List of devolved matters in Wales
This is a list of devolved matters in Wales, which the devolved bodies in Wales; the Senedd (Welsh Parliament; ) and the Welsh Government are responsible for. The first matters were devolved to Wales in 1998, following the 1997 Welsh devolution referendum and the Government of Wales Act 1998, under a "devolved powers model". Following the 2011 Welsh devolution referendum and Wales Act 2017, this was replaced with a "reserved powers model", where all powers except those reserved to the UK Parliament in Westminster, were devolved to Wales. The devolved bodies can enact Acts of Senedd Cymru for matters they are responsible for.
Government of Wales Act 1998
The Government of Wales Act 1998 allowed the creation of the then known National Assembly for Wales (now the Senedd) and also describes devolved powers given to the devolved legislature. These powers include most of the powers previously held by the Secretary of State for Wales and powers over multiple national institutions such as:
* Arts Council of Wales
* Education and Learning Wales
* Historic Buildings Council for Wales
* Library Advisory Council for Wales
* Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales
* Wales Tourist Board
* Welsh Industrial Development Advisory Board
* Welsh Development Agency
* Welsh Language Board
* Environment Agency Wales
* Countryside Council for Wales
* Higher Education Funding Council for Wales
* Ancient Monuments Board for Wales
* Welsh National Board for Nursing
* Midwifery and Health Visiting
* National Library of Wales
* National Museum of Wales
* Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales
* Sports Council for Wales and Forestry Commission Wales
* Auditor General for Wales
Government of Wales Act 2006
The Government of Wales Act 2006 separated the Welsh Assembly Government and the National Assembly for Wales and gives the assembly the power to create legislation on devolved matters in the following "fields":
# Agriculture, fisheries, forestry & rural development
# Ancient monuments & historic buildings
# Culture
# Economic development
# Education & training
# Environment
# Fire and rescue services & promotion of fire safety
# Food
# Health & health services
# Highways and transport
# Housing
# Local government
# National Assembly for Wales
# Public administration
# Social welfare
# Sport and recreation
# Tourism
# Town and country planning
# Water and flood defence
# Welsh language
Wales Act 2014: Tax
The Wales Act 2014 awarded the then Assembly the following powers:
# Legislate devolved taxes. These revisions to devolution are added to Part 4A of the Government of Wales Act 2006.
# This Act also allows the Senedd to set income tax rates for Wales.
# Welsh Ministers’ borrowing powers. This includes powers to borrow funds and meet current expenditure (Welsh income tax vs forecast receipts).
# The power for borrowing in order to fund capital spending (with the consent of UK Treasury). This sum was increased from £500 million to £1 billion.
Other provisions include:
* Increasing the Senedd term from 4 to 5 years
* no restriction on standing as a Senedd constituency member and Senedd regional member
* Prevents someone from being both an MP and MS
* Welsh Assembly Government renamed Welsh Government
* Local Government and Housing Act 1989: limits on housing debts incurred by local housing authorities in Wales with a Housing Revenue Account
* Law Commission to provide advice and assistance to Welsh Ministers & Welsh ministers to report how Law Commission recommendations are implemented in Wales
Wales Act 2017: Reserved Powers Model
The reserved powers model sets out the UK reserved powers that the Senedd are not permitted to apply an Act of Senedd Cymru to change. These are set out in the Wales Act 2017.
Matters not listed are permitted to be changed in an Act of Senedd Cymru.
Government of Wales Act 1998
The Government of Wales Act 1998 allowed the creation of the then known National Assembly for Wales (now the Senedd) and also describes devolved powers given to the devolved legislature. These powers include most of the powers previously held by the Secretary of State for Wales and powers over multiple national institutions such as:
* Arts Council of Wales
* Education and Learning Wales
* Historic Buildings Council for Wales
* Library Advisory Council for Wales
* Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales
* Wales Tourist Board
* Welsh Industrial Development Advisory Board
* Welsh Development Agency
* Welsh Language Board
* Environment Agency Wales
* Countryside Council for Wales
* Higher Education Funding Council for Wales
* Ancient Monuments Board for Wales
* Welsh National Board for Nursing
* Midwifery and Health Visiting
* National Library of Wales
* National Museum of Wales
* Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales
* Sports Council for Wales and Forestry Commission Wales
* Auditor General for Wales
Government of Wales Act 2006
The Government of Wales Act 2006 separated the Welsh Assembly Government and the National Assembly for Wales and gives the assembly the power to create legislation on devolved matters in the following "fields":
# Agriculture, fisheries, forestry & rural development
# Ancient monuments & historic buildings
# Culture
# Economic development
# Education & training
# Environment
# Fire and rescue services & promotion of fire safety
# Food
# Health & health services
# Highways and transport
# Housing
# Local government
# National Assembly for Wales
# Public administration
# Social welfare
# Sport and recreation
# Tourism
# Town and country planning
# Water and flood defence
# Welsh language
Wales Act 2014: Tax
The Wales Act 2014 awarded the then Assembly the following powers:
# Legislate devolved taxes. These revisions to devolution are added to Part 4A of the Government of Wales Act 2006.
# This Act also allows the Senedd to set income tax rates for Wales.
# Welsh Ministers’ borrowing powers. This includes powers to borrow funds and meet current expenditure (Welsh income tax vs forecast receipts).
# The power for borrowing in order to fund capital spending (with the consent of UK Treasury). This sum was increased from £500 million to £1 billion.
Other provisions include:
* Increasing the Senedd term from 4 to 5 years
* no restriction on standing as a Senedd constituency member and Senedd regional member
* Prevents someone from being both an MP and MS
* Welsh Assembly Government renamed Welsh Government
* Local Government and Housing Act 1989: limits on housing debts incurred by local housing authorities in Wales with a Housing Revenue Account
* Law Commission to provide advice and assistance to Welsh Ministers & Welsh ministers to report how Law Commission recommendations are implemented in Wales
Wales Act 2017: Reserved Powers Model
The reserved powers model sets out the UK reserved powers that the Senedd are not permitted to apply an Act of Senedd Cymru to change. These are set out in the Wales Act 2017.
Matters not listed are permitted to be changed in an Act of Senedd Cymru.
Comments