appropriate).

If the Welsh Ministers publish a strategy ..., or revisions, under subsection (6) they must lay a copy of the strategy or scheme, or revisions, before the Senedd.

After each financial year the Welsh Ministers must publish a report of how the proposals set out in the Welsh language strategy were implemented in that financial year and how effective their implementation has been in promoting and facilitating the use of the Welsh language and must lay a copy of the report before the Senedd.

For each financial year, the Welsh Ministers must publish a plan setting out how they will implement the proposals set out in the Welsh language strategy during that year.

The plan must be published as soon as reasonably practicable before the commencement of the financial year to which it relates.

In subsection (5), the reference to the “Welsh Language Commissioner means the commissioner appointed under section 2 of the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 (nawm 1) (referred to in Welsh as Mesur y Gymraeg (Cymru) 2011 (mccc 1)).

The Welsh Ministers must, in the exercise of their functions, make appropriate arrangements to promote sustainable development.

After each financial year the Welsh Ministers must publish a report containing a statement of the arrangements made in pursuance of subsection (1) that had effect during that financial year and must lay a copy of the report before the Senedd.

The arrangements referred to in subsection (1) may be made by the Welsh Ministers exercising their functions under section (2) of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 (duty of Welsh public bodies to set objectives and take steps to meet them in accordance with the sustainable development principle).

An assimilated obligation of the United Kingdom is also an obligation of the Welsh Ministers if and to the extent that the obligation could be implemented (or enabled to be implemented) or complied with by the exercise by the Welsh Ministers of any of their functions.

Subsection (1) does not apply in the case of an assimilated obligation of the United Kingdom if— (a) it is an obligation to achieve a result defined by reference to a quantity (whether expressed as an amount, proportion or ratio or otherwise), and (b) the quantity relates to the United Kingdom (or to an area including the United Kingdom or to an area consisting of a part of the United Kingdom which includes the whole or part of Wales or of the Welsh zone).

But if such an assimilated obligation could (to any extent) be implemented (or enabled to be implemented) or complied with by the exercise by the Welsh Ministers of any of their functions, a Minister of the Crown may by order provide for the achievement by the Welsh Ministers (in the exercise of their functions) of so much of the result to be achieved under the assimilated obligation as is specified in the order.

The order may specify the time by which any part of the result to be achieved by the Welsh Ministers is to be achieved.

No order is to be made by a Minister of the Crown under subsection (3) unless the Minister of the Crown has consulted the Welsh Ministers.

A statutory instrument containing an order under subsection (3) is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Where an order under subsection (3) is in force in relation to an assimilated obligation, to the extent that the assimilated obligation involves achieving what is specified in the order it is also an obligation of the Welsh Ministers (enforceable as if it were an obligation of the Welsh Ministers under subsection (1)).

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Subsection (1) applies to the First Minister and the Counsel General as to the Welsh Ministers.

The Welsh Ministers have no power— (a) to make, confirm or approve any subordinate legislation, or (b) to do any other act, so far as the subordinate legislation or act is incompatible with any of the Convention rights.

Subsection (1) does not enable a person— (a) to bring any proceedings in a court or tribunal, or (b) to rely on any of the Convention rights in any such proceedings, in respect of an act unless that person would be a victim for the purposes of Article 34 of the Convention if proceedings were brought in the European Court of Human Rights in respect of that act.

Subsection (2) does not apply to the Attorney General, the Counsel General, the Advocate General for Scotland, the Advocate General for Northern Ireland or the Attorney General for Northern Ireland.

Subsection (1)— (a) does not apply to an act which, by virtue of subsection (2) of section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998 (c. 42), is not unlawful under subsection (1) of that section, and (b) does not enable a court or tribunal to award in respect of any act any damages which it could not award on finding the act unlawful under that subsection.

Subsection (1) applies to the First Minister and the Counsel General as to the Welsh Ministers.

In subsection (2) “the Convention” has the same meaning as in the Human Rights Act 1998.

If the Secretary of State considers that any action proposed to be taken by the Welsh Ministers would be incompatible with any international obligation, the Secretary of State may by order direct that the proposed action is not to be taken.

If the Secretary of State considers that an action capable of being taken by the Welsh Ministers is required for the purposes of giving effect to any international obligation, the Secretary of State may by order direct the Welsh Ministers to take the action.

If the Secretary of State considers that any subordinate legislation made, or which could be revoked, by the Welsh Ministers is incompatible with any international obligation or the interests of defence or national security, the Secretary of State may by order revoke the legislation.

An order under subsection (3) may include provision for the order to have effect from a date earlier than that on which it is made; but— (a) such a provision does not affect any rights or liabilities acquired or incurred before the date on which the order is made, and (b) no person is to be guilty of an offence merely because of such a provision.

The Secretary of State may make an order containing provision such as is specified in subsection (6) where— (a) an international obligation is an obligation to achieve a result defined by reference to a quantity (whether expressed as an amount, proportion or ratio or otherwise), and (b) the quantity relates to the United Kingdom (or to an area including the United Kingdom or to an area consisting of a part of the United Kingdom which includes the whole or part of Wales or of the Welsh zone).

The provision referred to in subsection (5) is provision for the achievement by the Welsh Ministers (in the exercise of their functions) of so much of the result to be achieved under the international obligation as is specified in the order.

The order may specify the time by which any part of the result to be achieved by the Welsh Ministers is to be achieved.

Where an order under subsection (5) is in force in relation to an international obligation, references to the international obligation in subsections (1) to (3) are to an obligation to achieve so much of the result to be achieved under the international obligation as is specified in the order by the time or times so specified.

No order is to be made by the Secretary of State under subsection (2), (3) or (5) unless the Secretary of State has consulted the Welsh Ministers.

An order under this section must state the reasons for making it.

A statutory instrument containing— (a) subject to subsection (12), an order under subsection (1), or (b) an order under subsection (5), is (unless a draft of the statutory instrument has been approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament) subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

A statutory instrument containing only an order under subsection (1) revoking a previous order under that subsection— (a) is not subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament, but (b) is to be laid before Parliament.

No order is to be made under subsection (2) or (3) unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing it has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.

Subsections (1), (2) and (3) apply to the First Minister and the Counsel General as to the Welsh Ministers; and where subsection (9) operates in relation to an order under subsection (2) or (3) relating to the First Minister or the Counsel General the reference in subsection (9) to the Welsh Ministers is to the First Minister or the Counsel General.

In this section “action” includes making, confirming or approving subordinate legislation and in subsection (2) also includes introducing into the Senedd a proposed Assembly Measure or a Bill.

Arrangements may be made between the Welsh Ministers and any relevant authority for— (a) any functions of one of them to be exercised by the other, (b) any functions of the Welsh Ministers to be exercised by members of staff of the relevant authority, (c) any functions of the relevant authority to be exercised by members of the staff of the Welsh ... Government, or (d) the provision of administrative, professional or technical services by one of them for the other.

Any arrangements under paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of subsection (1) for the exercise of functions of the Welsh Ministers do not affect the responsibility of the Welsh Ministers; and such arrangements for the exercise of any functions of a relevant authority do not affect the responsibility of the relevant authority.

The references in subsections (1) and (2) to functions do not include functions of making, confirming or approving subordinate legislation contained in a statutory instrument.

In this section “relevant authority” means any Minister of the Crown or government department, any public authority (including any local authority) in England and Wales or the holder of any public office in England and Wales.

This section applies to the First Minister and the Counsel General as to the Welsh Ministers.

This section applies where— (a) an enactment confers or imposes a function exercisable in relation to England and Wales, and (b) the function is to any extent conferred or imposed on the Welsh Ministers by the enactment or transferred to, or made exercisable by, the Welsh Ministers by or by virtue of this Act.

The enactment is to be taken to permit— (a) the exercise of the function by the Welsh Ministers whether or not it is exercised otherwise than by the Welsh Ministers, and (b) the exercise of the function differently by the Welsh Ministers (on the one hand) and otherwise than by the Welsh Ministers (on the other).

The reference in subsection (1)(a) to a function exercisable in relation to England and Wales includes a function exercisable in relation both to England and Wales and to another country or territory or other countries or territories.

Subsection (2) is subject to— (a) the enactment by which the function is conferred or imposed on the Welsh Ministers, or (b) any provision by or by virtue of which the function is transferred to, or made exercisable by, the Welsh Ministers.

Subsection (2) does not limit any power to exercise a function in relation to Wales whether or not it is exercised in relation to England, or to exercise a function differently in relation to Wales and England, where this section does not apply.

In this section “enactment” includes a future enactment.

This section applies in relation to the First Minister and the Counsel General as to the Welsh Ministers.

So far as may be necessary for the purpose or in consequence of the exercise of any functions of the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General, any reference in any enactment or other document to— (a) a Minister of the Crown, or (b) a government department, (whether by name or in general terms) is to be construed as being or including a reference to the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General (according to by whom the function in question is exercisable).

References in any enactment to property vested in or held for the purposes of a government department is to be construed as including references to property vested in or held for the purposes of the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General (and in relation to property so vested or held the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General are each deemed to be a government department for the purposes of any enactment).

In this section “enactment” includes a future enactment.

This section applies where— (a) any enactment makes provision (“provision for Parliamentary laying”) for any report or statement to be laid before Parliament or either House of Parliament, (b) the report or statement is not one which, by or by virtue of this Act, is to be made by or given to the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister, the Counsel General or the Senedd Commission, and (c) the report or statement relates to matters with respect to which functions are exercisable by the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister, the Counsel General or the Senedd Commission.

If no functions relating to the matters are exercisable by a Minister of the Crown, the provision for Parliamentary laying is to be construed as provision for the report or statement to be laid before the Senedd instead of before Parliament or either House of Parliament.

If any are, the provision for Parliamentary laying is to be construed as provision for the report or statement to be laid before the Senedd as well as before Parliament or either House of Parliament.

In this section— (a) references to a report or statement include any other document (except one containing subordinate legislation), and (b) “enactment” includes a future enactment.

Property, rights and liabilities may belong to— (a) the Welsh Ministers by that name, (b) the First Minister by that name, or (c) the Counsel General by that name.

Property and rights acquired by or transferred to the Welsh Ministers belong to, and liabilities incurred by the Welsh Ministers are liabilities of, the Welsh Ministers for the time being.

Property and rights acquired by or transferred to any of the Welsh Ministers appointed under section 48 belong to, and liabilities incurred by any of those Welsh Ministers are liabilities of, the Welsh Ministers for the time being.

Property and rights acquired by or transferred to the First Minister belong to, and liabilities incurred by the First Minister are liabilities of, the First Minister for the time being.

Property and rights acquired by or transferred to the Counsel General belong to, and liabilities incurred by the Counsel General are liabilities of, the Counsel General for the time being.

In relation to property and rights acquired by or transferred to (or belonging to), or to liabilities incurred by— (a) the Welsh Ministers or any of the Welsh Ministers appointed under section 48, (b) the First Minister, or (c) the Counsel General, references to the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General in any register or other document are to be read in accordance with this section.

For provision about the transfer of property, rights and liabilities of Ministers of the Crown to the Welsh Ministers etc. see Schedule 4.

Rights and liabilities may arise between the Crown in right of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and the Crown in right of the Welsh ... Government by virtue of a contract, by operation of law or by virtue of an enactment as they may arise between subjects.

Property, rights and liabilities may be transferred between the Crown in one of those capacities and the Crown in the other capacity as they may be transferred between subjects; and they may together create, vary or extinguish any property, rights or liabilities as subjects may.

Proceedings in respect of— (a) any property, rights or liabilities to which the Crown in one of those capacities is entitled or subject under subsection (1) or (2), or (b) the exercise of, or failure to exercise, any function exercisable by an office-holder of the Crown in one of those capacities, may be instituted by the Crown in either capacity; and the Crown in the other capacity may be a separate party in the proceedings.

This section applies to the Crown in right of a devolved administration (other than the Welsh ... Government) as it applies to the Crown in right of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom.

In this section “office-holder” means— (a) in relation to the Crown in right of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, any Minister of the Crown or other office-holder under the Crown in that capacity, (b) in relation to the Crown in right of the Welsh ... Government, the First Minister, a Welsh Minister appointed under section 48 or the Counsel General, and (c) in relation to the Crown in right of a devolved administration other than the Welsh ... Government, an office-holder in that administration; and “subject” means a person not acting on behalf of the Crown.

A document is validly executed by the Welsh Ministers if it is executed by the First Minister or any Welsh Minister appointed under section 48.

The application of the seal of the Welsh Ministers is to be authenticated by the First Minister, any Welsh Minister appointed under section 48 or any person authorised by the Welsh Ministers (whether generally or specifically) for that purpose.

A document purporting to be— (a) duly executed under the seal of the Welsh Ministers, or (b) signed on behalf of the Welsh Ministers, is to be received in evidence and, unless the contrary is proved, is to be taken to be so executed or signed.

A certificate signed by the First Minister or a Welsh Minister appointed under section 48 that any document purporting to be executed by the Welsh Ministers or signed by them or on their behalf was so executed or signed is conclusive evidence of that fact.

A document purporting to be signed by or on behalf of— (a) the First Minister, or (b) the Counsel General, is to be received in evidence and, unless the contrary is proved, is to be taken to be so signed.

A certificate signed by the First Minister or the Counsel General that any document purporting to be signed by or on behalf of the First Minister or the Counsel General was so signed is conclusive evidence of that fact.

The Documentary Evidence Act 1868 (c. 37) (proof of documents) has effect as if— (a) in the first column of Schedule 1 there were included a reference to the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister, a Welsh Minister appointed under section 48 and the Counsel General, (b) in the second column of that Schedule there were included in connection with that reference a reference to a member of the staff of the Welsh ... Government, and (c) in section 2 of that Act the reference to regulations issued by or under the authority of an officer mentioned in the first column of the Schedule included a reference to any document issued by or under the authority of a person or persons within paragraph (a).

The validity of any act of a person as First Minister is not affected by any defect in the person's nomination by the Senedd .

The validity of any act of a person as the Counsel General is not affected by any defect in the Senedd's agreement to the person's appointment.

The following are Crown servants for the purposes of the Official Secrets Act 1989 (c. 6)— (a) the First Minister and any person designated to exercise the functions of the First Minister, (b) each Welsh Minister appointed under section 48, (c) the Counsel General and any person designated to exercise the functions of the Counsel General, and (d) each Deputy Welsh Minister.

The Senedd may make laws, to be known as Measures of the National Senedd for Wales or Mesurau Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru (referred to in this Act as “ Assembly Measures ”).

A proposed Assembly Measure is enacted by being passed by the Senedd and approved by Her Majesty in Council.

The validity of an Assembly Measure is not affected by any invalidity in the Senedd proceedings leading to its enactment.

Every Assembly Measure is to be judicially noticed.

This Part does not affect the power of the Parliament of the United Kingdom to make laws for Wales.

Subject to the provisions of this Part, an Assembly Measure may make any provision that could be made by an Act of Parliament.

An Assembly Measure is not law so far as any provision of the Assembly Measure is outside the Senedd's legislative competence.

A provision of an Assembly Measure is within the Senedd's legislative competence only if it falls within subsection (4) or (5).

A provision of an Assembly Measure falls within this subsection if— (a) it relates to one or more of the matters specified in Part 1 of Schedule 5 and does not fall within any of the exceptions specified in paragraph A1 of Part 2 of that Schedule (whether or not the exception is under a heading corresponding to the field which includes the matter)., and (b) it neither applies otherwise than in relation to Wales nor confers, imposes, modifies or removes (or gives power to confer, impose, modify or remove) functions exercisable otherwise than in relation to Wales.

A provision of an Assembly Measure falls within this subsection if— (a) it provides for the enforcement of a provision (of that or any other Assembly Measure) which falls within subsection (4) or it is otherwise appropriate for making such a provision effective, or (b) it is otherwise incidental to, or consequential on, such a provision.

But a provision which falls within subsection (4) or (5) is outside the Senedd's legislative competence if— (a) it breaches any of the restrictions in paragraphs 1 to 6 of Part 2 of Schedule 5, having regard to any exception in Part 3 of that Schedule from those restrictions, (b) it extends otherwise than only to England and Wales, or (c) it is incompatible with the Convention rights or with EU law.

For the purposes of this section the question whether a provision of an Assembly Measure relates to one or more of the matters specified in Part 1 of Schedule 5 (or falls within any of the exceptions specified in paragraph A1 of Part 2 of that Schedule) is to be determined by reference to the purpose of the provision, having regard (among other things) to its effect in all the circumstances.

Her Majesty may by Order in Council— (a) amend Part 1 of Schedule 5 to add a matter which relates to one or more of the fields listed in that Part, or to vary or remove any matter, (b) amend that Part to add a new field or to vary or remove any field, or (c) amend Part 2 or 3 of that Schedule.

An Order in Council under this section does not have effect to amend Part 1 of Schedule 5 by adding a field if, at the time when the amendment comes into force, no functions in the field are exercisable by the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General.

An Order in Council under this section may make such modifications of— (a) any enactment (including any enactment comprised in or made under this Act) or prerogative instrument, or (b) any other instrument or document, as Her Majesty considers appropriate in connection with the provision made by the Order in Council.

An Order in Council under this section may make provision having retrospective effect.

No recommendation is to be made to Her Majesty in Council to make an Order in Council under this section unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing the Order in Council— (a) has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the Senedd, and (b) having been so approved, has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.

As soon as is reasonably practicable after the draft of an Order in Council under this section has been approved by a resolution of the Senedd, the First Minister must ensure that— (a) notice in writing of the resolution, and (b) a copy of the draft, is sent to the Secretary of State.

The Secretary of State must, before the end of the period of 60 days beginning immediately after the day on which notice of the Senedd's resolution is received, either— (a) lay the draft before each House of Parliament, or (b) give notice in writing to the First Minister of the Secretary of State's refusal to do so and the reasons for that refusal.

As soon as is reasonably practicable after the First Minister receives notice of the Secretary of State's refusal to lay the draft before each House of Parliament and the reasons for that refusal— (a) the First Minister must lay a copy of the notice before the Senedd, and (b) the Senedd must ensure that it is published.

In reckoning the period of 60 days mentioned in subsection (7) no account is to be taken of any period during which Parliament is dissolved or prorogued or both Houses are adjourned for more than four days.

The amendment of Schedule 5 by an Order in Council under this section does not affect— (a) the validity of an Assembly Measure passed before the amendment comes into force, or (b) the previous or continuing operation of such an Assembly Measure.

The Counsel General or the Attorney General may refer to the Supreme Court for decision the question whether a matter which a proposed Order in Council under section 95 proposes to add to Part 1 of Schedule 5 relates to a field listed in that Part.

A proposed Assembly Measure may, subject to the standing orders, be introduced in the Senedd — (a) by the First Minister, any Welsh Minister appointed under section 48, any Deputy Welsh Minister or the Counsel General, or (b) by any other Member of the Senedd .

The person in charge of a proposed Assembly Measure must, on or before the introduction of the proposed Assembly Measure, state that, in that person's view, its provisions would be within the Senedd's legislative competence.

The Presiding Officer must, on or before the introduction of a proposed Assembly Measure in the Senedd — (a) decide whether or not, in the view of the Presiding Officer, the provisions of the proposed Assembly Measure would be within the Senedd's legislative competence, and (b) state that decision.

A statement under this section must be made in both English and Welsh; but, subject to that, the form of the statement and the manner in which it is to be made are to be determined under the standing orders.

The standing orders— (a) may provide for a statement under this section to be published, and (b) if they do so, must provide for it to be published in both English and Welsh.

The standing orders must include provision— (a) for general debate on a proposed Assembly Measure with an opportunity for Members of the Senedd to vote on its general principles, (b) for the consideration of, and an opportunity for Members of the Senedd to vote on, the details of a proposed Assembly Measure, and (c) for a final stage at which a proposed Assembly Measure can be passed or rejected.

Subsection (1) does not prevent the standing orders making provision to enable the Senedd to expedite proceedings in relation to a particular proposed Assembly Measure.

The standing orders may make provision different from that required by subsection (1) for the procedure applicable to proposed Assembly Measures of any of the following kinds— (a) proposed Assembly Measures which restate the law, (b) proposed Assembly Measures which repeal or revoke spent enactments, and (c) private proposed Assembly Measures.

The standing orders must include provision for securing that the Senedd may only pass a proposed Assembly Measure containing provisions which would, if contained in a Bill for an Act of Parliament, require the consent of Her Majesty or the Duke of Cornwall if such consent has been signified in accordance with the standing orders.

The standing orders must include provision for securing that the Senedd may only pass a proposed Assembly Measure if the text of the proposed Assembly Measure is in both English and Welsh, unless the circumstances are such as are specified by the standing orders as any in which the text need not be in both languages.

The standing orders must provide for an opportunity for the reconsideration of a proposed Assembly Measure after its passing if (and only if)— (a) the Supreme Court decides on a reference made in relation to the proposed Assembly Measure under section 99 that the proposed Assembly Measure or any provision of it would not be within the Senedd's legislative competence, (b) a reference made in relation to the proposed Assembly Measure under section 99 is withdrawn following a request for withdrawal of the reference under section 100(2)(b), or (c) an order is made in relation to the proposed Assembly Measure under section 101.

The standing orders must, in particular, ensure that any proposed Assembly Measure amended on reconsideration is subject to a final stage at which it can be approved or rejected.

References in subsections (4), (5) and (6) of this section and sections 93(2) and 95(10) to the passing of a proposed Assembly Measure are, in the case of a proposed Assembly Measure which has been amended on reconsideration, to be read as references to its approval.

The Counsel General or the Attorney General may refer the question whether a proposed Assembly Measure, or any provision of a proposed Assembly Measure, would be within the Senedd's legislative competence to the Supreme Court for decision.

Subject to subsection (3), the Counsel General or the Attorney General may make a reference in relation to a proposed Assembly Measure at any time during— (a) the period of four weeks beginning with the passing of the proposed Assembly Measure, and (b) any period of four weeks beginning with any subsequent approval of the proposed Assembly Measure in accordance with provision included in the standing orders in compliance with section 98(7).

No reference may be made in relation to a proposed Assembly Measure— (a) by the Counsel General if the Counsel General has notified the Clerk that no reference is to be made in relation to it by the Counsel General, or (b) by the Attorney General if the Attorney General has notified the Clerk that no reference is to be made in relation to it by the Attorney General.

But subsection (3) does not apply if the proposed Assembly Measure has been approved as mentioned in subsection (2)(b) since the notification.

This section applies where— (a) a reference has been made in relation to a proposed Assembly Measure under section 99, (b) a reference for a preliminary European Court ruling has been made by the Supreme Court in connection with that reference, and (c) neither of those references has been decided or otherwise disposed of.

If the Senedd resolves that it wishes to reconsider the proposed Assembly Measure— (a) the Clerk must notify the Counsel General and the Attorney General of that fact, and (b) the person who made the reference in relation to the proposed Assembly Measure under section 99 must request the withdrawal of the reference.

In this section “ a reference for a preliminary European Court ruling ” means a reference of a question to the European Court under Article 234 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, Article 41 of the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community or Article 150 of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community.

This section applies if a proposed Assembly Measure contains provisions which the Secretary of State has reasonable grounds to believe— (a) would have an adverse effect on any matter which is not specified in Part 1 of Schedule 5 (or falls within any of the exceptions specified in paragraph A1 of Part 2 of that Schedule), (b) might have a serious adverse impact on water resources in England, water supply in England or the quality of water in England, (c) would have an adverse effect on the operation of the law as it applies in England, or (d) would be incompatible with any international obligation or the interests of defence or national security.

The Secretary of State may make an order prohibiting the Clerk from submitting the proposed Assembly Measure for approval by Her Majesty in Council.

The order must identify the proposed Assembly Measure and the provisions in question and state the reasons for making the order.

The order may be made at any time during— (a) the period of four weeks beginning with the passing of the proposed Assembly Measure, (b) any period of four weeks beginning with any subsequent approval of the proposed Assembly Measure in accordance with provision included in the standing orders in compliance with section 98(7), or (c) if a reference is made in relation to the proposed Assembly Measure under section 99, the period of four weeks beginning with the reference being decided or otherwise disposed of by the Supreme Court.

The Secretary of State must not make an order in relation to a proposed Assembly Measure if the Secretary of State has notified the Clerk that no order is to be made in relation to the proposed Assembly Measure.

Subsection (5) does not apply if the proposed Assembly Measure has been approved as mentioned in subsection (4)(b) since the notification.

An order in force under this section at a time when such approval is given ceases to have effect.

A statutory instrument containing an order under this section is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

It is for the Clerk to submit proposed Assembly Measures for approval by Her Majesty in Council.

The Clerk may not submit a proposed Assembly Measure for approval by Her Majesty in Council at any time when— (a) the Attorney General or the Counsel General is entitled to make a reference in relation to the proposed Assembly Measure under section 99, (b) such a reference has been made but has not been decided or otherwise disposed of by the Supreme Court, or (c) an order may be made in relation to the proposed Assembly Measure under section 101.

The Clerk may not submit a proposed Assembly Measure in its unamended form for approval by Her Majesty in Council if— (a) the Supreme Court has decided on a reference made in relation to the proposed Assembly Measure under section 99 that the proposed Assembly Measure or any provision of it would not be within the Senedd's legislative competence, or (b) a reference made in relation to the proposed Assembly Measure under section 99 has been withdrawn following a request for withdrawal of the reference under section 100(2)(b).

Once an Assembly Measure has been approved by Her Majesty in Council, the Clerk of the Privy Council must send the Order in Council approving the Assembly Measure to the Clerk.

The date of the approval by Her Majesty in Council of an Assembly Measure is to be written on the Assembly Measure by the Clerk, and forms part of the Assembly Measure.

The Clerk must publish the Order in Council by which an Assembly Measure is approved.

The standing orders must include provision for the notification by the Clerk to the Senedd of the date of the approval of an Assembly Measure by Her Majesty in Council.

The validity of an Assembly Measure is not affected by any failure to comply with provision made by or by virtue of subsection (4), (5) or (7).

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Senedd may make laws, to be known as Acts of Senedd Cymru or Deddfau Senedd Cymru (referred to in this Act as “Acts of the Senedd”).

Proposed Acts of the Senedd are to be known as Bills; and a Bill becomes an Act of the Senedd when it has been passed by the Senedd and has received Royal Assent.

The validity of an Act of the Senedd is not affected by any invalidity in the Senedd proceedings leading to its enactment.

Every Act of the Senedd is to be judicially noticed.

This Part does not affect the power of the Parliament of the United Kingdom to make laws for Wales.

But it is recognised that the Parliament of the United Kingdom will not normally legislate with regard to devolved matters without the consent of the Senedd.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

An Act of the Senedd is not law so far as any provision of the Act is outside the Senedd's legislative competence.

A provision is outside that competence so far as any of the following paragraphs apply— (a) it extends otherwise than only to England and Wales; (b) it applies otherwise than in relation to Wales or confers, imposes, modifies or removes (or gives power to confer, impose, modify or remove) functions exercisable otherwise than in relation to Wales; (c) it relates to reserved matters (see Schedule 7A); (d) it breaches any of the restrictions in Part 1 of Schedule 7B, having regard to any exception in Part 2 of that Schedule from those restrictions; (e) it is incompatible with the Convention rights ....

But subsection (2)(b) does not apply to a provision that— (a) is ancillary to a provision of any Act of the Senedd or Assembly Measure or to a devolved provision of an Act of Parliament, and (b) has no greater effect otherwise than in relation to Wales, or in relation to functions exercisable otherwise than in relation to Wales, than is necessary to give effect to the purpose of that provision.

For this purpose, a provision of an Act of Parliament is ““devolved”” if it would be within the Senedd's legislative competence if it were contained in an Act of the Senedd (ignoring any requirement for consent or consultation imposed under paragraph 8, 10 or 11 of Schedule 7B or otherwise).

References in subsections (2)(b) and (3) to Wales include, in relation to a relevant provision of an Act of the Senedd, the area of the Welsh zone beyond the seaward limit of the territorial sea. A provision of an Act of the Senedd is “relevant” if it relates to fishing, fisheries or fish health.

In determining what is necessary for the purposes of subsection (3), any power to make laws other than that of the Senedd is disregarded.

The question whether a provision of an Act of the Senedd relates to a reserved matter is determined by reference to the purpose of the provision, having regard (among other things) to its effect in all the circumstances.

For the purposes of this Act a provision is ancillary to another provision if it— (a) provides for the enforcement of the other provision or is otherwise appropriate for making that provision effective, or (b) is otherwise incidental to, or consequential on, that provision.

Her Majesty may by Order in Council amend Schedule 7A or 7B.

An Order in Council under this section may make such modifications of— (a) any enactment (including any enactment comprised in or made under this Act) or prerogative instrument, or (b) any other instrument or document, as Her Majesty considers appropriate in connection with the provision made by the Order in Council.

An Order in Council under this section may make provision having retrospective effect.

No recommendation is to be made to Her Majesty in Council to make an Order in Council under this section unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing the Order in Council has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament and the Senedd .

Any alteration of Schedule 7A or 7B, whether by virtue of the making, revocation or expiry of an Order in Council under this section or otherwise, does not (unless an enactment provides otherwise) affect— (a) the validity of an Act of the Senedd passed before the alteration takes effect, or (b) the previous or continuing operation of such an Act of the Senedd .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A Bill may, subject to the standing orders, be introduced in the Senedd — (a) by the First Minister, any Welsh Minister appointed under section 48 any Deputy Welsh Minister or the Counsel General, or (b) by any other Member of the Senedd .

The person in charge of a Bill must, on or before the introduction of the Bill, state that, in that person's view, its provisions would be within the Senedd's legislative competence.

The Presiding Officer must, on or before the introduction of a Bill in the Senedd — (a) decide whether or not, in the view of the Presiding Officer, the provisions of the Bill would be within the Senedd's legislative competence, and (b) state that decision.

A statement under this section must be made in both English and Welsh; but, subject to that, the form of the statement and the manner in which it is to be made are to be determined under the standing orders.

The standing orders— (a) may provide for a statement under this section to be published, and (b) if they do so, must provide for it to be published in both English and Welsh.

The standing orders must include provision requiring the person in charge of a Bill, on or before the introduction of the Bill, to make a written statement setting out the potential impact (if any) on the justice system in England and Wales of the provisions of the Bill (a ““justice impact assessment””).

The form of the justice impact assessment and the manner in which it is to be made are to be determined under the standing orders.

The standing orders must provide for the justice impact assessment to be published.

The standing orders must include provision— (a) for general debate on a Bill with an opportunity for Members of the Senedd to vote on its general principles, (b) for the consideration of, and an opportunity for Members of the Senedd to vote on, the details of a Bill, and (c) for a final stage at which a Bill can be passed or rejected.

Subsection (1) does not prevent the standing orders making provision to enable the Senedd to expedite proceedings in relation to a particular Bill.

The standing orders may make provision different from that required by subsection (1) for the procedure applicable to Bills of any of the following kinds— (a) Bills which restate the law, (b) Bills which repeal or revoke spent enactments, and (c) private Bills.

The standing orders must include provision for securing that the Senedd may only pass a Bill containing provisions which would, if contained in a Bill for an Act of Parliament, require the consent of Her Majesty or the Duke of Cornwall if such consent has been signified in accordance with the standing orders.

The standing orders must include provision for securing that the Senedd may only pass a Bill if the text of the Bill is in both English and Welsh, unless the circumstances are such as are specified by the standing orders as any in which the text need not be in both languages.

The standing orders must provide for an opportunity for the reconsideration of a Bill after its passing if (and only if)— (za) the Supreme Court decides on a reference made in relation to the Bill under section 111B(2)(b) (reference following Presiding Officer's decision that Bill does not contain protected subject-matter) that any provision of the Bill relates to a protected subject-matter, (a) the Supreme Court decides on a reference made in relation to the Bill under section 112 that the Bill or any provision of it would not be within the Senedd's legislative competence, (b) ... or (c) an order is made in relation to the Bill under section 114.

The standing orders must provide for an opportunity for the reconsideration of a Bill after its rejection if (and only if), on a reference made in relation to the Bill under section 111B(2)(a) (reference following Presiding Officer's decision that Bill contains protected subject-matter), the Supreme Court decides that no provision that is subject to the reference relates to a protected subject-matter.

The standing orders must, in particular, ensure that— (a) any Bill amended on reconsideration in accordance with standing orders made by virtue of subsection (6)(a) ... or (c), and (b) any Bill reconsidered in accordance with standing orders made by virtue of subsection (6)(za) or (6A), is subject to a final stage at which it can be approved or rejected.

References in subsections (4), (5) and (6) of this section and sections 107(2), 109(5) , 111A(3) and (4), 111B(2)(b) , 116(3) and 116C (4) to the passing of a Bill are, in the case of a Bill to which subsection (7)(a) or (b) applies, to be read as references to its approval.

For the purposes of this Part a provision of a Bill relates to a protected subject-matter if it would modify, or confer power to modify, any of the matters listed in subsection (2) (but not if the provision is incidental to or consequential on another provision of the Bill).

The matters are— (a) the name of the Senedd , (b) the persons entitled to vote as electors at an election for membership of the Senedd , (c) the system by which members of the Senedd are returned, (d) the specification or number of constituencies, regions or any equivalent electoral area, (e) the number of members to be returned for each constituency, region or equivalent electoral area, and (f) the number of persons who may hold the office of Welsh Minister appointed under section 48 or the office of Deputy Welsh Minister.

The Presiding Officer must, after the last time when a Bill may be amended but before the decision whether to pass or reject it— (a) decide whether or not, in the view of the Presiding Officer, any provision of the Bill relates to a protected subject-matter, and (b) state that decision.

If the Presiding Officer decides that any provision of the Bill relates to a protected subject-matter, the Bill is not passed unless the number of Members of the Senedd voting in favour of it at the final stage is at least two-thirds of the total number of Senedd seats.

The Counsel General or the Attorney General may refer the question whether any provision of a Bill relates to a protected subject-matter to the Supreme Court for decision.

Subject to subsection (3), the Counsel General or the Attorney General may make a reference in relation to a Bill— (a) at any time during the period of four weeks beginning with the rejection of the Bill, if the Presiding Officer has decided under section 111A(3) that a provision of the Bill relates to a protected subject-matter, or (b) at any time during the period of four weeks beginning with the passing of the Bill, if the Presiding Officer has decided under section 111A(3) that no provision of the Bill relates to a protected subject-matter, unless the number of Members of the Senedd voting in favour of the Bill at its passing is at least two-thirds of the total number of Senedd seats.

No reference may be made in relation to a Bill— (a) by the Counsel General if the Counsel General has notified the Presiding Officer that no reference is to be made in relation to it by the Counsel General, or (b) by the Attorney General if the Attorney General has notified the Presiding Officer that no reference is to be made in relation to it by the Attorney General.

But subsection (3) does not apply if the Bill has, since the notification, been approved or rejected in accordance with standing orders made by virtue of section 111(7).

The Counsel General or the Attorney General may refer the question whether a Bill, or any provision of a Bill, would be within the Senedd's legislative competence to the Supreme Court for decision.

Subject to subsection (3), the Counsel General or the Attorney General may make a reference in relation to a Bill at any time during— (a) the period of four weeks beginning with the passing of the Bill, and (b) any period of four weeks beginning with any ... approval of the Bill in accordance with provision included in the standing orders in compliance with section 111(7).

No reference may be made in relation to a Bill— (a) by the Counsel General if the Counsel General has notified the Presiding Officer that no reference is to be made in relation to it by the Counsel General, or (b) by the Attorney General if the Attorney General has notified the Presiding Officer that no reference is to be made in relation to it by the Attorney General.

But subsection (3) does not apply if the Bill has been approved as mentioned in subsection (2)(b) since the notification.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

This section applies if a Bill contains provisions which the Secretary of State has reasonable grounds to believe— (a) would have an adverse effect on a reserved matter, (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (c) would have an adverse effect on the operation of the law as it applies in England, or (d) would be incompatible with any international obligation or the interests of defence or national security.

The Secretary of State may make an order prohibiting the Presiding Officer from submitting the Bill for Royal Assent.

The order must identify the Bill and the provisions in question and state the reasons for making the order.

The order may be made at any time during— (a) the period of four weeks beginning with the passing of the Bill, (b) any period of four weeks beginning with any ... approval of the Bill in accordance with provision included in the standing orders in compliance with section 111(7), or (c) if a reference is made in relation to the Bill under section 111B or 112, the period of four weeks beginning with the reference being decided or otherwise disposed of by the Supreme Court.

The Secretary of State must not make an order in relation to a Bill if the Secretary of State has notified the Presiding Officer that no order is to be made in relation to the Bill.

Subsection (5) does not apply if the Bill has been approved as mentioned in subsection (4)(b) since the notification.

An order in force under this section at a time when such approval is given ceases to have effect.

A statutory instrument containing an order under this section is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

It is for the Presiding Officer to submit Bills for Royal Assent.

The Presiding Officer may not submit a Bill for Royal Assent at any time when— (a) the Attorney General or the Counsel General is entitled to make a reference in relation to the Bill under section 111B or 112, (b) such a reference has been made but has not been decided or otherwise disposed of by the Supreme Court, or (c) an order may be made in relation to the Bill under section 114.

The Presiding Officer may not submit a Bill in its unamended form for Royal Assent if— (a) the Supreme Court has decided on a reference made in relation to the Bill under section 112 that the Bill or any provision of it would not be within the Senedd's legislative competence, ... (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Presiding Officer may not submit a Bill for Royal Assent if the Supreme Court has decided on a reference made in relation to the Bill under section 111B(2)(b) (reference following Presiding Officer's decision that Bill does not contain protected subject-matter) that any provision of the Bill relates to a protected subject-matter unless, since the decision, the Bill has been approved in accordance with standing orders made by virtue of section 111(7).

A Bill receives Royal Assent when Letters Patent under the Welsh Seal signed with Her Majesty's own hand signifying Her Assent are notified to the Clerk.

The Keeper of the Welsh Seal (see section 116(2)) must make arrangements to send the Letters Patent to the National Library of Wales.

The date of Royal Assent is to be written on the Act of the Senedd by the Clerk, and forms part of the Act.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The National Library of Wales must ensure that the ... Letters Patent it receives are preserved and open to public inspection at all reasonable times.

The standing orders must include provision for notification by the Clerk to the Senedd of the date of Royal Assent to an Act of the Senedd .

The validity of an Act of the Senedd is not affected by any failure to comply with provision made by or by virtue of subsection (4), (5) or (6).

There is to be a Welsh Seal.

The First Minister is to be the Keeper of the Welsh Seal.

Her Majesty may by Order in Council make provision as to— (a) the form and manner of preparation, and (b) the publication, of Letters Patent signed with Her Majesty's own hand signifying Her Assent to a Bill passed by the Senedd and all royal proclamations under section 4(2) and section 5(4), which have passed under the Welsh Seal.

A statutory instrument containing an Order in Council under subsection (3) is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the Senedd .

In this Part— (a) Chapter 2 confers on the Senedd power to set rates of income tax to be paid by Welsh taxpayers, and (b) Chapters 3 and 4 specify particular taxes as devolved taxes about which the Senedd may make provision in the exercise of the power conferred by section 107(1).

The power to make provision about a devolved tax is subject to the restrictions imposed by— (a) subsection (3), and (b) the other provisions of this Part.

A devolved tax may not be imposed where to do so would be incompatible with any international obligations.

In this Act “ devolved tax ” means a tax specified in this Part as a devolved tax.

This section applies where an Act of the Senedd establishes a body that is to be responsible for the collection and management of devolved taxes (whether or not the body is also to be responsible for local government finance or any other matter).

In this section “ relevant official ” means an officer or member of staff of the body mentioned in subsection (1) who has no functions other than functions relating to— (a) the collection or management of devolved taxes, or (b) local government finance.

If an Act of the Senedd provides that service as a relevant official is service in the civil service of the State, that provision is not to be regarded as falling outside the Senedd's legislative competence by virtue of section 108A(2)(b) or (c).

In subsections (5) to (7), “ relevant civil servant ” means a relevant official whose service is service in the civil service of the State by virtue of provision of the kind mentioned in subsection (3).

The Welsh Ministers must pay the salaries and expenses of relevant civil servants.

The Welsh Ministers must make payments to the Minister for the Civil Service, at such times as the Minister for the Civil Service may determine, of such amounts as may be so determined in respect of— (a) the provision of pensions, allowances or gratuities by virtue of section 1 of the Superannuation Act 1972 or section 1 of the Public Service Pensions Act 2013 to or in respect of persons who are or have been relevant civil servants, and (b) the expenses incurred in administering those pensions, allowances and gratuities.

The Welsh Ministers may make payments towards the provision of pensions, allowances or gratuities to or in respect of any person who is or has been a relevant civil servant.

Her Majesty may by Order in Council amend this Part so as to— (a) specify, as an additional devolved tax, a tax of any description, or (b) make any other modifications of the provisions relating to devolved taxes which She considers appropriate.

An Order in Council under this section may make such modifications of— (a) any enactment (including any enactment comprised in or made under this Act) or prerogative instrument, or (b) any other instrument or document, as Her Majesty considers appropriate in connection with the provision made by the Order.

No recommendation is to be made to Her Majesty in Council to make an Order in Council under this section unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing the Order has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament and the Senedd .

The amendment of this Part by an Order in Council under this section does not affect— (a) the validity of an Act of the Senedd passed before the amendment comes into force, or (b) the previous or continuing operation of such an Act of the Senedd .

The Senedd may by resolution (a “Welsh rate resolution”) set one or more of the following— (a) a Welsh rate for the purpose of calculating the Welsh basic rate; (b) a Welsh rate for the purpose of calculating the Welsh higher rate; (c) a Welsh rate for the purpose of calculating the Welsh additional rate.

See section 6B of the Income Tax Act 2007 for provision about the calculation of the Welsh basic, higher and additional rates and section 11B of that Act for provision about the income of Welsh taxpayers charged at those rates.

A Welsh rate resolution applies— (a) for only one tax year, and (b) for the whole of that year.

Any Welsh rate specified must be a whole number or half a whole number.

A Welsh rate resolution— (a) must specify the tax year for which it applies, (b) must be made before the start of that tax year, and (c) must not be made more than 12 months before the start of that year.

If a Welsh rate resolution is cancelled before the start of the tax year for which it is to apply— (a) the Income Tax Acts have effect for that year as if the resolution had never been made, and (b) the resolution may be replaced by another Welsh rate resolution.

The standing orders must provide that only the First Minister or a Welsh Minister appointed under section 48 may move a motion for a Welsh rate resolution.

For any tax year, a Welsh taxpayer is an individual (T)— (a) who is resident in the UK for income tax purposes for that year (see Schedule 45 to the Finance Act 2013), and (b) who, for that year, meets condition A, B or C.

T meets condition A if T has a close connection with Wales (see section 116G).

T meets condition B if— (a) T does not have a close connection with England, Scotland or Northern Ireland (see section 116G), and (b) T spends more days of that year in Wales than in any other part of the UK (see section 116H).

T meets condition C if, for the whole or any part of the year, T is— (a) a member of Parliament for a constituency in Wales, or (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (c) a Member of the Senedd.

Subsection (1) does not apply if T is a Scottish parliamentarian for the whole or any part of the year (see section 116F).

For the purposes of subsection (5) and section 116F, T is a Scottish parliamentarian if T is a member as described in paragraph (a) or (c) of section 80D(4) of the Scotland Act 1998 (definition of a Scottish taxpayer).

In this Chapter “the UK” means the United Kingdom.

An individual (T) who is a Scottish parliamentarian for the whole or any part of a tax year is a Welsh taxpayer for that tax year if— (a) T is resident in the UK for income tax purposes for that year (see Schedule 45 to the Finance Act 2013), (b) T meets condition C in section 116E for that year, and (c) T meets either of the following conditions for that year.

T meets the first condition if— (a) the number of days in that year on which T is a member as described in paragraph (a) or (c) of section 116E(4), exceeds (b) the number of days in that year on which T is a Scottish parliamentarian.

T meets the second condition if— (a) the number of days in that year mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (2) are the same, and (b) T meets condition A or B in section 116E for that year.

To find whether, for any year, T has a close connection with any part of the UK see— (a) subsection (2) (where T has only one place of residence in the UK), or (b) subsection (3) (where T has 2 or more places of residence in the UK).

T has a close connection with a part of the UK if in that year— (a) T has only one place of residence in the UK, (b) that place of residence is in that part of the UK, and (c) for at least part of the year, T lives at that place.

T has a close connection with a part of the UK if in that year— (a) T has 2 or more places of residence in the UK, (b) for at least part of the year, T's main place of residence in the UK is in that part of the UK, (c) the times in the year when T's main place of residence is in that part of the UK comprise (in aggregate) more of the year than the times when T's main place of residence is in each other part of the UK (considered separately), and (d) for at least part of the year, T lives at a place of residence in that part of the UK.

In this section “place” includes a place on board a vessel or other means of transport.

T spends more days of a year in Wales than in any other part of the UK if (and only if) the number of days in the year on which T is in Wales at the end of the day exceeds each of the following— (a) the number of days in the year on which T is in England at the end of the day; (b) the number of days in the year on which T is in Scotland at the end of the day; (c) the number of days in the year on which T is in Northern Ireland at the end of the day.

T is treated as not being in the UK at the end of a day if— (a) on that day T arrives in the UK as a passenger, (b) T departs from the UK on the next day, and (c) during the time between arrival and departure T does not engage in activities which are to a substantial extent unrelated to T's passage through the UK.

The Treasury may by order modify section 11B of the Income Tax Act 2007 (income charged at the Welsh basic, higher and additional rates) for the purpose of altering— (a) the definition of the income which is charged to income tax at the rates provided for under the section, or (b) the application of the section in relation to a particular class of income which is so charged.

The Treasury may by order modify any enactment not contained in Chapter 2 of Part 2 of the Income Tax Act 2007 (rates at which income tax is charged) so that it makes provision, in relation to a Welsh taxpayer, by reference to the Welsh basic rate, the Welsh higher rate or the Welsh additional rate, instead of the basic rate, the higher rate or the additional rate.

If the Treasury consider it necessary or expedient to do so, they may by order provide that— (a) a Welsh rate set by the Senedd for a tax year for the purpose of calculating the Welsh basic rate, Welsh higher rate or Welsh additional rate, or (b) the fact that a Welsh rate has not been set by the Senedd for a tax year for any one or more of those purposes, does not require any change in the amounts repayable or deductible under PAYE regulations between the beginning of that year and such later date as may be specified in the order.

The Treasury may by order make such modifications of any enactment as they consider necessary or expedient in consequence of or in connection with an order under subsection (1), (2) or (3).

An order under this section may, to the extent that the Treasury consider it to be appropriate, take effect retrospectively from the beginning of the tax year in which the order is made.

No order is to be made under subsection (1), (2) or (4) unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing it has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the House of Commons.

A statutory instrument containing an order under subsection (3) is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the House of Commons.

The power under subsection (1) does not include power to provide that any income which is— (a) savings income, or (b) dividend income which would otherwise be charged to income tax at a rate provided for under section 13 of the Income Tax Act 2007, is income which is charged to income tax at a rate provided for under section 11B of that Act.

The Welsh Ministers may reimburse any Minister of the Crown or government department for administrative expenses incurred by virtue of this Chapter at any time after the passing of the Wales Act 2014 by the Minister or department.

The Comptroller and Auditor General must for each financial year prepare a report on the matters set out in subsection (2).

Those matters are— (a) the adequacy of any of HMRC's rules and procedures put in place, in consequence of the Welsh rate provisions, for the purpose of ensuring the proper assessment and collection of income tax charged at rates determined under those provisions, (b) whether the rules and procedures described in paragraph (a) are being complied with, (c) the correctness of the sums brought to account by HMRC which relate to income tax which is attributable to a Welsh rate resolution, and (d) the accuracy and fairness of the amounts which are reimbursed to HMRC under section 116J (having been identified by it as administrative expenses incurred as a result of the charging of income tax as mentioned in paragraph (a)).

“The Welsh rate provisions” are— (a) any provision made by or under this Chapter, and (b) any provision made by or under the Income Tax Acts relating to the Welsh basic rate, the Welsh higher rate or the Welsh additional rate.

A report under this section may also include an assessment of the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which HMRC has used its resources in carrying out relevant functions.

“Relevant functions” are functions of HMRC in the performance of which HMRC incurs administrative expenses which are reimbursed to HMRC under section 116J (having been identified by it as administrative expenses incurred as a result of the charging of income tax as mentioned in subsection (2)(a)).

HMRC must give the Comptroller and Auditor General such information as the Comptroller and Auditor General may reasonably require for the purposes of preparing a report under this section.

A report prepared under this section must be laid before the Senedd not later than 31 January of the financial year following that to which the report relates.

In this section “HMRC” means Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.

A tax which is charged on a Welsh land transaction and complies with the requirements of this section is a devolved tax.

In this Chapter a “ Welsh land transaction ” means an acquisition of— (a) an estate, interest, right or power in or over land in Wales; (b) the benefit of an obligation, restriction or condition affecting the value of any such estate, interest, right or power.

The tax may be chargeable— (a) whether or not there is any instrument effecting the transaction, (b) if there is such an instrument, regardless of where it is executed, and (c) regardless of where any party to the transaction is or is resident.

The tax may not be imposed on so much of a Welsh land transaction as relates to land below mean low water mark.

The following persons are not to be liable to pay the tax— Government A Minister of the Crown The Welsh Ministers, the First Minister and the Counsel General The Scottish Ministers A Northern Ireland department Parliament etc The Corporate Officer of the House of Lords The Corporate Officer of the House of Commons The Senedd Commission The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body The Northern Ireland Senedd Commission.

The Welsh Revenue Authority must provide to HMRC such of the information falling within subsection (2) as HMRC may require.

Information falls within this subsection if it— (a) is relevant information in relation to a Welsh land transaction, and (b) is in the possession or under the control of the person.

“ Relevant information ”, in relation to a Welsh land transaction, means information which— (a) corresponds to any of the particulars which would be required under Schedule 2 to the Finance Act 1931, but for section 28(3)(c) of that Act, or (b) uniquely identifies, or assists in uniquely identifying, any person who gives consideration for, or is a party to, the transaction.

Information is to be provided under subsection (1) in such form as HMRC may reasonably specify.

Information acquired by HMRC under this section is to be treated, for the purposes of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005, as acquired in connection with a function of theirs.

In this section, “ HMRC ” means Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.

A tax charged on disposals to landfill made in Wales is a devolved tax.

A disposal is a disposal to landfill if— (a) it is a disposal of material as waste, and (b) it is made by way of landfill.

There is to be a Welsh Consolidated Fund.

The Welsh Consolidated Fund is to be held with the Paymaster General.

The Secretary of State must from time to time make payments into the Welsh Consolidated Fund out of money provided by Parliament of such amounts as the Secretary of State may determine.

Any Minister of the Crown, and any government department, may make payments to the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General of such amounts as may be determined by the Minister of the Crown or those responsible in the department.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any sum received by or on behalf of— (a) the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General, (b) the Senedd Commission, (c) the Wales Audit Office, or (d) the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, is to be paid into the Welsh Consolidated Fund (unless it is paid out of that Fund, and subject as follows); and this subsection applies in spite of provision contained in any other enactment unless the enactment provides expressly that any such sum is not to be paid into the Welsh Consolidated Fund.

If and to the extent that sums received as mentioned in subsection (1) are received in connection with resources— (a) which are within a category specified by resolution of the Senedd for the purposes of this subsection, (b) which accrued to a person within subsection (1), and (c) the retention of which by that person is authorised by a Budget resolution of the Senedd for the financial year in which the resources accrued, the sums may be retained for use for the services and purposes specified in a Budget resolution of the Senedd for the financial year in which they are received as services and purposes for which retained resources may be used.

The Treasury may, after consulting the Welsh Ministers, by order designate any description of sums received as mentioned in subsection (1).

The Welsh Ministers must make payments to the Secretary of State of sums equal to the total amount of sums of that description.

Payments by the Welsh Ministers under subsection (4) are to be made at such times, and by such methods, as the Treasury may from time to time determine.

Sums required for the making of the payments are to be charged on the Welsh Consolidated Fund.

A statutory instrument containing an order under subsection (3) is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the House of Commons.

In this Act “Budget resolution of the Senedd” means a resolution on an annual Budget motion (see section 125) or a supplementary Budget motion (see section 126).

The Welsh Ministers may borrow from the Secretary of State— (a) any amounts it appears to them are required by them for the purpose of meeting a temporary excess of sums paid out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund over sums paid into that Fund, (b) any amounts it appears to them are required by them for the purpose of providing a working balance in the Welsh Consolidated Fund, and (c) any amounts which in accordance with rules determined by the Treasury are required by the Welsh Ministers to meet current expenditure because of a shortfall in receipts from devolved taxes, or from income tax charged by virtue of a Welsh rate resolution, against forecast receipts.

The Welsh Ministers may, with the approval of the Treasury, borrow by way of loan or by the issue of bonds (but not bonds transferable by delivery) any amounts it appears to them are required by them for the purpose of meeting capital expenditure.

An amount is required for the purpose of meeting capital expenditure if the expenditure would be capital expenditure for the purposes of accounts under section 131.

Amounts borrowed under this section from the Secretary of State must be repaid to the Secretary of State at such times and by such methods, and interest on such sums must be paid to the Secretary of State at such rates and at such times, as the Treasury may from time to time determine.

Sums required for the repayment of, or the payment of interest on, amounts borrowed under this section are to be charged on the Welsh Consolidated Fund.

The Secretary of State may by order made with the consent of the Treasury amend subsection (1A) so as to vary the means by which the Welsh Ministers may borrow money.

No order is to be made under subsection (4) unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing it has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the House of Commons.

The Treasury may issue to the Secretary of State out of the National Loans Fund such sums as the Secretary of State needs for making loans under section 121.

The aggregate outstanding in respect of the principal of sums borrowed under section 121(1) must not exceed £500 million.

The Secretary of State may by order made with the consent of the Treasury substitute for the amount for the time being specified in subsection (2) such ... amount as is specified in the order.

An amount substituted under subsection (3) may be more or less than the amount for which it is substituted but may not be less than £500 million.

No order is to be made under subsection (3) unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing it has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the House of Commons.

Sums received by the Secretary of State under section 121(2) must be paid into the National Loans Fund.

The aggregate at any time outstanding in respect of the principal of amounts borrowed under section 121(1A) shall not exceed £1,100 million.

The Secretary of State may by order made with the consent of the Treasury substitute for the amount for the time being specified in subsection (1) such amount as may be specified in the order.

An amount substituted under subsection (2) may be more or less than the amount for which it is substituted but may not be less than £1,000 million.

No order is to be made under subsection (2) unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing it has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the House of Commons.

A person lending money to a member of the Welsh Government— (a) is not bound to enquire whether the member of the Welsh Government has power to borrow the money, and (b) is not to be prejudiced by the absence of any such power.

The Welsh Ministers may not mortgage or charge any of their property as security for money which they have borrowed under section 121(1A). This is subject to section 121(3) (charging of sums on the Welsh Consolidated Fund).

Security given in breach of subsection (6) is unenforceable.

The Secretary of State must for each financial year prepare accounts in such form and manner as the Treasury may direct of— (a) loans made by the Secretary of State under section 121 or treated as made by paragraph 11(6) of Schedule 3 or paragraph 44(6) of Schedule 11, and (b) repayments and payments of interest made to the Secretary of State in respect of those loans.

The Secretary of State must send accounts under subsection (1) relating to a financial year to the Comptroller and Auditor General no later than five months after the end of the financial year.

The Comptroller and Auditor General must— (a) examine, certify and report on accounts sent under subsection (2), and (b) lay copies of the accounts, together with the report prepared under paragraph (a), before each House of Parliament.

A sum may only be paid out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund if— (a) it has been charged on that Fund by any enactment, or (b) its payment out is authorised or deemed to be authorised by a Budget resolution of the Senedd (see sections 125 to 128) for or in connection with either of the purposes mentioned in subsection (2), and an approval to draw the payment of the sum out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund is granted by the Auditor General (see section 129).

Those purposes are— (a) meeting expenditure of a relevant person, and (b) meeting expenditure payable pursuant to a relevant enactment.

For the purposes of this section and sections 125 to 128 the relevant persons are— (a) the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister and the Counsel General, (b) the Senedd Commission, (c) the Wales Audit Office, and (d) the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.

For the purposes of this section and sections 125 to 128 a relevant enactment is an enactment which provides for payment out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund.

A sum paid out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund may not be applied for any purpose other than that for which it was charged or (as the case may be) paid out.

This section does not apply to sums paid out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund by virtue of section 130.

Any enactment which— (a) charges the payment of sums on the Consolidated Fund or requires or authorises the payment of any sum from the Consolidated Fund, or (b) requires or authorises the payment of sums out of money provided by Parliament, does not have effect if the sums are payable by any of the relevant persons.

For each financial year there is to be moved in the Senedd a motion (referred to in this Act as an “annual Budget motion”) for the purpose of authorising— (a) the amount of resources which may be used in the financial year by the relevant persons, or pursuant to a relevant enactment, for the services and purposes specified in the motion, (b) the amount of resources accruing to the relevant persons in the financial year which may be retained by them to be used for the services and purposes so specified (rather than being paid into the Welsh Consolidated Fund), and (c) the amount which may be paid out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund in the financial year to the relevant persons, or for use pursuant to a relevant enactment, for the services and purposes so specified.

An annual Budget motion may only be moved by the First Minister or a Welsh Minister appointed under section 48.

An annual Budget motion must be accompanied by a written statement made by the Welsh Ministers showing— (a) the total amount of the payments which they estimate will be made for the financial year under section 118(1), (b) the total amount of the payments which they estimate will be made to the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General for the financial year by Ministers of the Crown and government departments, and (c) the total amount of the payments which they estimate will be made to the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General for the financial year otherwise than by a Minister of the Crown or government department.

In this Act a reference to the use of resources is a reference to their expenditure, consumption or reduction in value.

For any financial year there may be moved in the Senedd one or more motions (referred to in this Act as a “supplementary Budget motion”) for either or both of the purposes specified in subsections (2) and (3).

A supplementary Budget motion may approve a variation in any one or more of the following— (a) the amount of resources authorised to be used in the financial year by a relevant person, or pursuant to a relevant enactment, for any service or purpose, (b) the amount of resources accruing to a relevant person in the financial year and authorised to be retained by that person to be used for any service or purpose, and (c) the amount authorised to be paid out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund in the financial year to a relevant person, or for use pursuant to a relevant enactment, for any service or purpose.

A supplementary Budget motion may authorise any one or more of the following— (a) the amount of resources which may be used in the financial year by a relevant person, or pursuant to a relevant enactment, for a service or purpose specified in the motion, (b) the amount of resources accruing to a relevant person in the financial year which may be retained by that person to be used for a service or purpose so specified, and (c) the amount which may be paid out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund in the financial year to a relevant person, or for use pursuant to a relevant enactment, for a service or purpose so specified.

A supplementary Budget motion for any financial year may be expressed to have effect from a time before it is made; but that time may not be earlier than— (a) the date on which the last supplementary Budget motion for the financial year was passed, or (b) (if none has) the date on which the annual Budget motion for the financial year was passed.

A supplementary Budget motion may only be moved by the First Minister or a Welsh Minister appointed under section 48.

A Budget motion for a financial year may include information relating to resources expected to be used by any body that is a designated body in relation to a relevant person.

For the purposes of this section a body is a “designated” body in relation to a relevant person if— (a) it is designated in relation to the relevant person by an order made by the Welsh Ministers, or (b) it falls within a description of body designated in relation to the relevant person by such an order.

A body, or a description of body, may be designated in relation to a relevant person for a particular financial year or generally.

If the Welsh Ministers expect the use of resources by a body in a financial year to involve payments out of a relevant Consolidated Fund to or for the benefit of the body, they may not make an order under which the body would be a designated body for the year unless the Treasury have consented to the making of the order.

“ A relevant Consolidated Fund ” means— (a) the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom, (b) the Scottish Consolidated Fund, or (c) the Consolidated Fund of Northern Ireland.

The Welsh Ministers must, where they think it appropriate, consult the Treasury before designating a body or a description of body.

In determining for any purpose whether a body has a particular relationship with a relevant person (for example, whether it is controlled by, or otherwise dependent on, the person), the following must be disregarded— (a) the fact that the provisions of a Budget motion relating to the relevant person in respect of a financial year include information relating to the body, and (b) the fact that the relevant person's accounts for a financial year prepared under this or any other Act include information relating to the body.

An order under subsection (2) is to be made by statutory instrument.

A statutory instrument containing an order under that subsection is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the Senedd.

But subsection (9) does not apply if a draft of the statutory instrument containing the order has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the Senedd.

If a Budget resolution for a financial year is not passed before the beginning of the financial year, the following are deemed to have been authorised by a Budget resolution of the Senedd for that year— (a) the use in the year for any service or purpose of the relevant percentage of the amount of the resources authorised to be used in the preceding financial year for the service or purpose, (b) the retention in the year for use for any service or purpose of the relevant percentage of the amount of the resources authorised to be retained in the previous financial year for use for the service or purpose, and (c) the payment out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund in the year for any service or purpose of the relevant percentage of the amount authorised to be paid out of the Fund in the previous financial year for the service or purpose.

“The relevant percentage” is— (a) where a Budget resolution for the financial year is not passed before the end of July in the financial year, 95%, and (b) otherwise, 75%.

This section applies where it is proposed— (a) that resources be used in any financial year by any of the relevant persons, or pursuant to a relevant enactment, otherwise than as authorised by virtue of sections 125 to 127, or (b) that amounts be paid out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund in the year to the relevant persons, or for use pursuant to a relevant enactment, otherwise than as authorised by virtue of those sections.

The resources may be so used, or the amounts may be so issued, only with the authority of the Welsh Ministers.

The Welsh Ministers may authorise the use of resources, or the payment of amounts, only if they consider that— (a) the use of the resources, or the payment of the amounts, is necessary in the public interest, and (b) it is not reasonably practicable, for reasons of urgency, for a motion to be moved under section 125 or 126 to authorise the use of the resources or the payment of the amounts.

The aggregate amount of resources which the Welsh Ministers may at any time authorise to be used under this section by any person, or pursuant to any enactment, in any financial year must not exceed 0.5% of— (a) the aggregate amount of the resources which, at the time, have been authorised by virtue of sections 125 and 126 to be used by that person, or pursuant to that enactment, in that financial year, or (b) (if none have) the aggregate amount of the resources which were so authorised to be used by that person, or pursuant to that enactment, in the immediately preceding financial year.

The aggregate amount which the Welsh Ministers may at any time authorise to be paid out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund under this section to any person, or for use pursuant to any enactment, in any financial year must not exceed 0.5% of— (a) the aggregate of the amounts which, at the time, have been authorised by virtue of sections 125 and 126 to be paid to that person, or for use pursuant to that enactment, in that financial year, or (b) (if none have) the aggregate of the amounts which were so authorised to be paid to that person, or for use pursuant to that enactment, in the immediately preceding financial year.

The use of resources, or the payment of amounts, authorised by the Welsh Ministers in accordance with this section is deemed to have been authorised by a Budget resolution of the Senedd .

Where the Welsh Ministers authorise the use of resources or the payment of amounts under this section, they must, as soon as possible, lay before the Senedd a report setting out— (a) the resources authorised to be used or the amounts authorised to be paid, (b) the services or purposes for which the resources were authorised to be used, or the amounts were authorised to be paid, and (c) why they considered it to be necessary to authorise the use of the resources, or the payment of the amounts, under this section.

The Auditor General must grant approvals to draw payments out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund from time to time at the request of the Welsh Ministers.

An approval to draw may only be granted if, in the Auditor General's opinion, the proposed payment out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund would comply with section 124.

A request for the grant of an approval to draw is to be made in any manner which the Welsh Ministers, with the approval of the Auditor General, decide to adopt.

Where an approval to draw is granted the Paymaster General must make the funds available to the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister, the Counsel General, the Senedd Commission, the Wales Audit Office or the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales (as appropriate).

The Paymaster General must make available to— (a) the Auditor General, and (b) the principal accounting officer for the Welsh Ministers, a daily statement regarding all the issues made out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund in respect of sums charged on that Fund and other payments out of it.

For the purposes of this Act the principal accounting officer for the Welsh Ministers is the Permanent Secretary to the Welsh ... Government.

But the Treasury may designate another member of the staff of the Welsh ... Government to be the principal accounting officer for the Welsh Ministers if and for so long as— (a) the Permanent Secretary to the Welsh ... Government is incapable of discharging the responsibilities of principal accounting officer for the Welsh Ministers, or (b) the office of Permanent Secretary to the Welsh ... Government is vacant.

In this section “Permanent Secretary to the Welsh ... Government” means the person appointed in accordance with section 52 to be the head of the staff of the Welsh ... Government (whether or not that person is known by the title of Permanent Secretary to the Welsh ... Government).

Where a sum is paid into the Welsh Consolidated Fund which should not or need not have been paid into the Fund, the Auditor General may grant an approval to draw a payment equal to the amount of that sum out of the Fund.

Welsh legislation must provide— (a) for proper accounts to be prepared by the First Minister, the Welsh Ministers, the Counsel General, the Senedd Commission and by other persons to whom sums are paid out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund, of their expenditure and receipts, (b) for the Welsh Ministers to prepare an account of payments into and out of the Fund, (c) for the Auditor General for Wales to exercise, or ensure the exercise by other persons of, the functions mentioned in subsection (2), (d) for access by persons exercising those functions to such documents as they may reasonably require, (e) for members of the staff of the Welsh Government and Senedd Commission designated for the purpose to be answerable to the Senedd in respect of the expenditure and receipts of each part of the Welsh Government or Senedd Commission, and (f) for the publication of Senedd accounts and of reports on such accounts and for the laying of such accounts and reports before the Senedd .

The functions referred to in subsection (1)(c) are—

Standing orders must provide for the consideration by the Senedd of accounts and reports laid before it in pursuance of subsection (1)(f).

Welsh legislation may make further provision for the purpose of ensuring that devolved Welsh authorities that receive sums derived from the Fund are accountable. That provision may, in particular, include provision for a devolved Welsh authority to which subsection (1)(a) does not apply to be accountable for its expenditure and receipts in respect of functions for which it receives sums derived from the Fund.

Persons (other than the Auditor General for Wales) charged with the exercise of any function mentioned in subsection (2) or other like function conferred by Welsh legislation are not subject, in the exercise of that or any ancillary function, to the direction or control of any member of the Welsh Government or of the Senedd .

Subsection (2)(b) does not apply to accounts prepared by the Auditor General for Wales.

This section does not require Welsh legislation to impose any requirement that is imposed by any other legislation.

In this section— “" Senedd accounts”” means any accounts prepared in pursuance of subsection (1)(a) or (b); “"Welsh legislation”” means provision made by or under an Act of the Senedd , and “"other legislation”” means provision made by any other enactment.

The Welsh Ministers must, for each financial year, prepare accounts in accordance with directions given to them by the Treasury.

The accounts must include details of the financial affairs and transactions of the Counsel General.

The directions which the Treasury may give under subsection (1) include directions to prepare accounts relating to financial affairs and transactions of persons other than the Welsh Ministers.

The directions which the Treasury may give under subsection (1) include, in particular, directions as to— (a) the financial affairs and transactions to which the accounts are to relate, (b) the information to be contained in the accounts and the manner in which it is to be presented, (c) the methods and principles in accordance with which the accounts are to be prepared, and (d) the additional information (if any) that is to accompany the accounts.

Any accounts which the Welsh Ministers are directed under this section to prepare for any financial year must be submitted by the Welsh Ministers to the Auditor General no later than 30th November in the following financial year.

The Auditor General must— (a) examine and certify any accounts submitted under this section, and (b) no later than four months after the accounts are submitted, lay before the Senedd a copy of them as certified by the Auditor General together with the Auditor General's report on them.

In examining accounts submitted under this section, the Auditor General must, in particular, be satisfied— (a) that the expenditure to which the accounts relate has been incurred lawfully and in accordance with the authority which governs it, and (b) that money received for a particular purpose or particular purposes has not been expended otherwise than for that purpose or those purposes.

Where— (a) by virtue of any enactment other than this section the Welsh Ministers are under an obligation to prepare accounts dealing with any matters, and (b) it appears to the Treasury that those matters fall to be dealt with in accounts directed to be prepared under this section, the Treasury may relieve the Welsh Ministers of that obligation for or in respect of such periods as the Treasury may direct.

The Welsh Ministers must, for each financial year, prepare an account of the payments into and out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund.

The account must be prepared in accordance with directions given to the Welsh Ministers by the Treasury.

The directions which the Treasury may give under subsection (2) include, in particular, directions as to— (a) the information to be contained in the account and the manner in which it is to be presented, (b) the methods and principles in accordance with which the account is to be prepared, and (c) the additional information (if any) that is to accompany the account.

Any account which the Welsh Ministers are directed under this section to prepare for any financial year must be submitted by the Welsh Ministers to the Auditor General no later than 30th November in the following financial year.

The Auditor General must— (a) examine and certify any account submitted under this section, and (b) no later than four months after the account is submitted, lay before the Senedd a copy of it as certified by the Auditor General together with the Auditor General's report on it.

In examining an account submitted under this section the Auditor General must, in particular, be satisfied— (a) that any payment out of the Welsh Consolidated Fund to which the account relates was paid out in compliance with section 124 or 130, and (b) that money which is required to be paid into the Welsh Consolidated Fund has been paid into that Fund.

The principal accounting officer for the Welsh Ministers has— (a) in relation to the accounts of the Welsh Ministers and the finances of the Welsh Ministers and the Counsel General, and (b) in relation to the performance by persons designated as accounting officers in pursuance of any provision of this Act of their responsibilities as accounting officers, the responsibilities which are from time to time specified by the Treasury.

The principal accounting officer for the Welsh Ministers may designate other members of the staff of the Welsh ... Government as additional accounting officers.

An additional accounting officer has, in relation to such of the accounts of the Welsh Ministers and the finances of the Welsh Ministers and the Counsel General as may be specified by the principal accounting officer for the Welsh Ministers, the responsibilities which are from time to time specified by the principal accounting officer for the Welsh Ministers.

For the purposes of the examination by the Auditor General of any accounts of the Welsh Ministers the Auditor General— (a) has a right of access at all reasonable times to every document relating to the accounts of any subsidiary of the Welsh Ministers (whether or not the accounts of the Welsh Ministers being examined relate to the financial affairs and transactions of the subsidiary), (b) is entitled to require from any person holding or accountable for any of those documents any assistance, information or explanation which the Auditor General reasonably thinks necessary for those purposes, and (c) may require any subsidiary of the Welsh Ministers to provide the Auditor General at times specified by the Auditor General with accounts of such of the subsidiary's transactions as the Auditor General may specify.

The Treasury may, by directions given to a subsidiary of the Welsh Ministers, require the subsidiary to include in any accounts which the subsidiary prepares (under, for example, the law relating to companies or charities) such additional information as may be specified in the directions.

The inclusion of information in any accounts in compliance with such directions does not constitute a breach of any provision which prohibits, or does not authorise, the inclusion in the accounts of that information.

In this section “subsidiary of the Welsh Ministers” means— (a) any body corporate or other undertaking in relation to which, if the Welsh Ministers were an undertaking, the Welsh Ministers would be a parent undertaking, (b) any trust of which the Welsh Ministers are settlors, or (c) any charitable institution of which the Welsh Ministers are founders but which is neither a body corporate nor a trust.

For the purposes of subsection (4)(a)— “undertaking” has the meaning given by section 1161(1) of the Companies Act 2006, and “parent undertaking” is to be construed in accordance with section 1162 of that Act.

The Auditor General may carry out examinations into the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which the Welsh Ministers and the Counsel General have used their resources in discharging their functions.

Subsection (1) does not entitle the Auditor General to question the merits of the policy objectives of the Welsh Ministers or the Counsel General.

In determining how to exercise functions under this section the Auditor General must take into account the views of the Audit Committee as to the examinations to be carried out under this section.

The Auditor General may lay before the Senedd a report of the results of any examination carried out under this section.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Senedd Commission must, for each financial year, prepare accounts in accordance with directions given to it by the Treasury.

The directions which the Treasury may give under subsection (1) include directions to prepare accounts relating to financial affairs and transactions of persons other than the Senedd Commission.

The directions which the Treasury may give under subsection (1) include, in particular, directions as to— (a) the financial affairs and transactions to which the accounts are to relate, (b) the information to be contained in the accounts and the manner in which it is to be presented, (c) the methods and principles in accordance with which the accounts are to be prepared, and (d) the additional information (if any) that is to accompany the accounts.

Any accounts which the Senedd Commission is directed under this section to prepare for any financial year must be submitted by the Senedd Commission to the Auditor General no later than 30th November in the following financial year.

The Auditor General must— (a) examine and certify any accounts submitted under this section, and (b) no later than four months after the accounts are submitted, lay before the Senedd a copy of them as certified by the Auditor General together with the Auditor General's report on them.

In examining accounts submitted under this section the Auditor General must, in particular, be satisfied— (a) that the expenditure to which the accounts relate has been incurred lawfully and in accordance with the authority which governs it, and (b) that money received by the Senedd Commission for a particular purpose or particular purposes has not been expended otherwise than for that purpose or those purposes.

For the purposes of this Act the principal accounting officer for the Senedd Commission is the Clerk.

But the Treasury may designate another member of the staff of the Senedd to be the principal accounting officer for the Senedd Commission if and for so long as— (a) the Clerk is incapable of discharging the responsibilities of the principal accounting officer for the Senedd Commission, or (b) the office of Clerk is vacant.

The principal accounting officer for the Senedd Commission has— (a) in relation to the Senedd Commission's accounts and finances, and (b) in relation to the performance by persons designated as accounting officers in pursuance of any provision of this Act of their responsibilities as accounting officers, the responsibilities which are from time to time specified by the Treasury.

The principal accounting officer for the Senedd Commission may designate other members of the staff of the Senedd as additional accounting officers.

An additional accounting officer has, in relation to such of the Senedd Commission's accounts and finances as may be specified by the principal accounting officer for the Senedd Commission, the responsibilities which are from time to time specified by the principal accounting officer for the Senedd Commission.

For the purposes of the examination by the Auditor General of any accounts of the Senedd Commission the Auditor General— (a) has a right of access at all reasonable times to every document relating to the accounts of any subsidiary of the Senedd Commission (whether or not the accounts of the Senedd Commission being examined relate to the financial affairs and transactions of the subsidiary), (b) is entitled to require from any person holding or accountable for any of those documents any assistance, information or explanation which the Auditor General reasonably thinks necessary for those purposes, and (c) may require any subsidiary of the Senedd Commission to provide the Auditor General at times specified by the Auditor General with accounts of such of the subsidiary's transactions as the Auditor General may specify.

The Treasury may, by directions given to a subsidiary of the Senedd Commission, require the subsidiary to include in any accounts which the subsidiary prepares (under, for example, the law relating to companies or charities) such additional information as may be specified in the directions.

The inclusion of information in any accounts in compliance with such directions does not constitute a breach of any provision which prohibits, or does not authorise, the inclusion in the accounts of that information.

In this section “subsidiary of the Senedd Commission” means— (a) any body corporate or other undertaking in relation to which the Senedd Commission is a parent undertaking, (b) any trust of which the Senedd Commission is settlor, or (c) any charitable institution of which the Senedd Commission is founder but which is neither a body corporate nor a trust.

For the purposes of subsection (4)(a)— “undertaking” has the meaning given by section 1161(1) of the Companies Act 2006, and “parent undertaking” is to be construed in accordance with section 1162 of that Act.

The Auditor General may carry out examinations into the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which the Senedd Commission has used its resources in discharging its functions.

Subsection (1) does not entitle the Auditor General to question the merits of the policy objectives of the Senedd Commission.

In determining how to exercise functions under this section the Auditor General must take into account the views of the Audit Committee as to the examinations to be carried out under this section.

The Auditor General may lay before the Senedd a report of the results of any examination carried out under this section.

This section applies in respect of a financial year for which the Treasury make arrangements with the Welsh Ministers under section 10(8) of the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 (c. 20) (whole of government accounts: consolidation of Welsh accounts).

The Welsh Ministers must prepare a set of accounts for the group of bodies which provide information to the Welsh Ministers in accordance with the arrangements under section 10(8).

Accounts prepared under this section may include information referring wholly or partly to activities which— (a) are not activities of bodies falling within subsection (2), but (b) appear to the Welsh Ministers to be activities of a public nature.

The accounts must contain such information in such form as the Treasury may direct.

The Treasury must exercise the power under subsection (4) with a view to ensuring that the accounts— (a) present a true and fair view, and (b) conform to generally accepted accounting practice subject to such adaptations as are necessary in the context.

For the purposes of subsection (5)(a) and (b) the Treasury must in particular— (a) have regard to any relevant guidance issued by the Accounting Standards Board Limited or any other body prescribed for the purposes of section 464 of the Companies Act 2006(accounting standards) or to international accounting standards (as defined in section 474 of that Act), and (b) require the accounts to include, subject to paragraph (a), a statement of financial performance, a statement of financial position and a cash flow statement.

Any accounts which the Welsh Ministers are required to prepare under this section for any financial year must be submitted by the Welsh Ministers to the Auditor General no later than 30th November in the following financial year.

But the Welsh Ministers may by order substitute another date for the date for the time being specified in subsection (7).

No order may be made under subsection (7) unless the Welsh Ministers have consulted— (a) the Treasury, and (b) the Auditor General.

A statutory instrument containing an order under subsection (7) is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the Senedd.

The Auditor General must examine accounts submitted under section 141 with a view to being satisfied that they present a true and fair view.

Where the Auditor General has conducted an examination of accounts under subsection (1), the Auditor General must— (a) certify them and issue a report, and (b) no later than four months after the accounts are submitted, lay before the Senedd a copy of them as certified by the Auditor General together with the Auditor General's report on them.

A person who acts as auditor for the purposes of section 10(2)(c) or (8)(c) of the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 (c. 20) must give the Auditor General such information and explanations as the Auditor General may reasonably require for the purposes of this section.

The Audit Committee may consider, and lay before the Senedd a report on, any accounts, statement of accounts or report laid before the Senedd by— (a) the Auditor General, or (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

If requested to do so by the House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts, the Audit Committee may— (a) on behalf of the Committee of Public Accounts take evidence from any of the persons mentioned in subsection (3), and (b) report to the Committee of Public Accounts and transmit to that Committee any evidence so taken.

The persons referred to in subsection (2)(a) are— (a) the principal accounting officer for the Welsh Ministers, (b) the principal accounting officer for the Senedd Commission, and (c) additional accounting officers designated under section 133 or 138.

The Senedd must publish a document to which this subsection applies as soon after the document is laid before the Senedd as is reasonably practicable.

The documents to which subsection (1) applies are— (a) any accounts, statement of accounts or report laid before the Senedd by the Auditor General, (b) any accounts or report laid before the Senedd by the auditor appointed under paragraph 34 of Schedule 1 to the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2013, and (c) any report ... laid before the Senedd by the Audit Committee under section 143(1) .... (d) any estimate of income and expenses of the Wales Audit Office laid before the Senedd under section 20(1) of the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2013 (including any modifications made to that estimate under section 20(4) of that Act), (e) any scheme for charging fees laid before the Senedd by the Wales Audit Office under section 24(4)(c) of the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2013, (f) any annual plan laid before the Senedd by the Auditor General and the chair of the Wales Audit Office under section 26 of the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2013, (g) any report laid before the Senedd under paragraph 3(6) of Schedule 2 to the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2013 (reports on the exercise of the functions of the Auditor General and the Wales Audit Office).

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

For provision about the Auditor General for Wales or Archwilydd Cyffredinol Cymru (referred to in this Act as “the Auditor General”) see Schedule 8 and the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2013.

The Welsh Ministers must co-operate with the Auditor General where it seems to them appropriate to do so for the efficient and effective discharge of their functions in relation to Welsh NHS bodies.

“Welsh NHS bodies” has the meaning given by section 60 of the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004 (c. 23).

Welsh public records are not public records for the purposes of the Public Records Act 1958 (c. 51).

But that Act has effect in relation to Welsh public records (as if they were public records for the purpose of that Act) until an order under section 147 imposes a duty to preserve them on the Welsh Ministers (or a member of the staff of the Welsh ... Government).

Subsection (2) applies to Welsh public records whether or not, apart from subsection (1), they would be public records for the purposes of the Public Records Act 1958.

The Secretary of State may by order make provision— (a) imposing or conferring on the Welsh Ministers (or a member of the staff of the Welsh ... Government) functions relating to Welsh public records (including, in particular, functions of preserving them and of making them available for inspection by the public), and (b) imposing on persons responsible for Welsh public records duties relating to the selection of such records for permanent preservation, the safe-keeping of such records and their transfer to a place specified in, or appointed under, the order.

An order under this section may (in particular) make in relation to Welsh public records provision analogous to that made by the Public Records Act 1958 (c. 51) in relation to records which are public records for the purposes of that Act.

An order under this section may make such modifications of— (a) any enactment (including any enactment comprised in or made under this Act) or prerogative instrument, or (b) any other instrument or document, as the Secretary of State considers appropriate in connection with the provision made by the order.

An order under this section which imposes on the Welsh Ministers (or a member of the staff of the Welsh ... Government) a duty to preserve Welsh public records, or Welsh public records of a particular description, must include provision for the Secretary of State to make such arrangements as appear appropriate for the transfer of Welsh public records, or Welsh public records of that description, which are in— (a) the Public Record Office, or (b) a place of deposit appointed under the Public Records Act 1958, to a place specified in, or appointed under, the order.

No order is to be made under this section unless the Secretary of State has consulted the Welsh Ministers.

No order under this section which contains provisions in the form of amendments or repeals of enactments contained in an Act is to be made unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing it has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.

A statutory instrument containing an order under this section is (unless a draft of the statutory instrument has been approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament) subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

The following are Welsh public records— (a) administrative and departmental records belonging to Her Majesty which are records of the Welsh ... Government, (b) administrative and departmental records of the Auditor General, (ba) administrative and departmental records belonging to Her Majesty which are records of or held by the Welsh Revenue Authority; (c) administrative and departmental records belonging to Her Majesty which are records of or held in any government department which is wholly or mainly concerned with Welsh affairs, (d) administrative and departmental records belonging to Her Majesty which are records of any office, commission or other body or establishment under Her Majesty's Government which is wholly or mainly concerned with Welsh affairs in a field or fields in which the Welsh Ministers have functions, or the First Minister or the Counsel General has functions, (e) administrative and departmental records of the bodies and establishments specified in subsection (2) (but not records of health service hospitals in Wales which are of the descriptions excepted from being public records for the purposes of the Public Records Act 1958 (c. 51) in the case of health service hospitals in England), and (f) any other description of records (other than records of the Senedd or the Senedd Commission or records of any court or tribunal or held in any department of the Senior Courts) which is specified by order made by the Secretary of State.

The bodies and establishments referred to in subsection (1)(e) are— (a) the Care Council for Wales, (aa) the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research, (aa) the Citizen Voice Body for Health and Social Care, Wales, (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (c) the Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales, (ca) the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru, (d) Family Practitioner Committees for localities in Wales, (e) the Further Education Funding Council for Wales, (f) the General Teaching Council for Wales, (g) health service hospitals, within the meaning of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006, in Wales, (h) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (i) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (j) the National Council for Education and Training for Wales, (k) National Health Service Authorities for districts or localities in Wales, or for areas in or consisting of Wales, including National Health Service trusts all of whose hospitals, establishments and facilities are situated in Wales, (ka) the Natural Resources Body for Wales, (kb) the Office of Environmental Governance Wales, (l) the Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales, (la) Qualifications Wales, (m) the Wales Centre for Health, and (n) the Welsh Board of Health.

An order under subsection (1)(f) may be made in relation to a description of records— (a) which (immediately before the order is made) are public records for the purposes of the Public Records Act 1958, or (b) which (at that time) are not public records for those purposes.

No order under subsection (1)(f) may be made— (a) in relation to records within paragraph (a) of subsection (3), unless the Secretary of State has consulted the Welsh Ministers, and (b) in relation to records within paragraph (b) of that subsection, without the agreement of the Welsh Ministers.

A statutory instrument containing an order under subsection (1)(f) is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

In this section “records” includes— (a) written records, and (b) records conveying information by any other means.

The Secretary of State must consult the Welsh Ministers before— (a) establishing a renewable energy incentive scheme that applies in Wales, or (b) amending such a scheme as it relates to Wales.

Subsection (1) does not apply to amendments that appear to the Secretary of State to be minor or made only for technical or administrative reasons; and the Secretary of State is not to be taken to establish or amend a scheme by exercising a power under a scheme, other than a power that is exercisable subject to any parliamentary procedure.

Subsection (1) does not require the Secretary of State to consult the Welsh Ministers about any levy in connection with a renewable energy incentive scheme.

In this section a “"renewable energy incentive scheme”” means any scheme, whether statutory or otherwise, that provides an incentive to generate, or facilitate the generation of, electricity or heat from sources of energy other than fossil fuel or nuclear fuel. This includes provision made by or under the following so far as they relate to the generation of electricity or heat from sources of energy other than fossil fuel or nuclear fuel— (a) sections 6 to 26 of the Energy Act 2013 (contracts for difference); (b) sections 41 to 43 of the Energy Act 2008 (feed-in tariffs for small-scale generation of electricity); (c) section 100 of that Act (renewable heat incentives); (d) sections 32 to 32Z2 of the Electricity Act 1989 (renewables obligations or certificate purchase obligations).

For provision about the resolution of devolution issues see Schedule 9.

The Secretary of State may by order make such provision as the Secretary of State considers appropriate in consequence of— (a) any provision made by an Assembly Measure or Act of the Senedd, (b) any provision of subordinate legislation made, or purporting to be made, under an Assembly Measure or Act of the Senedd, (c) any provision of subordinate legislation made, or purporting to be made, by the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General, or (d) any provision of subordinate legislation made, or purporting to be made, by any other person (not being a Minister of the Crown) in the exercise of a function conferred or imposed by Act of Parliament where the statutory instrument (or a draft of the statutory instrument) containing the subordinate legislation is required to be laid before the Senedd.

An order under this section may make such modifications of— (a) any enactment (including any enactment comprised in or made under this Act) or prerogative instrument, or (b) any other instrument or document, as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

An order under this section may not make provision with respect to matters within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament.

An order under this section may make provision having retrospective effect.

No order under this section which contains provisions in the form of amendments or repeals of enactments contained in an Act is to be made unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing it has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.

A statutory instrument containing an order under this section is (unless a draft of the statutory instrument has been approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament) subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

In subsection (1) “made” includes confirmed or approved.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Unless the context requires otherwise, a reference to the National Assembly for Wales (or Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru), the National Assembly for Wales Commission (or Comisiwn Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru) or Acts of the National Assembly for Wales (or Deddfau Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru) (as the case may be), in— (a) any enactment (including any enactment comprised in or made under this Act) or prerogative instrument, or (b) any other instrument or document, is to be read as, or as including, a reference to the name given by Part 2 of the Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020.

Unless the context requires otherwise, a reference to Senedd Cymru or the Welsh Parliament, the Senedd Commission (or Comisiwn y Senedd) or Acts of Senedd Cymru (or Deddfau Senedd Cymru) (as the case may be), in— (a) any enactment (including any enactment comprised in or made under this Act) or prerogative instrument, or (b) any other instrument or document, is to be read as including a reference to the previous name.

Her Majesty may by Order in Council make such provision as Her Majesty considers appropriate in consequence of— (a) an Assembly Measure or Act of the Senedd , or any provision of an Assembly Measure or Act of the Senedd, which is not, or may not be, within the Senedd's legislative competence, or (b) any purported exercise by any person of a function conferred or imposed by or under an Assembly Measure or Act of the Senedd which is not, or may not be, an exercise or proper exercise of that function.

An Order in Council under this section may make such modifications of— (a) any enactment (including any enactment comprised in or made under this Act) or prerogative instrument, or (b) any other instrument or document, as Her Majesty considers appropriate.

An Order in Council under this section may make provision having retrospective effect.

No recommendation is to be made to Her Majesty in Council to make an Order in Council under this section which contains provisions in the form of amendments or repeals of enactments contained in an Act unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing the Order in Council has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.

A statutory instrument containing an Order in Council under this section is (unless a draft of the statutory instrument has been approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament) subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

This section applies where any court or tribunal decides— (a) that an Assembly Measure or Act of the Senedd, or any provision of an Assembly Measure or Act of the Senedd, is outside the Senedd's legislative competence, (b) that any provision of subordinate legislation made, or purporting to be made, under an Assembly Measure or Act of the Senedd is outside the powers under which it was, or purported to be, made, or (c) that any provision of subordinate legislation made, or purporting to be made, by the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General is outside the powers under which it was, or purported to be, made.

The court or tribunal may make an order— (a) removing or limiting any retrospective effect of the decision, or (b) suspending the effect of the decision for any period and on any conditions to allow the defect to be corrected.

In determining whether to make an order under this section, the court or tribunal must (among other things) have regard to the extent to which persons who are not parties to the proceedings would otherwise be adversely affected by the decision.

Where a court or tribunal is considering whether to make an order under this section, it must order notice (or intimation) of that fact to be given to the persons specified in subsection (5) (unless a party to the proceedings).

The persons mentioned in subsection (4) are— (a) in relation to proceedings in England and Wales, the Attorney General and the Counsel General, (b) in relation to proceedings in Scotland, the Advocate General for Scotland, and (c) in relation to proceedings in Northern Ireland, the Advocate General for Northern Ireland.

A person to whom notice (or intimation) is given in pursuance of subsection (4) may take part as a party in the proceedings, so far as they relate to the making of the order.

In deciding any question as to costs or expenses, the court or tribunal may— (a) take account of any additional expense which it considers that any party to the proceedings has incurred as a result of the participation of any person in pursuance of subsection (6), and (b) award the whole or part of the additional expense as costs or expenses to the party who incurred it (whether or not it makes an order under this section and whatever the terms of any such order it does make).

Any power to make provision for regulating the procedure before any court or tribunal includes power to make provision for the purposes of this section including, in particular, provision for determining the manner in which and the time within which any notice (or intimation) is to be given.

In subsection (1) “made” includes confirmed or approved.

This section applies to— (a) any provision of an Assembly Measure, or proposed Assembly Measure, which could be read in such a way as to be outside the Senedd's legislative competence, (b) any provision of an Act of the Senedd, or a Bill for such an Act, which could be read in such a way as to be outside the Senedd's legislative competence, and (c) any provision of subordinate legislation made, or purporting to be made, under an Assembly Measure or Act of the Senedd which could be read in such a way as to be outside the powers under which it was, or purported to be, made.

The provision is to be read as narrowly as is required for it to be within competence or within the powers, if such a reading is possible, and is to have effect accordingly.

In subsection (1)(c) “made” includes confirmed or approved.

Her Majesty may by Order in Council specify functions which are to be treated for such purposes of this Act as may be specified in the Order in Council— (a) as being, or as not being, functions which are exercisable by the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General, or (b) as being, or as not being, functions which are exercisable in relation to Wales or the Welsh zone.

A statutory instrument containing an Order in Council under this section is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

The English and Welsh texts of— (a) any Assembly Measure or Act of the Senedd which is in both English and Welsh when it is enacted, or (b) any subordinate legislation which is in both English and Welsh when it is made, are to be treated for all purposes as being of equal standing.

Subsection (1) does not apply to any legislation to which Part 2 of the Legislation (Wales) Act 2019 applies (but section 5 of that Act makes corresponding provision in relation to legislation to which that Part applies).

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any power of a Minister of the Crown or the Welsh Ministers under this Act to make an order or regulations is exercisable by statutory instrument.

Any such power and any power under this Act to make an Order in Council— (a) may be exercised so as to make different provision for different cases or classes of case or different purposes, (b) may be exercised so as to make provision which applies generally or subject to specified exemptions or exceptions or only in relation to specific cases or classes of case, and (c) includes power to make supplementary, incidental, consequential, transitory, transitional or saving provision.

Any power conferred by this Act to give a direction includes power to vary or revoke the direction.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

In this Act “devolved Welsh authority” means— (a) a public authority that meets the conditions in subsection (2), (b) a public authority that is specified, or is of a description specified, in Schedule 9A (whether or not it meets those conditions), or (c) the governing body of an institution within the higher education sector (within the meaning of section 91(5) of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992) whose activities are carried on, or principally carried on, in Wales.

A public authority meets the conditions in this section if its functions— (a) are exercisable only in relation to Wales, and (b) are wholly or mainly functions that do not relate to reserved matters.

In determining for the purposes of this section whether functions of a public authority are exercisable only in relation to Wales, no account is taken of any function that— (a) is exercisable otherwise than in relation to Wales, and (b) could (apart from this paragraph) be conferred or imposed by provision falling within the Senedd's legislative competence (by virtue of section 108A(3)).

Where the conditions in subsection (2) are relevant to determining whether a provision of an Act of the Senedd is within the Senedd's legislative competence, the time for assessing whether those conditions are met is the time when the Act is passed.

Her Majesty may by Order in Council amend Schedule 9A— (a) so as to remove or revise an entry, or (b) so as to add or substitute a public authority whose functions— (i) are exercisable wholly or mainly in relation to Wales, and (ii) are wholly or mainly functions that do not relate to reserved matters.

No recommendation is to be made to Her Majesty in Council to make an Order in Council under this section unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing the Order in Council has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament and the Senedd .

Subsection (6) does not apply to a statutory instrument containing an Order in Council that only makes provision for— (a) the omission of an entry where the authority concerned has ceased to exist, or (b) the variation of an entry in consequence of a change of name or transfer of functions. Such an Order in Council is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

In this section “"public authority”” means a body, office or holder of an office that has functions of a public nature.

References in this section to Wales include, in relation to a relevant function of a public authority, the area of the Welsh zone beyond the seaward limit of the territorial sea. A function of a public authority is “relevant” if it relates to fishing, fisheries or fish health.

In this Act (except where the context otherwise requires)— ... “the Convention rights” has the same meaning as in the Human Rights Act 1998 (c. 42), “cross-border body” means any body (including a government department) or undertaker exercising functions, or carrying on activities, in or with respect to Wales (or any part of Wales) and anywhere else, “enactment” includes an Assembly Measure, an Act of the Senedd and subordinate legislation (but see also subsection (2)), “English border area” means a part of England adjoining Wales (but not the whole of England), “financial year” means the twelve months ending with 31st March, “function” means power or duty, “government department” means any department of the Government of the United Kingdom, “international obligations” means any international obligations of the United Kingdom other than obligations to observe and implement ... the Convention rights, “Minister of the Crown” includes the Treasury, “modifications” includes amendments, repeals and revocations, “property” includes rights and interests of any description, “subordinate legislation” has the same meaning as in the Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30) (including an instrument made under an Assembly Measure or Act of the Senedd), “tribunal” means any tribunal in which legal proceedings may be brought, . . . “Wales” includes the sea adjacent to Wales out as far as the seaward boundary of the territorial sea., and Welsh zone” means the sea adjacent to Wales which is— within British fishery limits (that is, the limits set by or under section 1 of the Fishery Limits Act 1976), and specified in an Order in Council under section 58 or an order under subsection (3).

In sections 95(3), 109(2), 116C(2), 150A(2) and 151(2) “enactment” includes an Act of the Scottish Parliament and an instrument made under such an Act.

The Secretary of State may by order determine, or make provision for determining, for the purposes of the definitions of “Wales” and the “Welsh zone”, any boundary between waters which are to be treated as parts of the sea adjacent to Wales, or sea within British fishery limits adjacent to Wales, and those which are not.

An Order in Council under section 58 may include any provision that may be included in an order under subsection (3).

No order is to be made under subsection (3) unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing it has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.

Section 13 of the National Audit Act 1983 (c. 44) (interpretation of references to the Committee of Public Accounts) applies for the purposes of this Act as for those of that Act.

In this Act the following expressions are defined or otherwise explained by the provisions indicated—

For minor and consequential amendments see Schedule 10.

The Secretary of State may by order make such modifications of— (a) any enactment contained in an Act passed before or in the same session as this Act, or (b) any enactment contained in an instrument made before the passing of this Act or in the session in which this Act is passed, as the Secretary of State considers appropriate in consequence of this Act.

No order containing provision under subsection (2)(a) is to be made unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing it has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.

A statutory instrument containing an order under subsection (2) is (unless a draft of the statutory instrument has been approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament) subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Subject as follows, this Act comes into force immediately after the ordinary election under section 3 of the Government of Wales Act 1998 (c. 38) held in 2007 (referred to in this Act as “the 2007 election”).

The following provisions come into force on the day on which this Act is passed— paragraphs 5, 6 and 12 of Schedule 2, sections 95 and 96 and Schedule 5, section 109 and Schedule 7, section 119 and the repeal by Schedule 12 of section 81 of the Government of Wales Act 1998, section 120(3) and (7), section 125 and the repeal by Schedule 12 of section 86 of the Government of Wales Act 1998, sections 157 to 159, section 160(2) to (4), the amendment made by paragraph 61 of Schedule 10 in section 13 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (c. 41), this section, section 162 and Schedule 11, the repeal by Schedule 12 of section 12(1)(d) of the Government of Wales Act 1998, and sections 164 to 166.

The following provisions come into force on 1st April 2007— sections 117 and 118 and the repeal by Schedule 12 of section 80 of the Government of Wales Act 1998, section 120(1) and (2), (4) to (6) and (8) and the repeal by Schedule 12 of section 84 of that Act, sections 121 and 122 and the repeal by Schedule 12 of section 82 of that Act, section 124 and the repeal by Schedule 12 of sections 85(1) and 89 of that Act, section 126, sections 128 and 129, and the amendments in the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 (c. 65), the Local Government Finance Act 1988 (c. 41) and the Housing Act 1988 (c. 50) made by Schedule 10.

Subject to subsections (2), (3) and (6), the following provisions come into force immediately after the end of the initial period— (a) any provision of this Act so far as relating to functions of the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister, the Counsel General or the Senedd Commission, (b) any provision of this Act so far as relating to the Auditor General or the Comptroller and Auditor General, (c) any other provision consisting of an amendment made in the Government of Wales Act 1998 (c. 38) by Schedule 10, and (d) the repeal by Schedule 12 of provisions falling to be repealed in consequence of any provision within paragraph (a), (b) or (c).

In this Act “the initial period” means the period— (a) beginning with the day of the poll at the 2007 election, and (b) ending with the day on which the first appointment is made under section 46.

The repeals by Schedule 12 of each of sections 83, 88, 93(8), 97 and 101A of the Government of Wales Act 1998 (and of the other provisions of that Act so far as relating to them) come into force when the section has been complied with for the financial year ending with 31st March 2007 (and earlier financial years); and sections 123, 131, 132 and 141 do not apply for that financial year.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

For transitional and transitory provisions and savings see Schedule 11.

The Secretary of State may by order make any other transitional, transitory or saving provision which may appear appropriate in consequence of, or otherwise in connection with, this Act.

An order under subsection (2) may, in particular, include any savings from the effect of any amendment or repeal or revocation made by this Act.

Nothing in Schedule 11 limits the power conferred by subsection (2); and such an order may, in particular, make modifications of that Schedule.

Nothing in that Schedule, or in any provision made by virtue of subsection (2), prejudices the operation of sections 16 and 17 of the Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30).

No order under subsection (2) which contains provisions in the form of amendments or repeals of any provision contained in any of paragraphs 30 to 35, 50 and 51 of Schedule 11 is to be made unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing it has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.

A statutory instrument containing an order under subsection (2) is (unless a draft of the statutory instrument has been approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament) subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

For repeals and revocations of enactments (including some spent enactments) see Schedule 12.

There is to be paid out of money provided by Parliament— (a) any expenditure incurred by a Minister of the Crown or government department by virtue of this Act, and (b) any increase attributable to this Act in the sums payable under any other Act out of money provided by Parliament.

There are to be paid into the Consolidated Fund any sums received by a Minister of the Crown by virtue of this Act (other than any required to be paid into the National Loans Fund).

The following provisions— section 36(7) to (9), section 39, and section 40(2) and (3), extend only to England and Wales.

The amendments, and repeals and revocations, made by this Act have the same extent as the enactments amended or repealed or revoked.

This Act may be cited as the Government of Wales Act 2006.