Source: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/32/notes/division/6
Timestamp: 2019-12-08 03:06:08
Document Index: 710114120

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'arts 2', 'art 1', 'art 1']

Section 93: Assembly Measures
325.This section confers on the Assembly the power to pass a type of subordinate legislation in relation to Wales called “Measures of the National Assembly for Wales” in English, or “Mesurau Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru” in Welsh. They are referred to in this Act as Assembly Measures. The ultimate right of Parliament to legislate in relation to Wales, even in principle on a matter over which legislative competence has been conferred on the Assembly, is preserved.
326.Assembly Measures will, subject to the limitations set out in this section and in Schedule 5 as to what provisions they may contain, have the same effect as an Act of Parliament. In other words they may modify the effect of legislation made or enacted before or after this Act is enacted, or make entirely new provision.
327.An Assembly Measure will be enacted (i.e., will become law) when:
it has been passed by the Assembly, or
alternatively, when it has been “approved” by the Assembly, in the case of a Measure which has been reconsidered in accordance with provision made under section 98(6),
and it has been approved by Her Majesty in Council (i.e. Her Majesty attending a meeting of the Privy Council).
328.If an Assembly Measure is enacted, but it then appears that there was some invalidity or procedural irregularity in the Assembly proceedings which led up to its enactment (for example, a rule in the Assembly’s standing orders was not complied with), the effect of section 93(3) is that the invalidity or irregularity will not render the Measure invalid and it will still be law. However, this subsection will not save a purported Assembly Measure which has not been passed at all by the Assembly because, in those circumstances, section 93(2) would not have been complied with.
329.Assembly Measures are to be judicially noticed. This means that, if an Assembly Measure is relevant in any Court proceedings, the court will apply its provisions without them having to be proved in court by evidence.
Section 94: Legislative competence
330.The purpose of this section and Schedule 5 is to set out the extent of the Assembly’s power to pass Measures (the Assembly’s “legislative competence”). Its legislative competence may be altered by Order in Council under section 95, amending Schedule 5.
331.Provided it complies with the limits set by this section and by Schedule 5, an Assembly Measure can have the same effect as an Act of the UK Parliament. In other words it can, for example, modify existing Acts of Parliament or other enactments and it can make new provision not covered by existing statutes.
332.Subsection (2) makes it clear that if an Assembly Measure contains a provision which is outside the Assembly’s legislative competence (that is, it goes beyond the limits set by this section and by Schedule 5, as amended from time to time), that provision has no legal effect. However, the whole Measure is not rendered invalid, provided that the provision which is outside legislative competence can be severed from the Measure.
333.Subsections (3) to (6) set out the rules with which a provision in a Measure must comply in order to be within the Assembly’s legislative competence. It will only be within competence if it satisfies the criteria in either 94(4) or 94(5), and it also complies with 94(6).
334.In order to satisfy the criteria in section 94(4):
the provision in question must relate to one of the “matters” specified in Part 1 of Schedule 5; and
the provision in question must apply only in relation to Wales, and it must not confer, impose, change or remove (or give anyone else the power to confer, impose, change or remove) functions exercisable other than in relation to Wales.
335.Part 1 of Schedule 5 contains a list of fields, but only one of them (“National Assembly for Wales”) has any matters specified in relation to it, and those relate to the internal arrangements of the Assembly. Orders in Council under section 95 will have the effect of adding matters under different field headings, thereby enabling the criteria referred to in (a) above to be satisfied over wider policy areas.
336.In order to satisfy the criteria in section 94(5):
the provision in question must be one which enables a provision of an Assembly Measure (i.e. one which itself satisfies the criteria in subsection (4)) to be enforced or which is otherwise appropriate for making such a provision effective; or
the provision in question must be one which is incidental to or consequential on such a provision.
337.So if a provision satisfies the criteria in subsection (5) it is not subject to the limitation in subsection (4) that a provision in a Measure may only relate to Wales. This, for example, will enable the Assembly to include in Measures necessary consequential amendments to Acts of Parliament to make it clear where they no longer apply in relation to Wales or to include provisions enabling the courts of England and Wales to enforce Assembly Measures effectively.
338.In order to comply with section 94(6):
the provision in question must comply with restrictions on the Assembly’s legislative competence which are set out in Part 2 of Schedule 5 to the Act. There are exceptions from these restrictions, which are set out in Part 3 of Schedule 5; and
the provision in question may not “extend” to any jurisdiction other than England and Wales. (England and Wales is a single legal jurisdiction and Assembly Measures will form part of the law of that jurisdiction. Although they will only, with limited exceptions, apply to Wales, they will be able to be enforced by the courts of England and Wales generally. They will not, however, be able to make provision forming part of the law of other legal jurisdictions such as Scotland); and
the provision in question must not be incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights or European Community law.
339.Subsection (7) lays down the test to be used to decide whether a particular provision in an Assembly Measure relates to a matter or matters listed in Part 1 of Schedule 5, and therefore whether it meets the criteria in 94(4)(a). The correct approach will be to consider the purpose of the provision having regard to its effect in all the circumstances.
Section 95: Legislative Competence : supplementary
340.This section provides a mechanism by which amendments may be made to Schedule 5 to the Act , so as to enhance, restrict or otherwise change the Assembly’s legislative competence to pass Assembly Measures. Amendments are made by Order in Council, which can:
add to, remove or change the fields set out in Part 1 of Schedule 5;
list a matter or a further matter under a field, or remove or change a matter already listed;
amend Parts 2 or 3 of Schedule 5, which set out general restrictions on the passing of Assembly Measures, and exceptions to those restrictions respectively.
341.A field cannot be added to Schedule 5 if it is one in which no functions are exercisable by the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister or the Counsel General.
342.An Order in Council amending Schedule 5 can also make changes to any enactment, including Acts of the Scottish Parliament and instruments made under those Acts, prerogative instruments, and other instruments or documents, where those changes are appropriate in connection with the amendment to Schedule 5.
343.Orders in Council under this section can make provisions which apply retrospectively (i.e., to things which have already been done). So, for example, this power could be used to clarify the extent of a matter in Part 1 of Schedule 5, where there has been a legal challenge to the validity of an Assembly Measure made in relation to that matter, and there is a need for legal certainty about the extent of the matter.
344.An Order in Council under this section may only be made if the draft of it has been approved by the Assembly, the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Thus Parliament retains control over the fields and matters in relation to which the Assembly has power to pass Measures.
345.Once a draft Order in Council has been approved by the Assembly, the First Minister must, as soon as reasonably practicable, send the Secretary of State written notice of that fact and a copy of the draft approved by the Assembly. The Secretary of State must then decide whether to lay the draft Order in Council before Parliament with a view to obtaining approval of the two Houses. The Secretary of State is not obliged to lay the draft before Parliament but if the Secretary of State does not do so before the end of 60 days (not counting days when Parliament is dissolved or prorogued or adjourned for more than four days) written notice of the reasons for refusing to do so must be given to the First Minister, who must then lay it before the Assembly. The Assembly must publish it.
346.Under subsection (10), if a change is made to Schedule 5, and thus to the Assembly’s legislative competence to pass Measures, the change is to have no effect upon Assembly Measures which have already been passed (or approved, in the case of Measures which have been reconsidered and amended) by the Assembly. So even if the powers of the Assembly were narrowed so as to remove the power to pass a particular Measure it would remain law. This is subject to the power to make retrospective provision in the Order in Council.
Section 96: Scrutiny of proposed Orders in Council
347.Under this section the Counsel General or the Attorney General may refer a proposed Order in Council to the Supreme Court for a decision as to whether the matter which it proposes to add to Part 1 of Schedule 5 relates to a field listed in that Part.
Section 97: Introduction of proposed Assembly Measures
348.This section imposes certain requirements in relation to the introduction into the Assembly of proposed Assembly Measures.
349.A proposed Assembly Measure may, subject to provisions of standing orders, be introduced by the First Minister, any of the Welsh Ministers, any Deputy Welsh Minister, the Counsel General or any Assembly Member. Standing orders might restrict the ability of some of these persons to introduce a proposed Measure.
350.The person in charge of a proposed Assembly Measure must, on or before the proposed Measure’s introduction, make a statement expressing their view that the provisions in the proposed Measure are within the Assembly’s legislative competence.
351.The Presiding Officer of the Assembly must on or before introduction of a proposed Measure, decide whether or not it is within the Assembly’s legislative competence and state that decision.
Section 98: Proceedings on proposed Assembly Measures
352.This section requires the Assembly’s standing orders to contain certain provisions in relation to the consideration and passing (or approval, in the case of Measures which are reconsidered and amended) of proposed Measures by the Assembly.
353.Standing orders must ensure that, generally, Measures must pass through three stages.
354.There must firstly be an opportunity for a general debate about the proposed Measure by the Assembly, and for Assembly Members to vote on its general principles. This stage mirrors the Second Reading stage of Bills in the UK Parliament.
355.There must then be a stage involving consideration of, and an opportunity for Assembly members to vote on, the details of the proposed Measure, corresponding to the committee stage of a Bill at Westminster.
356.Finally there must be a stage at which members can vote on whether to pass the proposed Measure in its final form. This is equivalent to the Third Reading of a Parliamentary Bill.
357.Standing orders may allow a different procedure in the case of proposed Measures which fall within certain categories, namely those which restate the law, those which repeal or revoke spent enactments and “private” proposed Assembly Measures. In the case of the first two, standing orders may permit a streamlined procedure whilst in the case of “private” proposed Measures procedures they are likely to include an opportunity for individuals affected to make representations to the Assembly, as in the case of private Parliamentary Bills.
358.Standing orders must include provision for securing that, except in specified circumstances (which are left to standing orders to define) a proposed Assembly Measure can only be passed if the text of the proposed Measure is in both English and Welsh.
359.Standing orders must provide for a proposed Measure which has been passed by the Assembly to be reconsidered in certain circumstances. These are:
where the Supreme Court has decided that the proposed Measure is outside the Assembly’s legislative competence, following the Counsel General or the Attorney General referring that issue to the Supreme Court under section 99;
where the Counsel General or the Attorney General has referred the issue of whether the proposed Measure is within the Assembly’s legislative competence to the Supreme Court under section 99, the Supreme Court has then referred an issue arising out of it to the European Court of Justice for a preliminary ruling, but the reference to the Supreme Court has been withdrawn following a decision by the Assembly that it wishes to reconsider the proposed Measure; or
where the Secretary of State has made an Order under section 101 prohibiting the Clerk of the Assembly from submitting a proposed Measure for approval by Her Majesty.
360.If a proposed Assembly Measure is, upon reconsideration, amended by the Assembly, then there must be a further final stage at which the amended proposed Assembly Measure can be approved or rejected by the Assembly.
Section 100: ECJ references
363.Where the Counsel General or the Attorney General has referred a proposed Assembly Measure to the Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court has referred a question in connection with the matter to the European Court of Justice for a preliminary ruling then, provided neither of these references has been decided or otherwise disposed of, the Assembly may opt to reconsider the proposed Measure under provision made under section 98(6). If it does so the person who referred the proposed Measure to the Supreme Court (i.e. Counsel General or the Attorney General, as the case may be), must request the withdrawal of the reference. If, following reconsideration, the proposed Measure were to be approved, in an amended form, and the Counsel General or Attorney General are not satisfied that the amendment has removed the cause for referring the proposed Measure to the Supreme Court, a fresh reference may be made, within four weeks of that approval.
Section 102: Approval of proposed Assembly Measures
367.Once a proposed Measure has been passed (or approved upon reconsideration) by the Assembly, it is for the Clerk to submit it for approval by Her Majesty in Council
368.However, the Clerk may not do so:
if the Counsel General or the Attorney General is still entitled to refer to the Supreme Court under section 99 the issue of whether a provision in the proposed Measure is within the Assembly’s legislative competence (i.e. if the four week period for doing so has not expired and they are not both barred from making a reference as a result of having notified the Clerk that they do not intend to do so);
if the Counsel General or the Attorney General has made a reference to the Supreme Court under section 99 which has not yet been decided or disposed of;
if the Secretary of State is still entitled to make an order under section 101 (see the notes to that section) prohibiting the Clerk from submitting the proposed Measure for approval.
369.The Clerk may not submit a proposed Measure for approval by Her Majesty in its unamended form if:
the Supreme Court has ruled, on a reference under section 99, that the proposed Measure, or any provision of it, would not be within the Assembly’s legislative competence; or
such a reference has been withdrawn as a result of a decision by the Assembly that it wishes to reconsider the proposed Measure.
370.Once Her Majesty in Council has approved a proposed Measure the Clerk must write the date of that approval on the text of the Measure, must publish the instrument by which Her Majesty approved the Measure and must, in accordance with standing orders, notify the Assembly of the date of that approval.