Government of Wales Act 1998 (c. 38)

1998 Chapter 38

 
 
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

PART I
THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FOR WALES
The Assembly
Section  
1. The Assembly.
2. Membership.

Ordinary elections
3. Time of ordinary elections.
4. Voting at ordinary elections.
5. Party lists and individual candidates.
6. Calculation of electoral region figures.
7. Return of electoral region members.

Vacancies
8. Constituency seats.
9. Electoral region seats.

The franchise and conduct of elections
10. Entitlement to vote.
11. Power to make provision about elections etc.

Disqualification
12. Disqualification from being Assembly member.
13. Exceptions and relief from disqualification.
14. Effect of disqualification.
15. Judicial proceedings as to disqualification.

Remuneration, oaths etc.
16. Salaries and allowances.
17. Limit on salaries of members of other public bodies.
18. Pensions etc.
19. Publication of information about remuneration paid.
20. Oath or affirmation of allegiance.

PART II
ASSEMBLY FUNCTIONS
Introduction
21. Introductory.

Transfer of Ministerial functions to Assembly
22. Transfer of Ministerial functions.
23. General transfer of property, rights and liabilities etc.
24. General transfer: supplementary.
25. Power to make specific transfers etc.
26. Transfers of property: supplementary.

Other functions
27. Reform of Welsh health authorities.
28. Reform of other Welsh public bodies.
29. Implementation of Community law.
30. Consultation about public appointments.
31. Consultation about government's legislative programme.
32. Support of culture etc.
33. Consideration of matters affecting Wales.

Ancillary powers etc.
34. Staff.
35. Inquiries.
36. Polls for ascertaining views of the public.
37. Private bills.
38. Legal proceedings.
39. Contracts.
40. Supplementary powers.
41. Agency arrangements and provision of services.

Supplementary
42. Different exercise of functions by Assembly.
43. Construction of references to Ministers and departments.
44. Parliamentary procedures for subordinate legislation.
45. Laying of reports and statements.

PART III
ASSEMBLY PROCEDURE
Introductory
46. Regulation of procedure.
47. Equal treatment of English and Welsh languages.
48. Equal opportunities in conduct of business.

Initial provisions
49. First meeting.
50. First standing orders.
51. The Commissioners.

Offices and committees
52. Presiding officer and deputy.
53. Assembly First Secretary and Assembly Secretaries.
54. Committees.
55. Sub-committees.

The statutory committees
56. Executive committee.
57. Subject committees.
58. Subordinate legislation scrutiny committee.
59. Members of scrutiny committee etc.
60. Audit Committee.
61. Regional committees.

Delegation
62. Delegation of functions.
63. Exercise of functions by Assembly staff.

Procedures relating to subordinate legislation
64. Standing orders to provide procedures.
65. Regulatory appraisals.
66. Making of Assembly general subordinate legislation.
67. Disapplication of procedural requirements.
68. Financial initiative.

Other provisions about standing orders
69. Preservation of order.
70. Openness.
71. Participation of Assembly members.
72. Integrity.
73. Publication.

Evidence and documents relating to public bodies
74. Power to require attendance and production of documents.
75. Witnesses and documents: supplementary.

Miscellaneous
76. Attendance of Secretary of State for Wales.
77. Defamation.
78. Contempt of court.
79. Corrupt practices.

PART IV
ASSEMBLY FINANCE
Payments to Assembly etc.
80. Grants to Assembly.
81. Statement of estimated payments etc.
82. Loans to Assembly by Secretary of State.
83. Accounts relating to loans under section 82.
84. Destination of receipts etc.

Expenditure by Assembly etc.
85. Expenditure by Assembly.
86. Statement of proposed expenditure etc.
87. National Loans Fund lending.
88. Accounts relating to funds paid to Assembly for lending.
89. Source of sums paid by Assembly.

The Auditor General for Wales
90. Auditor General for Wales.
91. Remuneration.
92. Staff etc.
93. Expenses, fees and accounts.
94. Audit of Auditor General's accounts.
95. Access to documents by Auditor General.
96. Auditor General for Wales: miscellaneous.

Financial accountability of Assembly etc.
97. Preparation and audit of Assembly's annual accounts.
98. Accounting officers.
99. Accounts of Assembly subsidiaries etc.
100. Examinations into Assembly's use of resources.
101. Examinations by Comptroller and Auditor General.
102. Audit Committee reports.
103. Publication of accounts and audit reports etc.

Funding of school inspections and forestry in Wales
104. Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in Wales.
105. Forestry Commissioners.

PART V
OTHER PROVISIONS ABOUT THE ASSEMBLY
Community law, human rights and international obligations
106. Community law.
107. Human rights.
108. International obligations.

Decisions about Assembly functions
109. Resolution of devolution issues.
110. Power to vary retrospective decisions.

Investigation of complaints
111. Welsh Administration Ombudsman.
112. Amendments of Health Service Commissioners Act 1993.

Local government, the voluntary sector and business
113. Relations with local government.
114. Relations with voluntary organisations.
115. Consultation with business.

Welsh public records
116. Status of Welsh public records.
117. Transfer of responsibility.
118. Meaning of "Welsh public records".

Miscellaneous
119. Publication and inspection of documents.
120. Equality of opportunity.
121. Sustainable development.
122. English and Welsh texts of Assembly instruments.
123. Provision of information to Treasury.
124. Documentary evidence.
125. Minor and consequential amendments.

PART VI
REFORM OF WELSH PUBLIC BODIES
The Welsh Development Agency
126. Extension of functions.
127. Land acquisition and disposal etc.
128. Other amendments.

The Development Board for Rural Wales
129. Cessation of functions.
130. Transfer of property, staff etc. to Welsh Development Agency.
131. Transitional provisions.
132. Winding-down.
133. Abolition etc.

The Land Authority for Wales
134. Cessation of functions.
135. Consequential amendments.
136. Transfer of property, staff etc. to Welsh Development Agency.
137. Transitional provisions.
138. Winding-down.
139. Abolition etc.

Housing for Wales
140. Transfer of functions, property, staff etc. to Secretary of State.
141. Transitional provisions.
142. Winding-down.
143. Abolition etc.

Accountability
144. Accounts, audit and reports.
145. Examinations into use of resources.
146. Transfer etc. of functions of Comptroller and Auditor General.
147. Environment Agency.

Miscellaneous
148. Health Authorities.
149. Agricultural wages committees.
150. Abolition of Residuary Body for Wales.

PART VII
SUPPLEMENTARY
151. Power to amend enactments.
152. Repeals.
153. Transitional provisions etc.
154. Orders and directions.
155. Interpretation.
156. Defined expressions.
157. Financial provisions.
158. Commencement.
159. Short title.
 

SCHEDULES:
    Schedule 1 - Assembly constituencies and Assembly electoral regions.
    Schedule 2 - Fields in which functions are to be transferred by first Order in Council.
    Schedule 3 - Transfer etc. of functions: further provisions.
    Part I - Functions transferable etc.
    Part II - Continuing role for transferor etc.
    Part III - Supplementary.
    Schedule 4 - Public bodies subject to reform by Assembly.
    Part I - Bodies which may lose or gain functions.
    Part II - Bodies which may lose functions or gain functions with consent.
    Part III - Bodies which may only gain functions.
    Part IV - Bodies which may only gain functions and only with consent.
    Schedule 5 - Bodies and offices covered by section 74.
    Schedule 6 - Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in Wales.
    Schedule 7 - Forestry Commissioners.
    Schedule 8 - Devolution issues.
    Part I - Preliminary.
    Part II - Proceedings in England and Wales.
    Part III - Proceedings in Scotland.
    Part IV - Proceedings in Northern Ireland.
    Part V - General.
    Schedule 9 - Welsh Administration Ombudsman.
    Part I - The Ombudsman.
    Part II - Investigation of complaints.
    Schedule 10 - Amendments of Health Service Commissioners Act 1993.
    Schedule 11 - Relations with local government: supplementary.
    Part I - The Partnership Council.
    Part II - The local government scheme.
    Schedule 12 - Minor and consequential amendments.
    Schedule 13 - Welsh Development Agency: land provisions.
    Schedule 14 - Welsh Development Agency: other amendments.
    Part I - Amendments of Welsh Development Agency Act 1975.
    Part II - Amendments of other enactments.
    Schedule 15 - Development Board for Rural Wales.
    Schedule 16 - Housing for Wales.
    Schedule 17 - Audit etc. of Welsh public bodies.
    Part I - Bodies subject generally to audit etc. provisions.
    Part II - Bodies partially subject to audit etc. provisions.
    Part III - Bodies subject only to provisions about accounting officers and examinations of use of resources.
    Schedule 18 - Repeals.
    Part I - Welsh Administration Ombudsman and Health Service Commissioner for Wales.
    Part II - Welsh public records.
    Part III - Welsh Development Agency.
    Part IV - Development Board for Rural Wales.
    Part V - Land Authority for Wales.
    Part VI - Housing for Wales.
    Part VII - Residuary Body for Wales.
© Crown copyright 1998
Prepared 27 August 1998