Overview

This bill aims to strengthen the powers of the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) by requiring a super-majority vote in the Senedd before the UK Parliament can amend or withdraw powers already devolved to it. It introduces a formal consent procedure and a dispute resolution process to manage disagreements between the UK and Welsh governments.

Description

The bill establishes that powers devolved to the Senedd under previous Government of Wales Acts cannot be altered or removed by the UK Parliament without either a two-thirds super-majority vote in the Senedd or via a specified dispute resolution process.

Consent Procedure:

The UK government must notify the Senedd of any proposed changes to devolved powers. The Senedd must first approve these changes with a simple majority, followed by confirmation with a two-thirds super-majority within two weeks. The Senedd's decision is then reported to the UK Parliament. If the Senedd rejects the changes, the UK government cannot propose substantially similar changes during the current Senedd term, unless the Senedd agrees to reconsider.

Dispute Resolution:

If the UK government wants to proceed despite Senedd objections, a formal dispute resolution process, detailed in a separate government document, must be followed. A report on this process must be presented to the UK Parliament before further action.

Compensation:

The UK Treasury will compensate the Senedd for any financial losses resulting from changes to devolved powers, with disputes resolved using the same dispute resolution process.

Parliament Act 1911 Amendment:

The bill amends the Parliament Act 1911 to ensure that any future changes to the bill itself also require Senedd approval using the super-majority procedure.

Government Spending

The bill could lead to increased government spending if the Senedd experiences financial losses due to amendments or withdrawals of devolved powers. The exact amount is unpredictable, depending on future actions by the UK Parliament. The bill mandates compensation for any such losses.

Groups Affected

• Senedd Cymru (Welsh Parliament): Gains increased control over its devolved powers, potentially leading to greater autonomy.
• UK Government: Faces constraints on its ability to amend or withdraw devolved powers, necessitating negotiation and compromise with the Senedd.
• Welsh Government: Increased influence over policy areas under its control, subject to the dispute resolution process.
• People of Wales: Could experience changes in the speed and nature of policy implementation depending on the level of cooperation between the UK and Welsh governments.

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