Government of Wales Act 2006

111 Proceedings on Bills

(1) The standing orders must include provision—

(a) for general debate on a Bill with an opportunity for Assembly members to vote on its general principles,

(b) for the consideration of, and an opportunity for Assembly members to vote on, the details of a Bill, and

(c) for a final stage at which a Bill can be passed or rejected.

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

(3) 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.

(4) The standing orders must include provision for securing that the Assembly 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.

(5) The standing orders must include provision for securing that the Assembly 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.

(6) The standing orders must provide for an opportunity for the reconsideration of a Bill after its passing if (and only if)—

(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 Assembly’s legislative competence,

(b) a reference made in relation to the Bill under section 112 is withdrawn following a request for withdrawal of the reference under section 113(2)(b), or

(c) an order is made in relation to the Bill under section 114.

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

(8) References in subsections (4), (5) and (6) of this section and sections 107(2), 109(5) and 116(3) to the passing of a Bill are, in the case of a Bill which has been amended on reconsideration, to be read as references to its approval.