Decision details

A Government Bill, introduced by Carl Sargeant AM, Minister for Natural Resources.  The Business Committee has remitted the Bill to the Environment and Sustainability Committee.

 

About the Bill

 

The Bill includes provision for:

• planning and managing Wales’ natural resources at a national and local level;
• providing Natural Resources Wales with a general purpose linked to statutory ‘principles of sustainable management of natural resources’ defined within the Bill;
• enhancing the powers available to NRW to undertake land management agreements and experimental schemes;
• providing a requirement for public authorities to maintain and enhance biodiversity;
• creating a statutory framework for action on climate change including targets for reducing emissions of greenhouse gasses;
• reforming the law on charges for carrier bags;
• providing powers to Welsh Ministers in relation to waste recycling (including the separate collection of waste); food waste treatment and energy recovery in business.
• making provision about several and regulated orders for fisheries for shellfish;
• fees for marine licences;
• establishing a Flood and Coastal Erosion Committee; and
• changes to the law on land drainage and bylaws made by NRW.

 

Current Stage

 

The Environment (Wales) Act 2016 (external website) became law in Wales on 21 March 2016 (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: 11 May 2015	Environment (Wales) Bill, as introduced Explanatory Memorandum Presiding Officer’s Statement: 11 May 2015 Business Committee’s Report on the timetable for consideration of the Bill: 11 May 2015 Policy Intent Statement Legislative glossary (Welsh language version only) Research Service Bill Summary
Stage 1: Committee considerations of general principles	Public Consultation. The Committee has issued a call for evidence, which closed on 12 June 2015. The Committee considered the Bill on the following dates: 24 June 2015 2 July 2015 8 July 2015 16 July 2015 16 September 2015 (private) 30 September 2015 (private) Committee Stage 1 Report Minister for Natural Resources: Response to Stage 1 Report
Stage 1: Debate in Plenary on general principles	A debate took place in Plenary on 20 October. The motion to agree the general principles of the Bill was agreed.
Financial Resolution	A Financial Resolution in relation to the Environment (Wales) Bill was agreed in Plenary on 20 October.
Stage 2: Committee consideration of amendments	Stage 2 consideration took place in Committee on 26 November 2015. Notice of Amendments: 21 October 2015 Welsh Government – Purpose and Effect Table: 21 October 2015 Notice of Amendments: 11 November 2015 Notice of Amendments: 16 November 2015 Notice of Amendments: 17 November 2015 Welsh Government - Purpose and Effect table: 18 November 2015 Notice of Amendments: 19 November 2015 Marshalled List of Amendments: 26 November 2015 V3 Groupings of Amendments: 26 November 2015 V2 Environment (Wales) Bill, as amended at Stage 2 Minister for Natural Resources: Further Information – 10 December 2015 Revised Explanatory Memorandum
Stage 3: Plenary consideration of amendments	Stage 3 consideration and disposal of amendments took place in Plenary on 26 January 2016. Notice of Amendments: 15 January 2016 v2 Welsh Government – Purpose and effect table: 15 January 2016 Notice of Amendments: 19 January 2016 Marshalled list of Amendments - Stage 3 Groupings of amendments: 26 January 2016 Environment (Wales) Bill, as amended at Stage 3
Stage 4: Passing of the Bill in Plenary	The Bill was agreed by the Assembly in accordance with SO 12.36 on 2 February 2016.   Environment (Wales) Bill, as passed   Environment (Wales) Bill, as passed (Crown XML)
Post-stage 4	The Attorney General, Counsel General and Secretary of State for Wales wrote to the Chief Executive and Clerk of the Assembly to advise that they would not be referring the Environment (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 21 March 2016.

 

Contact information

Clerk: Alun Davidson

Phone:  0300 200 6339

 

Postal address:

National Assembly for Wales

Cardiff Bay

Cardiff    

CF99 1NA

 

Email: SeneddEnv@Assembly.Wales

 

The item started at 16.07

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

A vote was taken on amendment 68:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

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

A vote was taken on amendment 36:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

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

A vote was taken on amendment 51:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
13	9	30	52

Amendment 51 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 52:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
13	9	30	52

Amendment 52 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 49:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

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

A vote was taken on amendment 50:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
17	0	35	52

Amendment 50 was not agreed.

Amendment 5 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Amendment 6 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

A vote was taken on amendment 53:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

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

A vote was taken on amendment 54:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

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

A vote was taken on amendment 55:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

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

A vote was taken on amendment 56:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

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

Amendment 7 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Amendment 8 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Amendment 37 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Amendment 2 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Amendment 1 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

A vote was taken on amendment 57:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
13	0	39	52

Amendment 57 was not agreed.

Amendment 3 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Amendment 9 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

A vote was taken on amendment 69:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

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

A vote was taken on amendment 58:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
22	0	30	52

Amendment 58 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on Amendment 10A:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

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

Amendment 10 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

A vote was taken on amendment 59:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

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

Amendment 11 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Amendment 12 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

A vote was taken on amendment 60:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
25	0	26	51

Amendment 60 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 Deputy Presiding Officer exercised his casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 61:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
12	0	39	51

Amendment 61 was not agreed.

Amendment 13 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

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 14:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
27	0	25	52

Amendment 14 was agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 15:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

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

As amendment 14 was agreed, amendment 40 fell

A vote was taken on amendment 41:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
17	0	35	52

Amendment 41 was not agreed.

As amendment 14 was agreed, amendment 70 fell

A vote was taken on Amendment 71:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

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

A vote was taken on amendment 42:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
17	0	35	52

Amendment 42 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 43:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
13	0	39	52

Amendment 43 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 44:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
13	0	39	52

Amendment 44 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 Deputy Presiding Officer exercised his 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 Deputy Presiding Officer exercised his casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

Amendment 16 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

A vote was taken on amendment 73:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
13	0	39	52

Amendment 73 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 45:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
13	0	39	52

Amendment 45 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 74:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
13	0	39	52

Amendment 74 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 75:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

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

A vote was taken on amendment 63:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

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

Amendment 17 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

A vote was taken on amendment 76:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
13	13	26	52

Amendment 76 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 77:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
13	0	39	52

Amendment 77 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 46:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
13	0	39	52

Amendment 46 was not agreed.

Amendment 18 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Amendment 4 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Amendment 19 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

A vote was taken on amendment 78:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

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

A vote was taken on amendment 79:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

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

A vote was taken on amendment 47:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

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

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

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

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

A vote was taken on amendment 80:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
26	0	27	53

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

As amendment 46 was not agreed, amendment 48 fell

A vote was taken on amendment 23:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
39	0	13	52

Amendment 23 was agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 24:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
39	0	13	52

Amendment 24 was agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 25:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
39	0	13	52

Amendment 25 was agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 26A:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
13	0	39	52

Amendment 26A was not agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 26:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
39	0	13	52

Amendment 26 was agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 27:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
39	0	13	52

Amendment 27 was agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 28:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
39	0	13	52

Amendment 28 was agreed.

A vote was taken on amendment 64:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
13	0	39	52

Amendment 64 was not agreed.

Amendment 29 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

A vote was taken on amendment 65:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
21	0	31	52

Amendment 65 was not agreed.

Amendment 30 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

A vote was taken on amendment 66:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
12	13	27	52

Amendment 66 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.

Amendment 33 was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

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

A vote was taken on amendment 67:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
25	0	27	52

Amendment 67 was not agreed.

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

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