Citation 2012 anaw 1 Territorial extent Wales Commencement 13 November 2012 | Introduced by Rhodri Glyn Thomas Royal assent 12 November 2012 | |
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Long title An Act of the National Assembly for Wales to make provision about the use of the English and Welsh languages in proceedings of the National Assembly for Wales and in the discharge of the functions of the Assembly Commission. | ||
The National Assembly for Wales (Official Languages) Act 2012 (anaw 1) (Welsh: Deddf Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru (Ieithoedd Swyddogol) 2012) was an Act of the National Assembly for Wales that was given royal assent on 12 November 2012. It is significant in that it is the first Act passed in Wales to become law in over 600 years.
The Act consists principally of amendments to the Government of Wales Act 2006, and provides that the National Assembly for Wales shall have two official languages, English and Welsh; and that they shall be treated equally.
It was not the first bill passed by the National Assembly for Wales, which was the bill for the Local Government Byelaws (Wales) Act 2012, but was the first to receive royal assent and so become law. The bill was passed by the National Assembly for Wales on 3 October 2012, but then underwent a statutory period of intimation, so that lawyers could verify that it fell within the remit of the National Assembly for Wales. Royal assent was given when the Welsh Seal was affixed to the Letters Patent by First Minister Carwyn Jones on 12 November 2012; it was gazetted on 16 November.
Items of primary legislation passed by the National Assembly for Wales between 2008 and 2011 are known as Assembly Measures. The original system of Welsh law was abolished under Henry VIII.