Decision details

Motion to approve the general principles of the Agricultural Sector (Wales) Bill

Decision Maker: Business Committee - Fourth Assembly, Plenary - Fourth Assembly

Status: Recommendations approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Purpose:

A Government Bill, introduced by Alun Davies AM, Minister for Natural Resources and Food. An Emergency Bill is a Government Bill that needs to be enacted more quickly than the Assembly’s usual four stage legislative process allows. A definition of an Emergency Bill is not provided in the Government of Wales Act 2006 (“the 2006 Act”) or in the Assembly’s Standing Orders, however Standing Order 26.95 states that:

 

“If it appears to a member of the government that an Emergency Bill is required, he or she may by motion propose that a government Bill, to be introduced in the Assembly, be treated as a government Emergency Bill.

 

As with all Assembly Bills, Emergency Bills must relate to one or more of the 20 Subjects contained in Schedule 7 to the 2006 Act in order for it to be within the scope of the Assembly’s legislative powers.

 

About the Bill

 

The Bill contains provisions that:

 

  • Preserve the current level of statutory protections;
  • Provide the Welsh Ministers with the power to make future Orders prescribing agricultural terms and conditions;
  • Provide Welsh Ministers with the power to establish an Agricultural Advisory Panel for Wales to carry out similar but more modified functions of the Agricultural Wages Board;
  • Enable the Agricultural Advisory Panel for Wales to carry out functions related to the operation of the agricultural sector, including promoting careers in agriculture and making recommendations to the Welsh Ministers to specify minimum terms and conditions; and
  • Assist the foundation for a resilient, sustainable and well-trained agricultural sector in Wales;
  • Promote upskilling in the agricultural sector.

 

Current stage

 

The Agricultural Sector (Wales) Act 2014 became law in Wales on 30 July 2014.

 

An explanation of the various stages of Assembly Bills can be found here.

 

 Stage

Documents

 

Motion to propose this be treated as a Government Emergency Bill

 

Motion to agree a timetable

Tabled 25 June, for debate on 2 July 2013


Bill introduced –
8 July 2013

 

Agricultural Sector (Wales) Bill, as introduced

 

Explanatory Memorandum

 

Presiding Officer’s Statement: 8 July 2013

 

Research Service Bill Summary

 

Legislative Glossary – Agricultural Sector (Wales) Bill (Welsh language version only)

 

 



Stage 1 - General Principles debate (in Plenary)



A debate took place in Plenary on 9 July 2013. The motion to agree the general principles of the Bill was agreed.

Financial Resolution (if required)

 

A Financial Resolution in relation to the Agricultural Sector (Wales) Bill was agreed in Plenary on 9 July 2013.


Stage 2 – Committee consideration of amendments



Stage 2 consideration took place in the Committee of the Whole Assembly on 16 July 2013.

 

Concise Minutes: 16 July 2013

 

Notice of Amendments 10 July 2013

Notice of Amendments 11 July 2013

Notice of Amendments 12 July 2013

Marshalled List of Amendments 16 July 2013

Groupings of Amendments 16 July 2013

 

Agricultural Sector (Wales) Bill, as amended at Stage 2 (Amendments to the Bill since the previous version are indicated by sidelining in the right margin.)




Stage 3 – Plenary consideration of amendments


Stage 3 consideration and disposal of amendments took place in Plenary on 17 July 2013.

 

Marshalled List of Amendments 17 July 2013

Groupings of Amendments 17 July 2013

Agricultural Sector (Wales) Bill, as passed (Amendments to the Bill since the previous version are indicated by sidelining in the right margin.)

 


Stage 4 –
Passing of the Bill in Plenary

 

 

The Bill was agreed by the Assembly in accordance with SO 12.36 on 17 July 2013.

 

Agricultural Sector (Wales) Bill, as passed (Crown XML)

 

Post Stage 4

 

 

The Attorney General has written to the Chief Executive and Clerk of the Assembly to advise that he will be referring the Bill to the Supreme Court under Section 112 of the Government of Wales Act 2006.

 

The Chief Executive and Clerk of the Assembly has written to all Assembly Members advising of this. This letter can be found here together with copies of the Attorney General’s letter and the responses from the Counsel General and Secretary of State for Wales.

 

The Bill was referred to the Supreme Court. Judgement on this case was received on 9 July 2014.

The judgement found the Bill to be within the competence of the National Assembly for Wales.

 

 

 

Royal Assent

 

 

Royal Assent was given on 30 July 2014.

 

Contact information

 

Clerk: Bethan Davies

 

Phone: 029 2089 8120

 

Postal address:

National Assembly for Wales

Cardiff Bay

CF99 1NA

Decision:

The item started at 16.40

Voting on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.

NDM5289 Alun Davies (Blaenau Gwent)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales in accordance with Standing Order 26.102:

Agrees to the general principles of the Agricultural Sector (Wales) Bill.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets the failure of the Welsh Government to put the Bill through the full Public Bill procedure given the opportunity it had to do so, which would have included;

a) detailed committee scrutiny of the Bill; and

b) opportunity for a detailed committee report on the Bill.

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

25

0

26

51

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets that the Emergency Bill was brought before the Assembly before the Welsh Government’s own consultation had closed and before the consultation responses were available for consideration.

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

25

0

26

51

Amendment 2 was not agreed.

Amendment 3 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets that the Bill would allow Welsh Ministers to set minimum wages without any reference to an independent panel.

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

25

0

26

51

Amendment 3 was not agreed.

Amendment 4 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes that the establishment of an advisory panel under the Bill would be at the discretion of Welsh Ministers, who would control:

a) the constitution and proceedings of the panel;

b) the appointment of members to the panel;

c) the general powers of the panel; and

d) the addition, removal or amendment of functions of the panel.

A vote was taken on Amendment 4:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

25

0

26

51

Amendment 4 was not agreed.

Amendment 5 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes that:

a) the key purposes of the Bill include wage-setting functions; and

b) employment law is not listed under Schedule 7 of the Government of Wales Act 2006.

A vote was taken on Amendment 5:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

17

0

34

51

Amendment 5 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM5289 Alun Davies (Blaenau Gwent)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales in accordance with Standing Order 26.102:

Agrees to the general principles of the Agricultural Sector (Wales) Bill.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

33

0

17

50

The motion without amendment was agreed.

Publication date: 09/07/2013

Date of decision: 09/07/2013

Decided at meeting: 09/07/2013 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly