Citation c. 52 Territorial extent United Kingdom | Introduced by Michael Foot Royal assent 31 July 1978 | |
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Long title An Act to provide for changes in the government of Wales and in the constitution and functions of certain public bodies. Repealed by Wales Act 1978 (Repeal) Order 1979 SI 1979/933 | ||
The Wales Act 1978 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom intended to introduce a limited measure of self-government in Wales through the creation of a Welsh Assembly. The act never took effect as a result of the "no" vote in 1979 Welsh devolution referendum and was repealed in 1979.
Contents
Welsh Assembly proposed by the Act
Had the Wales Act 1978 entered force, it would have created a Welsh Assembly without primary legislative or tax raising powers. The proposed assembly would have had 72 members elected by the first past the post system and would meet at the Coal Exchange in Cardiff.
It was planned that assembly would have operated under the committee system where subject committees would be formed with representation of all groups in the assembly.
Powers
The assembly would have had the ability to pass secondary legislation with responsibility for primary legislation remaining with the UK Parliament at Westminster. It would have taken over the powers and functions of the Secretary of State for Wales.
The proposed assembly would have had responsibility for:
Referendum
The provisions of the Act were put to the populace in 1979 in a referendum held on 1 March 1979 through the question:
The results of the referendum were:
As a result, the Act never took effect, and was repealed in accordance with the Act's own provisions by the Wales Act 1978 (Repeal) Order 1979.