Welsh Government
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Bid for National Assembly to have powers to make Environment legislation for Wales

Draft legislation that could give the National Assembly for Wales new powers to create its own environment laws was today (Mon 27th April) presented to Assembly Members (AMs) and Parliament.

If approved, the revised Environment Legislative Competence Order (LCO) will provide the Assembly with legislative competence to make Welsh laws, called Measures, on the Environment.  The LCO will provide powers in relation to three specific areas: waste, pollution and nuisances.  Once the LCO has been approved, Measures can be brought forward under these areas.

The LCO has today been laid in Parliament for pre-legislative scrutiny and has also been presented to AMs.

Making the announcement, Environment Minister Jane Davidson said:

I am pleased to publish the revised Environment LCO for pre-legislative scrutiny. Protecting our environment and managing waste in the right way are critical to the future of Wales. This LCO, if passed, will give Wales the power to pass its own legislation based on Welsh priorities, Welsh need and Welsh timescales.

This LCO will enable us to bring forward legislation in a long devolved policy area. It will provide us with an additional lever to help us respond to new and significant challenges in relation to the environment. It will also allow us to address aspects of environment and waste policy which cannot be implemented through our existing powers.

Our aim as a government is to protect and preserve the environment of Wales for the people of Wales and today’s move will help us achieve this.

Related Links

http://wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/?lang=en

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