The National Assembly for Wales’ Petitions System - Guidance
The National Assembly for Wales is responsible for holding the Welsh Government to account by scrutinising actions it takes and how it spends public money.
The National Assembly is committed to increasing its engagement with the people of Wales. We want you to know how our open and accessible ways of working allow Welsh citizens to have direct influence over the accountability of government.
The petitions system provides one way for Welsh citizens to ensure that the National Assembly knows about issues affecting them. You can also let Assembly Members know your views by getting involved with other committee inquiries; when we’re scrutinising legislation; or just by emailing Members directly via links on our website.
Which subjects can be considered through the petitions process?
The National Assembly can consider any subject that affects Wales or Welsh citizens; however it has no powers regarding matters reserved to the UK Government.
The National Assembly currently has significant powers under the following policy areas:
Agriculture, fisheries, forestry and rural development
Ancient monuments and historic buildings
Culture
Economic development
Education and training
Environment
Fire and rescue services and promotion of fire safety
Food
Health and health services
Highways and transport
Housing
Local government
National Assembly for Wales
Public administration
Social welfare
Sport and recreation
Tourism
Town and country planning
Water and flood defence
Welsh language
How does the National Assembly’s Petitions process work?
Submitting your petition
We accept written petitions, and particularly encourage use of our e-petitions system. All petitions are considered for admissibility according to rules set out in the National Assembly’s Standing Orders. If you are using the e-petitions system you will have to submit your petition wording before it can be hosted on our website and electronically signed by others.
If you want us to host your e-petition it has to comply with our terms and conditions, and ask the National Assembly to do something it has the power to do. Please contact the Petitions Committee Clerk for advice and assistance with the scope and wording of your petition.
Petitions that include or ask the Assembly to consider the following will be deemed inadmissible:
To intervene in the operational decisions or actions of local authorities, including planning decisions.
Adjudication of personal or commercial interests (this is the role of a court or tribunal)
Matters that are
sub judice
(subject to legal proceedings in the courts)Defamatory or offensive language (naming individuals should be avoided)
Matters that have already been considered (or are substantially similar to matters considered) less than a year ago and submitted by the same person/corporate body
If a petition is deemed inadmissible, the Committee Clerk will advise the lead petitioner with an explanation of why it is not acceptable. We are happy to provide assistance and advice on how to make your petition admissible at this stage. This is why it is very important to contact the Petitions Team before you start collecting signatures.
What happened when a petition has been deemed admissible?
The information below refers to the process for the Third Assembly 2007-11
Once submitted, a petition was assessed by the Committee Clerk who considered the subject and contacted the lead petitioner to request further background information. At the same time, the petitions team may prepare briefing notes to provide a policy and legal context.
Admissable petitions were considered by the Petitions Committee – a dedicated committee consisting of Assembly Members representing all the political parties of the National Assembly. The Committee met every two weeks when the National Assembly was sitting. It considered new petitions and decided on possible further action regarding ongoing petitions.
Petitions were brought before the Committee in the order that they were received unless there were valid reasons for them to be considered sooner.
Typical actions the Committee took when first considering a petition included:
Requesting further information from petitioners, Government Ministers or other relevant organisations either in writing, or by presentation to the Committee
Referring the petition to another committee, a Government/Minister or other relevant organisations,
The Committee had the discretion to close the petition and take no further action.
When further information was received, the petition was considered again by the Committee in light of the new information. Sometimes, the Committee would determine a course of action without requesting a presentation or further written information.
Other actions the committee took included:
seeking information and views from the Welsh Government, either in writing or orally;
seeking information and views from other organisations that may have a view or interest in the petition, for example, professional bodies, local authorities, health boards, trade unions, community groups or anybody else we feel can add value to our considerations;
asking for more information from the petitioners
either in writing or as part of an evidence session
to the Committee;
undertaking a site visit;
referring the petition to other Assembly committees
or outside organisations;
having research and legal briefings prepared to help
us better understand the issue; and
carrying out a committee inquiry.
What were the possible outcomes of a petition?
Outcomes varied, depending on the course of action determined by the National Assembly. The petitions system is particularly suited to heightening the profile of an issue that may not previously have been on the political agenda. This resulted in:
a National Assembly legislative or scrutiny committee holding an inquiry on the issue;
individual Assembly Members taking action themselves, for instance, by asking questions of Ministers or seeking time to debate an issue in the Assembly.
Ultimately this created opportunities for petitioners to:
influence the development of new legislation
propose a change of government policy or other public body’s policy
