Legislative Consent: The Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill

The Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill (the Bill) was introduced in the House of Commons on 9 November 2021.

The long title to the Bill notes that it is a Bill “to make provision enabling relief from payment of certain rent debts under business tenancies adversely affected by coronavirus to be available through arbitration; and for connected purposes.”

The Bill is subject to the legislative consent process under Standing Order 29. This is when the consent of the Welsh Parliament is sought by the UK Government to legislate on an issue which falls  within the competence of the Senedd.

The Legislative Consent Motion for the Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill was agreed in Plenary on 8 March 2022.

Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 2) – March 2022

On 3 March 2022, the Welsh Government laid a Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (PDF 179KB).

Legislative Consent Memorandum – December 2021

The Welsh Government laid a Legislative Consent Memorandum (LCM) (PDF 188KB) on the Bill before the Senedd on 3 December 2021.

The Business Committee referred the LCM to the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee, and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, with a reporting deadline of 10 February 2022 (PDF 38.5KB).

The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee laid its report (PDF 143KB) on 8 February 2022. The Welsh Government responded (PDF 267KB) to the report on 3 March 2022.

The Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee laid its report (PDF 105KB) on 8 February 2022.  The Chair also wrote (PDF 76.7KB) to the Minister for Economy to request further information in advance of plenary the debate.

Further information on the Senedd’s consideration of the LCM, including relevant correspondence, can be found under ‘Related Meetings’.