The Higher Education and Research Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 19 May 2016. It was a UK Government Bill sponsored by the Department for Education. The Bill related to higher education and research, and made provision about alternative payments to students in higher or further education.

The Bill was subject to the legislative consent process under Standing Order 29. This process is followed in cases where the consent of the National Assembly for Wales is sought by the UK Government to legislate on an issue which could normally fall within the competence of the Assembly.

The Welsh Government laid a Legislative Consent Memorandum in relation to the Higher Education and Research Bill (PDF, 165KB) on 17 November 2016. This Legislative Consent Memorandum was referred by the Business Committee on 22 November 2016 (PDF, 51KB) to the Children, Young People and Education Committee for consideration, with a reporting deadline of 12 January 2017.

A Revised LCM (PDF, 169KB) was laid by the Welsh Government on 1 December 2016. The Children, Young People and Education Committee published its report on the Revised LCM (PDF, 589KB) on 12 January 2017).

The Welsh Government laid a Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum in relation to the Higher Education and Research Bill (PDF, 101KB) on 5 January 2017. This Supplementary LCM was referred by the Business Committee on 10 January 2017 (PDF, 51KB) to the Children, Young People and Education Committee for consideration, with a reporting deadline of 9 February 2017. The Children, Young People and Education Committee published its report on the Supplementary LCM on 9 February 2017.

The Legislative Consent Motion for the Higher Education and Research Bill was agreed in Plenary on 14 February 2017.