Citation 2017 c. 4 Territorial extent United Kingdom | Introduced by Alun Cairns Royal assent 31 January 2017 | |
 | ||
Long title An Act to amend Government of Wales Act 2006 and the Wales Act 2014 and to make provision about the functions of the Welsh Ministers and about Welsh tribunals; and for connected purposes. Relates to Government of Wales Act 2006, Wales Act 2014, Harbours Act 1964 | ||
The Wales Act 2017 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It sets out amendments to the Government of Wales Act 2006 and devolves further powers to Wales. The legislation is based on the proposals of the St David's Day Agreement which were not included in Wales Act 2014.
Contents
Background
The bill was proposed by Conservative Party in their manifesto for 2015 general election.
The draft Wales Bill, which was presented in October 2015, faced much criticism from the public over tests for competence (also known as 'necessity tests') and the draft bill was put on hold by the beginning of 2016. The updated bill was introduced in 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 reserved matters model, which is used in Scotland under the Scotland Act 1998. The Act repealed the provision of the Wales Act 2014 for a referendum in Wales on devolution of income tax.
The Act gives extra powers to the National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Government:
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 also recognised that there is a body of Welsh law and it established the position of President of Welsh Tribunals, although it does not change the single England and Wales jurisdiction.