Government’s Legislative Programme (Wales)

Simon Hart Excerpts

Friday 20th December 2019 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Wales (Simon Hart)]

The legislative programme for the first Session was outlined by Her Majesty on Thursday 19 December. This statement provides a summary of the programme and its application to Wales. It does not include draft Bills, Law Commission Bills or Finance Bills.

This Government will get Brexit done. We have introduced the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill to implement the deal agreed by the Prime Minister, which will ensure our exit from the EU on 31 January. We will end the uncertainty and leave as one United Kingdom, allowing us to move on and unleash the potential of all four nations. Together, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are safer, stronger and more prosperous, and as such the Government remain committed to strengthening the Union.

The legislative programme for this Session will deliver on the opportunities Brexit brings for the whole of the United Kingdom. The Government expect that the return of powers from the EU will lead to a significant increase in the decision-making powers of the devolved Administrations. It will mean that decisions and powers sit in the right place and closer to people than ever before.

Getting Brexit done will allow us to focus on delivering important domestic reform delivering benefits in Wales and across the United Kingdom. The programme includes an ambitious set of measures to support citizens across all nations of the UK.

The following bills would apply to Wales (either in full or in part).

Agriculture Bill

Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Bill

Armed Forces (Legal Protections) Bill

Birmingham Commonwealth Games Bill

Building Safety Bill

Counter Terrorism (Sentencing and Release) Bill

Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill

Domestic Abuse Bill

Employment Bill

Environment Bill

European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill

Extradition (Provisional Arrest) Bill

Fisheries Bill

Financial Services Bill

Health Service Safety Investigations Bill

High Speed Rail 2 (West Midlands - Crewe) Bill

Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (European Union Withdrawal) Bill

Online Harms Bill

Medicines and Medical Devices Bill

National Security and Investment Bill

Pension Schemes Bill

Police Powers and Protections Bill

Prisoners (Disclosure of Information About Victims) Bill

Private International Law (Implementation of Agreements) Bill

Sentencing (Pre-consolidation Amendments) Bill

Sentencing Bill

Serious Violence Bill

Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill

Telecommunications (Connectivity) Bill

Thomas Cook Compensation Bill

Trade Bill

Windrush (Compensation Scheme) Bill

The Government will continue to work constructively with the Welsh Government to secure the legislative consent of the National Assembly for Wales where appropriate.

[HCWS18]