A Government Emergency Bill, introduced by Julie James MS, Minister for Housing and Local Government.

An Emergency Bill is a Government Bill that needs to be enacted more quickly than the Senedd’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 Senedd’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 Senedd, be treated as a government Emergency Bill.”

About the Bill

The Welsh Elections (Coronavirus) Bill makes provision to respond to the potential risks to the ordinary general election for membership of Senedd Cymru arising from the coronavirus pandemic, with the objective of ensuring the election can be administered and proceed safely and that the electorate can participate and vote.

In terms of the Senedd, the provisions in the Bill will apply only for the ordinary general election due to be held on 6 May 2021 and will not apply to any subsequent elections.

The Bill also responds to the potential risks of coronavirus by enabling local government by-elections to be postponed beyond 6 May 2021 if required.

Further detail about the Bill can be found in its accompanying Explanatory Memorandum.

Current Stage

BillStagePost4

The Bill is currently at Post Stage 4. An explanation of the various stages of Senedd Bills is available in the Guide to the Stages of Public Bills and Acts.

Record of Passage in Senedd Cymru

The following table sets out the dates for each stage of the Bill’s passage through the Senedd.

Contact information

Clerk: Gareth Rogers

Phone: 0300 200 6357

Postal address:

Welsh Parliament

Cardiff Bay

Cardiff

CF99 1SN

Email: legislation@senedd.wales