Decision details

National Assembly for Wales (Official Languages) Bill, a Commission Bill, introduced by Rhodri Glyn Thomas, Assembly Commissioner with responsibility for the Welsh Language.  The Business Committee remitted the Bill to the Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee.

 

About the Bill

The purpose of the Bill was to clearly place the duties of the National Assembly and of the Assembly Commission in relation to the provision of bilingual services on a statutory footing.

 

Current Stage

The National Assembly for Wales (Official Languages) Act 2012 became law in Wales on 12 November 2012 (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 January 2012	National Assembly for Wales (Official Languages) Bill (PDF 63KB)   Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 480KB)   Presiding Officer’s Statement on Legislative Competence: 30 January 2012 (PDF 157KB)   Business Committee Report on the timetable for consideration of the Bill (PDF 71KB)
Stage 1 - Committee consideration of general principles	Consultation The Committee considered the Bill on the following dates: 1 February 2012 9 February 2012 1 March 2012 7 March 2012 15 March 2012 21 March 2012 29 March 2012 (private) 25 April 2012 (private) Supplementary Evidence from the Assembly Commission Committee Stage 1 Report (PDF 698KB)
Stage 1 - Debate in plenary on general principles	A debate took place in Plenary on 16 May 2012.  The motion to agree the general principles of the Bill was agreed.
Financial Resolution	A Financial Resolution in relation to the National Assembly for Wales (Official Languages) Bill was agreed in Plenary on 22 May 2012.
Stage 2 - Committee consideration of amendments	Stage 2 consideration took place on 21 June 2012. Notice of Amendments: 12 June 2012 (PDF 77KB) Notice of Amendments: 14 June 2012 (PDF 71KB) Marshalled List: 21 June 2012 (PDF 77KB) Groupings of Amendments: 21 June 2012 (PDF 96KB)   Concise Minutes   National Assembly for Wales (Official Languages) Bill, as amended at Stage 2 (PDF 66KB) (Amendments to the Bill since the previous version are indicated by sidelining in the right margin.)   Explanatory Memorandum revised after Stage 2 (PDF 437KB)   Research Service: Summary of Changes Made at Stage 2 (PDF 99KB)   Supplementary Evidence from the Assembly Commission (PDF 93KB)
Stage 3 - Plenary consideration of amendments	The Stage 3 debate took place in Plenary on: 3 October 2012.   Notice of Amendments: 25 September 2012 (PDF 55KB)   Notice of Amendments: 26 September 2012 (PDF 62KB)   Marshalled List of Amendments: 3 October 2012 (PDF 69KB)   Groupings of Amendments: 3 October 2012 (PDF 62KB)   Briefing note on the Bill in relation to legislative competence, Chief Legal Adviser, National Assembly for Wales: 3 October 2012 (PDF 61KB)
Stage 4 - Passing of the Bill in Plenary	The Bill was agreed by the Assembly in accordance with SO 12.36 on 3 October 2012.   National Assembly for Wales (Official Languages) Bill, As Passed (PDF 66KB)   National Assembly for Wales (Official Languages) Bill, as passed (Crown XML)
Date of Royal Assent	Royal Assent was given on 12 November 2012. (PDF 50KB)

 

Contact information

 

Clerk: Gareth Williams

 

Phone: 0300 200 6565

 

Postal address:

National Assembly for Wales

Cardiff Bay

Cardiff

CF99 1NA

 

Email: Contact@assembly.wales

 

The item started at 15:02

In accordance with Standing Order 26.36, amendments will be disposed of in the order which the sections and schedules to which they relate, arise in the Bill.

 

The Amendments have been grouped for the purposes of debate and the groupings will be debated as follows:

 

1. Translation of Reports of Assembly Proceedings

1, 5

 

2. Publication of Reports of Assembly Proceedings

9

 

3. Appointment of Responsible Officer

6

 

4. Meaning of Provision

2

 

5. Provisions that must be included in the Scheme

10, 11, 12

 

6. Services provided under the Scheme

7, 8

 

7. Consultation on the Scheme

3, 4

 

Voting was taken in the order set out in the Marshalled List of Amendments:

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
17	1	36	54

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on Amendment 9:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
6	0	48	54

Amendment 9 was not agreed.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 5:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
12	0	42	54

Amendment 5 was not agreed.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 6:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
22	0	32	54

Amendment 6 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Amendment 10 was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

Amendment 11 was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 12:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
43	0	11	54

Amendment 12 was agreed.

Amendment 7 was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

Amendment 8 was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

Amendment 3 was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

Amendment 4 was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

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