Historic Environment (Wales) Bill

Historic Environment (Wales) Bill approved in unanimous Senedd vote.

The Historic Environment (Wales) Bill reached the final stage in its passage through Senedd Cymru during the early evening of 28 March. After the previous Detailed Committee Consideration stage — when 45 Government amendments were accepted to improve the consistency, clarity and accuracy of the Bill — the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee recommended that Bill should proceed to a final vote in the Senedd, without further scrutiny or amendment. After a brief debate, the legislation was passed unanimously by the Senedd.

In his remarks before the vote, Mick Antoniw MS, Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution highlighted the importance of the Historic Environment (Wales) Bill. He reminded members of the Senedd that it was the first consolidation Bill in the Welsh Government’s ambitious programme to improve the accessibility of the Welsh law. By gathering relevant law together, restating it in well-organised and easy to understand provisions and making it available bilingually, the legislation clearly illustrated the benefits that the consolidation programme will bring to the people of Wales. The Bill, he concluded would, transform the protection and management of the Welsh historic environment.

The Counsel General also emphasised that the Bill was part of a code of Welsh law and explained that codification offers another important tool for creating and maintaining order in the Welsh lawbook. The Bill, together with the subordinate legislation needed to support it, will form a code of Welsh historic environment law and will be published together. In codifying law for Wales, the Counsel General recalled that the Senedd was following in the footsteps of Hywel Dda, who according to tradition had codified the law of Wales in the tenth century. However, it was also taking Welsh law forward into a new era of order, accessibility and adaptability.

The Counsel General also took the opportunity to offer his thanks to the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, the Committee members and its Staff for the careful consideration that they gave to the Bill during the scrutiny process. He also gratefully recognised the contributions of the Law Commission and stakeholders during the development of the legislation.

You can watch the full debate on Senedd TV or read the transcript here.

Now that the Historic Environment (Wales) Bill has received the approval of the Senedd, a four-week period of intimation has begun. This provides an opportunity for the Counsel General, the Attorney General and the Secretary of State for Wales to take stock of the legislation and, if necessary, obtain clarification on its legislative competence or challenge its further progress. If the period of intimation passes without such dramatic events, the Bill proceeds to Royal Assent and becomes law as an Act of the Senedd. It is hoped that Royal Assent will be received in May. The focus of the work will then shift to the implementation of the legislation.