Wales Bill 2016

The Wales Bill 2016–2017 is a bill of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It sets out amendments to the Government of Wales Act 1998 and devolves further powers to Wales. The legislation is based on proposals of St David's Day Agreement, which were not included in Wales Act 2014.

Background

The bill was proposed by Conservative Party in their manifesto for 2015 general election.^[1]

The draft Wales Bill, which was presented in October 2015, faced much criticism over tests for competence (also known as 'necesitty tests') and the draft bill was put on hold by the beginning of 2016.^[2][3] The updated bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 1 June 2016.

Main provisions

One of the most important provisions is that the bill moves Wales from a conferred matters model to a reserved matters model, which is used in Scotland under Scotland Act 1998.^[4] Also the bill repeales provision of Wales Act 2014 for a referendum in Wales on devolution of income tax.

Also the bill gives extra powers to the National Assembly for Wales and a Welsh Government:

• The ability to amend sections of the Government of Wales Act 2006 which relate to the operation of the National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Government within the United Kingdom including control of its electoral system (subject to a two-thirds majority within the parliament for any proposed change)
• Legislative control over areas such as road signs, speed limits, onshore oil and gas extraction, harbours, rail franchising, consumer advocacy and advice amongst others by devolution of powers in relation to these fields to the National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Ministers
• Management of Ofcom in Wales^[5]

The bill recognises the National Assembly for Wales and a Welsh Government as permanent among UK's constitutional arrangements, with a referendum required before either can be abolished. The bill also recognises that there is a body of Welsh law, although it does not change the single England and Wales jurisdiction.^[6]

References

Devolution in the United Kingdom
Devolved areas	National level Northern Ireland Scotland Wales Regional level (in England) Combined authorities Directly elected mayoralties Greater London Authority
Referendums1	English mayoral referendums London, 1998 2012 North East England 2004 Northern Ireland 1998 Scotland 1979 1997 Wales 1979 1997 2011
Heads of devolved governments	Chairs of combined authorities Directly elected mayors London (Mayor) Northern Ireland (FM and dFM) Scotland (FM) Wales (FM)
Devolved legislatures2	Northern Ireland Assembly National Assembly for Wales Scottish Parliament
Devolved administrations3	Northern Ireland Executive Scottish Government Welsh Government
Organisations and laws of the legislatures and governments of the UK and the devolved areas	Commissions (UK Parliament) Kilbrandon Commission Holtham Commission Silk Commission McKay Commission Commissions (devolved legislatures) National Assembly for Wales Richard Commission Holtham Commission Scottish Parliament Calman Commission Smith Commission Devolution acts Greater London Authority Acts 1999 2007 Northern Ireland Acts 1998 2006 Wales Acts 1998 2006 2014 2016–2017 Scotland Acts 1998 2012 2016 Select committees Northern Ireland Affairs Scottish Affairs Welsh Affairs Grand committees England Northern Ireland Scottish Welsh Departments and Territorial Offices (MOJ) Cabinet Office - Devolution Secretariat Ministry of Justice - Devolution Directorate-General Office of the Advocate General for Scotland Northern Ireland Office Scotland Office Wales Office
Elections	London Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
Related articles	Current Agreements/Treaties Anglo-Irish Treaty Good Friday Agreement Budget Barnett formula Block grant Constitution of the United Kingdom Reserved and excepted matters West Lothian question Proposals Cornwall Cornish Assembly Cornish Constitutional Convention Mebyon Kernow Revived Cornish Stannary Parliament Devolved English parliament Campaign for an English Parliament Northern England Campaign for the North Yorkshire First Other parts of Southern England Wessex Regionalist Party Scotland Full fiscal autonomy Historical Administrations of England English Regional Assemblies, 1998-2010 Administrations of London London County Council Greater London Council Administrations of Northern Ireland 1922–72 1974 Legislatures of Northern Ireland 1922–72 1973–74 1982–86 Northern Ireland-related legislation of the UK Parliament Ireland, 1886 Ireland, 1893 Ireland, 1914 Ireland, 1920 Irish Free State, 1922 Northern Ireland, 1974 Irish Home Rule movement Prime Minister of Northern Ireland Scotland Act 1978 Scottish Office Sunningdale Agreement Wales Act 1978 Welsh Office
1. Rejected referendums are italicised. The others were fully or partially approved. 2. There is no law-making body for any regionally devolved area. 3. Administrations of regionally devolved areas are omitted. Category