Government of Wales Act 1998

20 Oath or affirmation of allegiance

(1) An Assembly member shall take the oath of allegiance set out in section 2 of the [1868 c. 72.] Promissory Oaths Act 1868 (or make the corresponding affirmation) as soon as may be after he is returned as an Assembly member (whether for the first time or subsequently).

(2) The oath shall be taken (or the affirmation made) before a person appointed by the Assembly (or, until the first appointment is made by the Assembly, before a person appointed by the Secretary of State).

(3) Until an Assembly member has taken the oath (or made the affirmation) he shall not do anything as an Assembly member (other than take part in proceedings of the Assembly at which Assembly members take the oath or make the affirmation, or any earlier proceedings for the election of the presiding officer or deputy presiding officer).

(4) If an Assembly member has not taken the oath (or made the affirmation) within—

(a) the period of two months beginning with the day on which he was declared to be returned as an Assembly member, or

(b) such longer period as the Assembly may have allowed before the end of that period of two months,

he shall at the end of that period of two months or longer period cease to be an Assembly member (so that his seat is vacant).

(5) No salary, allowance, gratuity or payment towards the provision of superannuation benefits shall be paid under this Act to or in respect of an Assembly member until he has taken the oath (or made the affirmation); but this subsection does not affect any entitlement to payments in respect of the period before he took the oath (or made the affirmation) once he has done so.