Wales Act 2017
Act of Parliament | |
Territorial extent | United Kingdom |
---|---|
Dates | |
Royal assent | 31 January 2017 |
Other legislation | |
Relates to | Harbours Act 1964 Government of Wales Act 1998 Government of Wales Act 2006 Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 Wales Act 2014 |
Status: Current legislation | |
History of passage through Parliament | |
Text of statute as originally enacted | |
Revised text of statute as amended |
The Wales Act 2017 (c. 7) is an
Background
The bill was proposed by the Conservative Party in its manifesto for the 2015 general election.[1]
The draft Wales Bill was presented in October 2015[2] and faced much criticism from the public over tests for competence (also known as "necessity tests"). As a result, the bill had been put on hold by the beginning of 2016.[3][4] An amended bill was introduced into the House of Commons on 1 June 2016.
Main provisions
One of the most important provisions is that the Act moved Wales from a conferred matters model to a
The Act gives extra powers to the
- The ability to amend sections of the National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Governmentwithin the United Kingdom, including control of its electoral system (subject to a two-thirds majority within the Assembly) for any proposed change.
- The ability to use such amendment to devolve powers to the National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Ministers over areas such as harbours, rail franchising, energy efficiency, and advice.
- The power to change the name of the National Assembly for Wales.[7] On 9 October 2019 the Assembly agreed that the new name would be Welsh Parliament / Senedd Cymru. It came into effect in May 2020.
- The ability to raise or lower income tax by up to 10p in the pound[8]
- The Welsh Government to have increased borrowing powers to support capital investment, up to £1 billion[9]
- Extended powers over equalities and tribunals
- Creation of HMRCcollects taxes that are not devolved to Wales
The Act recognised the National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Government as permanent among UK's constitutional arrangements, with a referendum required before either can be abolished. The Act has also recognised that there is a body of Welsh law and it established the position of President of Welsh Tribunals.[10]
See also
References
- ^ "The Conservative party Manifesto 2015" (PDF). Conservative Party. 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
- ^ "Draft Wales Bill" (PDF). gov.uk. October 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
- ^ "Challenge And Opportunity: The Draft Wales Bill 2015" (PDF). Wales Governance Center. February 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
- ^ "Return of the Wales Bill in Queen's Speech". BBC. 18 May 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
- ^ "Explanatory Notes to the Wales Bill 2016–2017" (PDF). publications.parliament.uk. 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
- ^ ""Clarity and accountability" at the heart of the Wales Bill, says Alun Cairns". Wales Office. 14 June 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
- ^ "Welsh Assembly to change its name to Welsh Parliament (via Passle)". Passle. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
- ^ "Income Tax". Welsh Government. 23 May 2018.
- ^ "Assembly now 'fully-fledged parliament'". 31 March 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
- ^ "Wales Bill 2016-17: Committee Stage Report". House of Commons Library. 9 September 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2016.