UK Act of Parliament
2017
United Kingdom
Wales Act 2017
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
3 compliance obligations, 1 practical guide
Who this Act binds
Plus 3 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Mentioned in related content
1 guidesWhat this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part 1 — Constitutional arrangements
Browse 22 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Convention about Parliament legislating on devolved matters
Legislative competence
Devolved Welsh authorities
Power to make provision about elections
Timing of elections
Electoral registration: the digital service
Elections of police and crime commissioners
Super-majority requirement for certain legislation
Super-majority requirement: amendments relating to procedure etc
Introduction of Bills: justice impact assessment
Submission of Bills for Royal Assent: role of Presiding Officer
Financial control, accounts and audit
Composition of Assembly committees
Assembly proceedings: participation by UK Ministers etc
Change of name of the Assembly etc: translation of references
Welsh rates of income tax: removal of referendum requirement
Lending for capital expenditure
Functions of Welsh Ministers
Implementation of EU law
Transfer of Ministerial functions
Consultation about cross-border bodies
Part 2 — Legislative and executive competence: further provision
Exercise of functions in relation to cross-border harbours
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- UK Ministers must consult Welsh Ministers regarding cross-border harbours Crown / Minister / Government department
Cross-border exercise of pilotage functions
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Government must consult or obtain consent for cross-border pilotage decisions Crown / Minister / Government department
Reciprocal cross-border duties in relation to water
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Ministers must consider cross-border consumer interests regarding water Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 33 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Onshore petroleum licensing
Onshore petroleum: existing licences
Onshore petroleum: right to use deep-level land in Wales
Roads: speed limits, pedestrian crossings and traffic signs
Bus service registration and traffic commissioners
Taxis: transfer of functions to Welsh Ministers
Welsh harbours
Amendments of Harbours Act 1964
Application of general provisions to transfer of functions in sections 29 and 30
Reserved trust ports
Development consent
Exercise of functions in relation to two or more harbours
Consequential amendments to consent requirements in Harbours Act 1964
Sections 34 to 37: supplementary
Development consent for generating stations with 350MW capacity or less
Generating stations and public rights of navigation
Safety zones around renewable energy installations
Overhead lines associated with devolved Welsh generating stations
Alignment of associated development consent
Equal opportunities: public sector equality duty
Public sector duty regarding socio-economic inequalities
Marine licensing in the Welsh offshore region
Marine conservation zones
Water and sewerage
Modification of water-related functions
Water protocol
Repeal of intervention powers relating to water
Transfer of functions in relation to fishing vessels
Transfer of functions in relation to excepted energy buildings
Renewable energy incentive schemes
Financial assistance for inland waterway and sea freight
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Gaming machines on licensed betting premises
Part 3 — Welsh tribunals
Browse 6 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 4 — Miscellaneous
Browse 4 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 5 — General
Browse 4 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Consequential provision
Transitional provision and savings
Commencement
Short title
Schedules
Browse 149 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
New Schedule 9A to the Government of Wales Act 2006
President of Welsh Tribunals
New Schedule 7A to the Government of Wales Act 2006
This Schedule sets out the new Schedule 7A to the...
New Schedule 7B to the Government of Wales Act 2006
This Schedule sets out the new Schedule 7B to the...
This Schedule sets out the new Schedule 9A to the...
New Schedule 3A to the Government of Wales Act 2006
This Schedule sets out the new Schedule 3A to the...
(1) If there is a vacancy in the office of...
(1) If— (a) a person is appointed to the office...
A person who holds the office of President of Welsh...
(1) The Lord Chief Justice, if satisfied by means of...
The Welsh Ministers may pay to the President of Welsh...
(1) A person appointed to the office of President of...
(1) The Lord Chief Justice, before he or she may...
A person is eligible for selection in pursuance of a...
(1) On receiving a request from the Lord Chief Justice...
(1) This paragraph applies to any selection by a selection...
(1) A selection panel appointed under paragraph 4, in performing...
(1) The Lord Chancellor must by regulations made with the...
(1) The Lord Chief Justice may withdraw a request under...
(1) Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph, where...
Minor and consequential amendments
The Government of Wales Act 2006 is amended as follows....
(1) Section 159 (index of defined expressions) is amended as...
In section 7 of that Act (amendments relating to the...
Omit section 22 of that Act (budgetary procedures).
In section 29 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015...
In section 30 of that Act (power to give directions:...
(1) Section 35 of that Act (Chapter 1: interpretation) is...
(1) Section 109 of the Deregulation Act 2015 (functions to...
In section 18 of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment...
In section 22 of that Act (meaning of ““qualifying regulatory...
In section 39 of that Act (regulations about procurement), in...
(1) Section 153C of that Act (power to relax restriction...
In section 161 (commencement) omit subsection (7).
In section 157 of that Act (power of Secretary of...
(1) Section 207 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016...
(1) Section 208 of that Act (duty of public authorities...
In section 78 of the Immigration Act 2016 (meaning of...
In Schedule 3 (transfer etc of functions: further provision), in...
Omit Schedule 6 (referendums on commencement of Assembly Act provisions)....
In Schedule 10 (minor and consequential amendments) omit paragraphs 14,...
(1) Section 4 of the Petroleum Act 1998 (licences: further...
(1) Section 4A of that Act (onshore hydraulic fracturing: safeguards)...
(1) Section 4B of that Act (section 4A: supplementary provision)...
In section 7(2)(d) of that Act (ancillary rights)—
(1) Section 12 of the Oil Taxation Act 1975 (interpretation...
Omit sections 103 to 106A (commencement of Assembly Act provisions)...
In Schedule 1 to that Act (determination of oil fields),...
(1) Section 196 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act...
(1) Section 185 of the Finance Act 1993 (abolition of...
In section 556(2)(a) of the Capital Allowances Act 2001 (definition...
In section 188 of the Energy Act 2004 (power to...
(1) Section 332DA of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 (restriction...
In section 356IB of that Act (authorisation of development: oil...
In section 356J of that Act (authorisation of development: drilling...
(1) Section 45 of the Infrastructure Act 2015 (payment schemes...
(1) Section 46 of that Act (notice schemes relating to...
(1) Section 109 (legislative competence: supplementary) is amended as follows....
(1) Section 47 of that Act (payment and notice schemes:...
(1) Section 48 of that Act (interpretation) is amended as...
(1) Section 55 of that Act (regulations and orders) is...
(1) Section 6 of the National Audit Act 1983 (public...
(1) Section 8 of that Act (right to obtain documents...
In section 9 of that Act (reports to House of...
(1) Section 17 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984...
(1) Section 65 of that Act (powers of traffic authorities...
In section 72 of that Act (powers exercisable by parish...
(1) Section 81 of that Act (general speed limit for...
In section 114 (power to intervene in certain cases), in...
In section 83 of that Act (provisions as to directions...
(1) Section 85 of that Act (traffic signs for indicating...
(1) Section 88 of that Act (temporary speed limits) is...
(1) Section 134 of that Act (regulations) is amended as...
In section 134 of the Transport Act 1985 (regulations, rules...
In section 135 of that Act (procedure for making regulations,...
In section 36 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (offence...
In section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 (consents required...
In section 36C of that Act (variation of consents under...
In section 106 of that Act (regulations and orders)—
(1) Section 116 (Welsh Seal and Letters Patent) is amended...
(1) Schedule 8 to that Act (consents under sections 36...
In paragraph 1 of Schedule 9 to that Act (preservation...
In section 45A of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act...
In Schedule 5 to the Judicial Pensions and Retirement Act...
In section 145 of the Government of Wales Act 1998...
In Schedule 6 to that Act (Her Majesty's Chief Inspector...
In Schedule 2 to the Care Standards Act 2000 (the...
In section 7 of the Local Government Act 2000 (power...
In section 77 of that Act (adjudications) omit subsection (5)....
(1) Section 5C of the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003...
In section 116B (status of officials of body that collects...
(1) Section 192 of the Energy Act 2004 (powers exercisable...
In Schedule 16 to that Act (applications and proposals for...
In section 109 of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (disciplinary...
In Schedule 1 to the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Act...
In section 18 of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs...
In Schedule 1 to the Commissioner for Older People (Wales)...
(1) Section 24 of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act...
In section 27 of that Act (power to make orders,...
(1) Section 47 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act...
In section 66 of the Statistics and Registration Service Act...
In section 116M (duty to disclose information on Welsh land...
In section 37 of the Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress...
In section 74 of the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act...
In section 64 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act...
In section 70 of the Climate Change Act 2008 (interpretation),...
In section 149A of the Planning Act 2008 (deemed consent...
Omit section 202 of that Act (powers of National Assembly...
In Schedule 5 to that Act (provision relating to, or...
In section 12 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act...
In section 13 of that Act (safety zones: functions under...
In section 60 of that Act (meaning of ““retained functions””...
(1) Section 157 (orders and directions) is amended as follows....
(1) Section 78 of that Act (special procedure for applications...
(1) Section 79 of that Act (special procedure for applications...
In section 45 of the Welfare Reform Act 2009 (the...
(1) Section 2 of the Equality Act 2010 (power to...
(1) Section 157 of that Act (interpretation) is amended as...
In section 28 of the Flood and Water Management Act...
In Schedule 5 to the Budget Responsibility and National Audit...
Omit Schedule 6 to that Act (amendments of Schedules 5...
In Schedule 16 to the Police Reform and Social Responsibility...
In section 51 of the Localism Act 2011 (meaning of...
In section 158 (interpretation), in subsection (1), at the appropriate...
In section 61 of that Act (meaning of ““Welsh public...
In Schedule 13 to that Act (Infrastructure Planning Commission: transfer...
In the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 omit section 124...
In Schedule 3 to the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012...
In the Special Educational Needs Tribunal for Wales Regulations 2012...
In Schedule 12 to the Energy Act 2013 (minor and...
In Schedule 4 to the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2013...
In Schedule 11 to the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing...
In Schedule 7 to the Water Act 2014 (further amendments)...
In section 6 of the Wales Act 2014 (taxation: introductory)...
Transitional provisions
The amendments made by this Act do not affect—
The amendments made by section 41 do not apply in...
For the purposes of paragraph 10 an application is not...
(1) The amendments made by section 3 and Schedules 1...
(1) After the period of two months beginning with the...
(1) The repeal by this Act of section 105 of...
(1) The repeal by this Act of section 106(2) of...
(1) Nothing in a provision of this Act affects the...
Until section 1 of the Water Act 2014 comes into...
(1) The amendments made by sections 39 to 42 and...
(1) The amendments made by section 46 do not apply...
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Welsh Revenue Authority
Collects and manages devolved taxes in Wales: Land Transaction Tax (replacing Stamp Duty Land Tax) and Landfill Disposals Tax. Provides guidance and …
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Regulators
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