2. Will the First Minister provide an update on the legislative programme for the fifth Assembly? OAQ(5)0215(FM)

Yes. I announced the first annual legislative programme of this fifth Assembly on 28 June.

Thank you for that, First Minister. I wonder when you might expect to see the main policy thrusts of any new legislation that is passed during the fifth Assembly being implemented. How long would you expect it to take from Royal Assent to a policy, through statute, being implemented and being delivered on the ground? The background to this, of course, is the autism debate last week, when much was made of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, which was passed with Royal Assent in April 2014, and yet we’re still waiting for policy outcomes from that. So, it’s a matter of curiosity. Thank you.

Much of it depends on the legislation itself. What I can say to the Member is that the Minister has agreed that officials will meet with the National Autistic Society to discuss the society’s draft Bill. That meeting has been arranged for 14 November. I am confident, however, that we have the legislative and policy levers to continue to improve the lives of people with autism and their families and carers, of course. A refreshed autistic spectrum disorder action plan will be published next month. That will be accompanied by a delivery plan with measurable outcomes. And we have recently consulted on the draft action plan, which addresses priorities for stakeholders. So, yes, that legislation is still moving forward, but nevertheless, as was said last week, we will monitor the situation, we’ll work with the National Autistic Society, and we’ll keep the door open for legislation should it be required.

First Minister, on 28 June, the country had only just decided to leave the EU. As a consequence of that, there could well be possible legislative implications here in Wales. What analysis is the Welsh Government doing to actually look at the implications upon the legislative programme that you are putting forward, based upon the fact that we could see a lot more legislation coming from Brussels as a consequence of that exit?

It’s very difficult at this stage, of course, to examine what the situation might actually be, given the fact we await the judgment of the Supreme Court, potentially, in terms of the use of the royal prerogative, and the effect that would have, potentially, on repealing statute law, which is not what the prerogative is designed to do. Until we see the outcome of that process, and the outcome of the process over the next two years, it’s difficult, at this stage, to know what effect there’ll be on individual items of legislation passed by the Assembly. Of course, what we expect will happen is that the opportunity will arise at some point to offer the Assembly the opportunity to decide whether it should be bound by EU law in the future, because, at the moment of course, we can’t pass any legislation that is in conflict or incompatible with European Union law. Clearly, that will change in the future.

In launching your legislative programme, First Minister, you mentioned two pieces of legislation that were a matter of discussion between our two parties, namely the autism Bill that’s already been mentioned, and another Bill relating to the reasonable chastisement of children. Can you confirm that, during this Assembly term, you as First Minister are still going to bring forward legislation in those two areas?

In relation to the second item, that is something that we do want to proceed with on a cross-party basis, I have to say, and I have said that in the past. In terms of autism, may I tell him what the two parties agree back in June? I’ll say it in English because it was agreed in English:

agree we work together, through the liaison committee, to consider how best to deliver separate legislation on autism. In due course, to place the autism spectrum disorder strategic action plan on a statutory footing. This work will need to take into account the impact of the new all-age autism service, refreshed autistic spectrum disorder strategic action plan, and the implementation of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014.

Therefore, I can confirm what I said and confirm what’s been agreed between the two parties.