3. National Assembly for Wales
Key Dates
l Assembly for Wales
Key Dates
1997 – Referendum on set up of the National Assembly for
Wales
1998 – Government of Wales Act 1998
1999 – First Assembly elections
2006 – Government of Wales Act 2006
2007 – Third Assembly Elections
2011 – Referendum on law making powers
2011 – Fourth Assembly Elections

4. National Assembly for Wales

5. National Assembly for Wales
Who represents you?
Elections:
every 4 years
60 Assembly Members:
40 constituency
20 regional
Next election:
2016

6. National Assembly for Wales
Responsibilities

7. National Assembly for Wales
Responsibilities

8. National Assembly for Wales
Representing the interest of Wales and its people
l Assembly for Wales
Key Dates
In your area AMs –
•Hold surgeries in their regions and constituencies
•Give the people of Wales a chance to raise issues
•Work directly on behalf of their constituents
•Meet with groups and community organisations
At the Senedd AMs–
•Welcome constituents at the Senedd
•Attend Plenary Sessions
•Sit on Committees
•Propose Legislation
•Statements of Opinion
•Cross Party Groups

9. National Assembly for Wales
Committees
Fourth Assembly Committees:
Children and Young People Committee
Communities, Equalities and Local Government Committee
Enterprise and Business
Environment and Sustainability
Health and Social Care Committee
Petitions Committee
Constitutional and Legislative Affairs
Finance Committee
Public Accounts Committee
Standards of Conduct Committee
Scrutiny of the First Minister
You can also watch Committee meetings via senedd.tv

10. National Assembly for Wales
Making laws for Wales
Bills can be introduced by –
• Welsh Government Ministers
• an individual Member, if their name is drawn from a ballot
• Assembly Committees, if within the remit of the Committee
• Assembly Commission, if within the remit of the Commission

11. National Assembly for Wales
Making laws for Wales – 4 stages
A Bill must be formally ‘introduced’ to the Assembly. There is generally a fourstage process for the consideration of a Bill.
Stage 1 – consideration of the general principles of the Bill by a committee, and
the agreement of those general principles by the Assembly ;
Stage 2 – detailed consideration by a committee of the Bill and any
amendments tabled to that Bill ;
Stage 3 – detailed consideration, by the Assembly, of the Bill and any
amendments tabled to that bill;
Stage 4 – a vote by the Assembly to pass the final text of the Bill.
If passed by the Assembly at stage 4, a Bill must receive Royal Assent from the
monarch before formally becoming a piece of law.

12. National Assembly for Wales
Human Transplantation (Wales) Act
The Human Transplantation (Wales) Act aims to increase
the number of organs and tissues available for transplant
by introducing a soft opt-out system of organ and tissue
donation in Wales.
The Bill was agreed by the Assembly 2 July 2013.
Royal Assent was given on 10 September 2013.

14. National Assembly for Wales
Active Travel (Wales) Bill
The Active Travel (Wales) Bill places a requirement on local
authorities to continuously improve facilities and routes
for walkers and cyclists and to prepare maps identifying
current and potential future routes for their use.
The Bill will also require new road schemes to consider the
needs of pedestrians and cyclists at design stage.
The Bill was agreed by the Assembly 1 October 2013

15. National Assembly for Wales
Agricultural Sector (Wales) Bill
The Agricultural Sector (Wales) Bill was introduced by the
Minister for Natural Resources and Food, Alun Davies AM,
on 8 July 2013.
It is largely an enabling Bill that delegates a number of
powers to Welsh Ministers to make subordinate legislation
at a later date.
The Bill was agreed by the Assembly 17 July 2013.
The Attorney General has written to the Chief Executive
and Clerk of the Assembly to advise that he will be
referring the Bill to the Supreme Court under Section 112
of the Government of Wales Act 2006.

16. National Assembly for Wales
Mobile Homes (Wales) Bill
An Assembly Member Bill, introduced by Peter Black AM.
Peter Black AM was successful in a legislative ballot on 29
November 2011, and given leave to proceed with his Bill
by the Assembly on 1 February 2012.
The purpose of the Bill is to establish a licensing regime
for mobile home sites in Wales and to make further
provision in relation to the management of such sites and
the agreements under which mobile homes are stationed
on them.
The Bill was agreed by the Assembly 25 September 2013

17. Enterprise and Business Committee:
Youth Entrepreneurship
-
The Outreach team interviewed young entrepreneurs
who had experience of setting up their own business
A total of 37 young entrepreneurs were interviewed
from across Wales
-
The participants ran a variety of different businesses;
from coffee shops to app translation, to boutiques
and agriculture.
-
Their views were then put together in a 20 minute
video package which was shown to members of the
Committee

18. Enterprise and Business Committee:
Youth Entrepreneurship
-
The Committee also heard from MasterChef 2013
finalist, and young entrepreneur Dale Williams who then
gave us an interview about his experiences of giving
evidence
-
The interview with Dale along with individual
contributions were placed on the Assembly YouTube site
-
The videos received over 1,000 hits and were actively
promoted on social media

19. How can you have your say?
The Assembly is here to represent the interest of the people of Wales and
we encourage participation from individuals and organisations.
• Petition the National Assembly for Wales – there is a Committee of
AMs that consider petitions from people across Wales.
• Three easy steps: 1. Submit your proposal, 2. Collect signatures, 3.
Present your petition
• www.assemblywales.org/e-petition

20. National Assembly for Wales
Engaging with the Assembly
To summarise what’s been mentioned:
Contact your Assembly Members
Respond to consultations for Committee inquiries (legislation and scrutiny)
Propose Legislation to Assembly Members
Petition the Assembly
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter:
• Twitter – http://twitter.com/CynulliadCymru
• Facebook – Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru
Contact the Outreach Team if we would like further information about
anything introduced today or would like us to come and hold a workshop
in your organisation.