The Law Commission reported on the Form and Accessibility of the Law Applicable in Wales in June 2016. It recommended that the Welsh Government follow a policy of codification bringing together legislation whose subject matter is within the legislative competence of the Senedd and which is currently scattered across various pieces of legislation of the United Kingdom Parliament and/or the Senedd in a piece of Senedd legislation.

The Counsel General made an oral statement on Codes of Welsh law on 13 December 2016. The Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee* (the Committee) took evidence from the Counsel General about codification on 8 May 2017. Subsequently, the Counsel General formerly responded to the Law Commission on 19 July 2017.

On 19 June 2017, the Welsh Government launched its consultation

Interpreting Welsh legislation – considering an interpretation Act for Wales.

On 20 March 2018, the Welsh Government launched its consultation on the

Draft Legislation (Wales) Bill (the draft Bill). The Counsel General provided a technical briefing on the draft Bill to the Committee on 14 May 2018.

On 3 December 2018, the Counsel General introduced the Legislation (Wales) Bill (the Bill). The Committee scrutinised the Bill, and the Senedd passed the Bill on 16 July 2019. In its Stage 1 report on the Bill, the Committee recommended that the Counsel General issue a statement clarifying his proposals and intentions for codifying Welsh law. The Committee also recommended that the Business Committee should seek the views of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee* as it prepares new Standing Orders for consolidation Bills, codification and law reform Bills.

* Following a resolution in Plenary on 29 January 2020, the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee became the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee.