Decision details

A Government Bill, introduced by Lesley Griffiths, Minister for Local Government and Government Business. Following a change in ministerial portfolios in September 2014, the First Minister authorised Leighton Andrews AM, Minister for Public Services, as the new Member in Charge of the Bill, from 12 September 2014. The Business Committee remitted the Bill to the Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee.

 

During Stage 2 proceedings on 22 January 2015, the Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee agreed to amend the short title of the Bill from Gender-based Violence, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Bill to Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Bill (amendment 82).

 

About the Bill

 

The provisions of the Bill intended to ensure a focus across the public sector on the prevention of these issues, the protection of victims and the support for those affected by such issues.

 

The Bill intended to place duties on the Welsh Ministers, County and County Borough Councils (“Local Authorities”) and Local Health Boards to prepare and publish strategies aimed at ending domestic abuse, gender-based violence and sexual violence. The Bill further provided a power to the Welsh Ministers to issue guidance to relevant authorities on how they should exercise their functions with a view to contributing to ending domestic abuse, gender-based violence and sexual violence. The Bill contained provision for the appointment of a Ministerial Adviser.

 

Current Stage

 

The Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015 (external website) became law in Wales on 29 April 2015 (external website).

 

Record of Passage in the National Assembly for Wales

 

The following table sets out the dates for each stage of the Bill’s passage through the National Assembly for Wales.

 

Stage	Documents
Bill introduced -30 June 2014	Gender-based Violence, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Bill, as introduced (PDF 119KB)   Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 438KB)   Presiding Officer’s Statement: 30 June 2014 (PDF 127KB) Business Committee’s Report on the timetable for consideration of the Bill (PDF 64.2KB)   Legislative Glossary - Welsh Language Version Only (PDF 115KB)
Stage 1 – Committee considerations of general principles	Public Consultation: The Committee issued a call for evidence, which closed on 5 September 2014.   The Committee considered the Bill on the following dates: 17 July 2014 17 September 2014 25 September 2014 1 October 2014 23 October 2014 (private) 5 November 2014 (private)   Correspondence from the Minister for Local Government and Government Business: 9 July 2014 (PDF 13.7KB) 31 July 2014 (PDF 102KB) 29 August 2014 (PDF 556KB)   Committee Stage 1 Report (PDF 608KB)   Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee Report (PDF 305KB)   Welsh Glossary (Only available in Welsh) (PDF 115KB)
Stage 1 – Debate in Plenary on general principles	A debate took place in Plenary on 25 November 2014. The motion to agree the general principles of the Bill was agreed.
Financial Resolution	A Financial Resolution in relation to the Gender-based Violence, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Bill was agreed in Plenary on 25 November 2014.
Stage 2 – Committee consideration of amendments	Stage 2 consideration took place in Committee on 22 January 2015.   Notice of Amendments: 26 November 2014PDF 156KB Welsh Government - Purpose and Effect table: 26 November 2014 (PDF 81.9KB)   Notice of Amendments: 10 December 2014 (PDF 64.3 KB)   Notice of Amendments: 5 January 2015 (PDF 69.0 KB) Welsh Government – Purpose and Effect table: 5 January 2015 (PDF 68.2KB)   Notice of Amendments: 9 January 2015, v2(PDF 78.7KB)   Notice of Amendments: 13 January 2015 (PDF 69.5 KB)   Notice of Amendments: 14 January 2015 (PDF 116KB)   Notice of Amendments: 15 January 2015 v2 (PDF 155KB) Marshalled List of Amendments: 22 January 2015, v5   Groupings of Amendments, v2   Concise Minutes: 22 January 2015 Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Bill, as amended at Stage 2 (PDF 116KB)   Revised Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 786KB)   Research Service Bill Summary 2 (PDF 155KB)
Stage 3 – Plenary consideration of amendments	Following the completion of Stage 2 proceedings, Stage 3 commenced on 23 January 2015. Details of tabled amendments for consideration in Plenary on 3 March 2015 are published here.   Notice of Amendments: 18 February 2015 (PDF 92.1KB) Notice of Amendments: 20 February 2015 v2(PDF 72.5KB) Welsh Government – Purpose and Effect table: 20 February 2015 v2 (PDF 85.3KB) Notice of Amendments: 23 February 2015 (PDF 70.0KB) Notice of Amendments: 24 February 2015 (PDF 79.7KB) Welsh Government – Purpose and Effect table: 24 February 2015 (PDF 39.5KB) Marshalled List of Amendments: 3 March 2015 (PDF 132.5KB)   Groupings of Amendments (PDF 68.1KB)   Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Bill, as amended at Stage 3 (PDF 120KB)
Stage 4 – Passing of the Bill in Plenary	The Bill was agreed by the Assembly in accordance with SO 12.36 on 10 March 2015.   Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Bill, as passed PDF 120KB   Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Bill, as passed (Crown XML)
Post-stage 4	The Attorney General (PDF 444KB), Counsel General (PDF 144KB )and Secretary of State for Wales (PDF 15.8KB) wrote to the Chief Executive and Clerk of the Assembly to advise that they would not be referring the Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Bill to the Supreme Court under Sections 112 or 114 of the Government of Wales Act 2006.
Date of Royal Assent	Royal Assent was given on 29 April 2015.(PDF 15.8KB)

 

Contact information

 

This bill was remitted to the Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee

 

Clerk: Sarah Beasley

Phone: 0300 200 6565

Email: contact@Assembly.Wales

The item started at 15.33

 

The amendments will be disposed of in the order that the sections and schedules to which they relate were set out in the motion under Standing Order 26.36 agreed by the Assembly on 24 February 2015.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 54:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

 

Amendment 22 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

Amendment 21 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

As amendment 54 was not agreed, amendment 55 fell.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 56:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
14	12	26	52

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 57:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
15	11	26	52

Amendment 57 was not agreed.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 69:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 70:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

 

As amendment 70 was not agreed, amendment 71 fell.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 72:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

 

Amendment 23 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

As amendment 2 was not agreed, amendment 3 fell.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 4:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
14	12	26	52

Amendment 4 was not agreed.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 5:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 6:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 7:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

 

As amendment 5 was not agreed, amendment 11 fell.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 58:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 59:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

Amendment 24 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 8:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 9:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

 

As amendment 8 was not agreed, amendment 10 fell.

 

Amendment 12 was withdrawn in accordance with Standing Order 12.27.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 68:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 13:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

 

Amendment 67 was not moved.

Amendment 65 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 14:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 15:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 16:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

 

Amendment 17 was not moved.

 

The Presiding Officer proposed that amendments 25 -32 were disposed of en bloc. A Member objected, therefore the amendments were disposed of individually.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 25:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
52	0	0	52

Amendment 25 was agreed.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 26:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
51	0	0	51

Amendment 26 was agreed/not agreed.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 27:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 28:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 29:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 30:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

 

Amendment 31 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

Amendment 32 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 18:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 60:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
14	11	27	52

Amendment 60 was not agreed.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 61:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 62:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 19:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

 

The Presiding Officer proposed that amendments 33 -52 were disposed of en bloc. A Member objected, therefore the amendments were disposed of individually.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 33:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
52	0	0	52

Amendment 33 was agreed.

 

Amendment 34 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

Amendment 35 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 36:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 37:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 38:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 39:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
25	0	26	51

Amendment 39 was not agreed.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 40:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

 

Amendment 41 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

Amendment 42 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

Amendment 43 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

Amendment 44 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

Amendment 45 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

Amendment 46 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

Amendment 47 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

Amendment 48 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

Amendment 49 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

Amendment 50 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

Amendment 51 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

Amendment 52 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

At 17.57, proceedings were suspended for 15 minutes. The bell was rung 5 minutes before reconvening for Stage 3 proceedings on the Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Bill.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 66:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
16	0	36	52

Amendment 66 was not agreed.

 

Amendment 63 was withdrawn in accordance with Standing Order 12.27.

 

Amendment 53 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

Amendment 64 was not moved.

 

Amendment 20 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

All sections and schedules of the Bill were deemed agreed, concluding Stage 3 proceedings.