Welsh law

Both the Government of Wales Act 1998 and the Government of Wales Act 2006 set out areas of devolved responsibility for the National Assembly for Wales (now known as the Welsh Parliament or Senedd Cymru). The 2006 Act granted the Senedd legislative competence to make laws (known then as Assembly Measures) in clearly defined "matters". In order to draft laws within its areas of responsibility, but where the powers of legislative competence have not been devolved to it, the Senedd could request these powers using a Legislative Competency Order or could receive the transfer of power and the right to make laws through parliamentary bills at Westminster.

Each Order in Council for an area of legislation had to be approved by the Secretary of State for Wales, both Houses of Parliament, and the Queen in Council, in order for the Senedd to legislate in that area. Once the Queen has approved the Order, the new area of legislative competence was added to Schedule 5, Part 1 of the Government of Wales Act 2006.[2] There is a Counsel General for Wales who oversees the approval and creation of these laws, and gives advice to the Welsh Government.

The 2006 Act also included provisions which allowed for a referendum to be held on whether to grant the Senedd legislative competence to pass primary legislation which were known as "Acts of the Assembly" in all matters within twenty subject areas without the need for further Legislative Competency Orders. A referendum under these provisions was held in March 2011 and resulted in a vote in favour of granting the Senedd the competence to pass the Acts of the Assembly. Therefore, the Senedd now has the legislative competence to pass an Act of the Senedd in all twenty devolved areas.

Following the devolution of legislative competence to the Senedd in some area of responsibility, it is unlikely that the UK Parliament would draw up legislation in that area without a Legislative Consent Motion being passed by the Senedd to allow them to do so (Assembly Standing Order 26).[3] This is done to preserve the autonomy of the Senedd, and to prevent legislative confusion.

The Royal Badge of Wales[4]

These areas are "subjects" where the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) can make legislation in the form of an Act of the Senedd.

• Agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and rural development
• Ancient monuments and historic buildings
• Culture
• Economic development
• Education and training
• Environment
• Fire and rescue services and promotion of fire safety
• Food
• Health and health services
• Highways and transport
• Housing
• Local government
• Public administration
• Senedd (Welsh Parliament)
• Social welfare
• Sport and recreation
• Tourism
• Town and country planning
• Water and flood defence
• Welsh language

The Senedd can also legislate in areas that affect only the Senedd itself, which is why the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) field is included.

However, following the passing of the Wales Act 2017 Wales has moved to a reserved powers model (similar to Scotland), which widens the areas in which the Senedd can legislate beyond those listed above.

The Welsh Assembly was initially able to make only Measures, but it was given the option to call for a referendum, with added approval from the UK Parliament, to pass Acts. This was considered as having the prospect of changing little of the Measures system, ensuring that Assembly Measures passed before the referendum would still be in force. It was considered that Measures would be a precursor to Acts.

The referendum was held on 3 March 2011. The majority of the participants voted 'Yes' to the question "Do you want the Assembly now to be able to make laws on all matters in the 20 subject areas it has powers for?".

Even so, future Welsh order in council laws may face veto from the UK Parliament, but the Senedd still is able to make laws in areas already devolved because once the referendum is approved, there are powers that are already in the Government of Wales Act 2006 to make laws already approved by parliament when the act was passed. The Senedd can still request to make laws in areas using the Order in Council system but if the UK Parliament wants to legislate in a devolved area, it will require a motion to be passed by the Senedd, similar to the way the Scottish Parliament works. The power to make Acts of the Senedd are called Subjects, which are listed in schedule 7, part 1 of the Government of Wales Act 2006.[2]

English law still applies to Wales under the present devolved settlement. Contemporary Welsh law governs the local aspects of Welsh life, whilst English law governs the more generic aspects. Because Welsh laws are ultimately derived from Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, some commentators consider this new system of laws to be another branch of English law. Unlike Scotland, for example, which has its own criminal and civil justice system, England and Wales still have a unified justice system.

English law still applies in Wales, but some laws in England, about matters that are devolved in Wales, may not apply in Wales. Once the Senedd has legislative competency to legislate in an area through an Act of the Senedd, the Senedd can lead Wales down a different route, compared to English law. Some actions can be unlawful in Wales, but not in England or Scotland. For example, using an electric shock collar on a cat or dog is unlawful in Wales,[5] but not in the rest of the United Kingdom.

There are Acts of the United Kingdom Parliament that are classed as "Wales-only laws". Each Act contains provisions for the Senedd to make subordinate legislation on. Sometimes such Acts can also confer power to the Senedd. An example of such a Wales-only law is the Transport (Wales) Act 2006.[6] This Act allowed the National Assembly to make orders to enforce the provisions in the Act. The Act does not confer power to the Assembly to make Assembly Measures.

A major difference is also the use of the Welsh language, as laws concerning it apply in Wales and not in England. The Welsh Language Act 1993 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which put the Welsh language on an equal footing with the English language in Wales with regard to the public sector. Welsh can also be spoken in Welsh courts.

As there is no criminal law within contemporary Welsh law, Wales is not considered a fourth jurisdiction of the United Kingdom. This is because the judiciary and the courts follow England and Wales law, which is made by the United Kingdom Parliament, and is not specific to Wales. Although Welsh law is recognised as separate in operation, this is not sufficient for Wales to constitute a separate legal jurisdiction.

The One Wales agreement between Labour and Plaid Cymru (2007-2011) called for a review of criminal justice matters in Wales, and the question of whether they should be devolved to Wales, proposing that a Criminal and Youth Justice System within Welsh law.[7] Currently, however, there has been no such devolution of justice to the Welsh Parliament.[8]

A commission set up in 2017 by the First Minister of Wales known as "The Commission on Justice in Wales" and chaired by Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, looked into the operation of justice in the country. It aimed to further clarify the legal and political identity of Wales within the UK constitution, which may include the creation of a distinct legal jurisdiction.[9]

The commission's report was released in October 2019 and recommended the full devolution of the justice system. This would formalise Wales as the fourth jurisdiction of the UK.[9]

Wales is home to a number of solicitors firms, barristers chambers, and individual practitioners.

• Schedule 5 of the Government of Wales Act 2006
• Royal Commission on the Constitution (United Kingdom)
• Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament
• Welsh Government
• English Law
• Northern Ireland law
• Scots Law
• St David's Day Agreement

• Government of Wales Act 2006 website
• BBC News Assembly powers bill becomes law

• Wales Legislation Online, Cardiff Law School
• Law Wales Website - Home