Legislative Consent: Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Bill

The Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Bill (the Bill) was introduced in the House of Commons on 7 December 2022.

The long title to the Bill notes that it is a Bill “to make provision about causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress to a person in public where the behaviour is done because of that person’s sex; 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 protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Bill was agreed in Plenary on 13 June 2023.

Legislative Consent Memorandum – April 2023

The Welsh Government laid a Legislative Consent Memorandum (PDF 161KB) on the Bill before the Senedd on 17 April 2023.

The Business Committee referred the LCM to the Equality and Social Justice Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, with a reporting deadline of 18 May 2023 (PDF 39KB).

On 9 May 2023, the Business Committee agreed (PDF 40.2KB) a new reporting deadline of 8 June 2023.

On 1 June 2023 the Welsh Government and the Secretary of State for the Home Department agreed a Memorandum of Understanding (145 KB) in relation to the Bill.

The Equality and Social Justice Committee laid its report (147 KB) on the Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Bill on 7 June 2023.

The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee laid its report (160 KB) on the Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Bill on 8 June 2023. The Welsh Government responded to the report on 9 June 2023.