We now move to item 9, which is a debate on Stage 4 of the Legislation (Wales) Bill, and I call on the Counsel General and Brexit Minister, Jeremy Miles.

Motion NDM7123 Jeremy Miles

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales in accordance with Standing Order 26.47:

Approves the Legislation (Wales) Bill.

Motion moved.

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Although this is a technical Bill—it is law about the law—it's also an important Bill. The purpose of the Bill is to make Welsh law more accessible and to create legislation that is clear and consistent and which is also co-ordinated. It is a Bill that, on the one hand, looks to the future, a future where we will bring our long and complex statute book to order, creating a body of law that is clear, comprehensive, Welsh in both language and context.

And on the basis of Part 1 of the Bill, we will codify and consolidate legislation. This will allow the people of Wales to know where the law that applies to them exists and to understand what its impact is. It is also a Bill that puts rules in place that will enable legislation to be more succinct. These are rules not on the context of any legislation, but on the implementation of the legislation itself. These are rules that will be decided once so that they won't need to be considered again, unless necessary. It creates a regime that will apply to all pieces of legislation made in Wales after Part 2 of the Bill comes into force. 

Following a similar theme, Part 3 also makes changes that will facilitate the process of creating subordinate legislation, and will enable us to insert clear dates in legislation once it has been passed, rather than the descriptions of dates that have had to be used before the legislation is passed. These are small but effective steps.

This Assembly has responded very positively to the Bill and has amended it in a constructive manner. I would like to thank you very much for that, and I would particularly like to thank members of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee, who have been so effective in scrutinising and proposing amendments to the Bill. I would also like to thank the Finance Committee for considering the financial implications.

I would like to also thank stakeholders who have contributed to the process. This has been a long journey, which started with the publication of a consultation document on the principles in June 2017, before we consulted on a draft Bill in March 2018. It has been a pleasure to discuss the Bill in Aberystwyth, Swansea, Bangor, Dublin and London, as well as here in Cardiff, of course. I would like to also recognise the contribution of those who were on the journey before I took post—the former Counsel Generals, Theo Huckle and Mick Antoniw.

Although the Welsh Government has led the way, and will continue to lead the way in this area, this is an issue that is important to us all, and we must all collaborate in order to develop an accessible, modern statute book for Wales. I am very proud, therefore, that the Bill has been supported across the Chamber, support that's been echoed by civil society here in Wales.

The work on codification of Welsh law is at its starting point. This will be a long journey with much to be done. But we cannot but make a start. The Bill is a signal of the maturity of our legislature, of the development of Welsh law, but also sets a foundation for the future. Thank you very much again for your support.

Can I just say 'thank you' to everyone involved in the preparation and the passage of this Bill through this place? And can I welcome particularly, again, the Counsel General's respect for the parliamentary process and his willingness to engage directly with Assembly Members, not just in committee but outside as well, and allowing us to have some visible influence over that process? In supporting the motion, our main point, Counsel General, at this stage, is to alert you to the forward look, to that future that you were talking about—those reviews of progress and our influence over those. And, again, I thank you for your letter to the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee on that. Inevitably, we will be looking at effectiveness and value for money, even looking back, perhaps, at some of those Finance Committee recommendations regarding resourcing and the financial implications of the Bill's objectives. And, of course, we will be looking at the public understanding and use of consolidated and codified law a little bit further down the line when it's had a chance to bed in. 

I hope, Counsel General, you'll also take on board that accessibility includes accessibility for AMs and to consider perhaps better ways of bringing forward negative procedure secondary legislation to the attention of Assembly Members, bearing in mind that we are deemed to consent to that, so it's always good at least to be able to know it exists. Thank you.

The Counsel General to reply to the Bill, the debate.

May I just thank Suzy Davies for her observations and her commitment to the ongoing project, for which the Bill is the foundation stone in many ways? So, thank you very much. Diolch yn fawr.

Thank you. So, in accordance with Standing Order 26.50C, a recorded vote must be taken on Stage 4 motions, and so I defer voting on this motion until voting time.

Voting deferred until voting time.

So, unless three Members wish for the bell to be rung, I think we've reached voting time. No. Right.