Legislative Consent Motions

When the UK Parliament wishes to legislate on a subject matter which has already been devolved to the National Assembly for Wales, convention requires it to receive the consent of the Assembly before it may pass the legislation in question. Such consent is given by the Assembly through Legislative Consent Motions (LCMs).

Standing Order 29 sets out guidelines on how the Assembly deals with LCMs. Further background information on LCMs and the scrutiny processes to which they are subject in the Welsh context is set out in the Research Service Quick Guide on Legislative Consent Motions:

• The Constitution: Legislative Consent Motions. - May 2011

Legislative Consent Motions for the UK Bills outlined below have been considered during the Fourth Assembly. The motions are listed by year. Please click on the links for further details.

The consent of the Assembly is also sought in certain instances where UK Government Ministers exercise order-making powers in devolved areas which are provided for by existing primary legislation. Such consent is given by the Assembly through Consent Motions. They are different to 'Legislative' Consent Motions in that they relate to orders emanating from UK Acts already in force rather than provisions included in Bills which are yet to receive approval from the UK Parliament.