Explanatory Memorandum to: The Services Charges (Consultation Requirements) (Wales) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019

 

This Explanatory Memorandum has been prepared by the Welsh Government’s Education and Public Services Group and is laid before the National Assembly for Wales in conjunction with the above subordinate legislation and in accordance with Standing Order 27.1.

 

Minister’s Declaration

 

In my view, this Explanatory Memorandum gives a fair and reasonable view of the expected impact of The Services Charges (Consultation Requirements) (Wales) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.

 

I have made the statements required by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.

 

Julie James AM

Minister for Housing and Local Government

28 January 2019

 

 

 

 


PART 1

 

1.            Description

 

1.1        This instrument makes an amendment to the Service Charges (Consultation Requirements) (Wales) Regulations 2004.

 

1.2        The amendment to the regulations removes reference to the Publications Office of the EU and replaces this with a reference to the e-notification system.

 

2.      Matters of special interest to the Constitutional and Legislative   Affairs Committee

 

2.1        This instrument is being made under section 11 of, and paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 2 to, the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. The instrument makes minor and technical changes and has no substantive effect on the law in Wales and as such should be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the National Assembly for Wales. The instrument was considered for sifting by the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee on 21 January. The Committee  were satisfied that the Regulations should be subject to the negative procedure. A link to the CLA Committee’s report can be found at: http://www.assembly.wales/laid%20documents/cr-ld12060/cr-ld12060-e.pdf

 

2.2        Further Ministerial Statements can be found in Part 2 of this Explanatory Memorandum.

 

3.      Legislative background

 

3.1        This instrument relates to the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union and is being made under section 11 of, and Schedule 2 to, the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. The Minister for Housing and Local Government has made the relevant statements in Part 2 of the Annex to this Explanatory Memorandum.

 

4.      Purpose and intended effect of the legislation

 

What did any relevant EU law do before exit day?

 

4.1        The legislation outlined in paragraph 1.1 contained references to the Publications Office of the European Union in the context of the giving of public notice.

 

Why is it being changed?

 

4.2        The minor and technical changes made to this instrument address the failure of retained EU law to operate effectively following the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.

 

What will it now do?

 

4.3        The instrument will remove a reference to the Publications Office of the EU and replace it with an alternative e-notification system.

 

5.      Consultation

 

5.1        As there is no policy change, no public consultation was undertaken. The purpose of the instrument is solely to enable the current legislative and policy framework to remain unchanged by the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.

 

6.      Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA)

 

6.1        A Regulatory Impact Assessment has not been conducted. No policy change is introduced through the amending Regulations. The Regulations are technical in nature and intended solely to enable the current legislative and policy framework to remain unchanged by the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.

 

6.2        These amending Regulations have no impact on the statutory duties as set out in sections 77-79 of the Government of Wales Act 2006 or the statutory partners as set out in Sections 72 to75 of the Government of Wales Act 2006.


 

Annex

 

Statements under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018

 

Part 1

Table of Statements under the 2018 Act

 

This table sets out the statements that may be required of the Welsh Ministers under the 2018 Act. The table also sets out those statements that may be required of Ministers of the Crown under the 2018 Act, which the Welsh Ministers have committed to also provide when required. The required statements can be found in Part 2 of this annex.

 

Statement

Where the requirement sits

To whom it applies

What it requires

Sifting

Paragraphs 3(7) and 4(3), Schedule 7

 

Paragraph 3(7) (anticipated to be a requirement on Welsh Ministers in Standing Orders)

The Welsh Ministers exercising powers in Part 1 of Schedule 2 to make a Negative SI

 

Paragraph 3(7) applies to Ministers of the Crown, but Welsh Ministers have committed to make the same statement

A statement to explain why the instrument should be subject to the negative procedure and, if applicable, why they disagree with the recommendation of the CLA Committee (as sifting committee)

Appropriate-

ness

Sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 28, Schedule 7

Applies to Ministers of the Crown exercising powers in sections 8(1), 9 and 23(1) or jointly exercising powers in Schedule 2. Welsh Ministers have committed to make the same statement when exercising powers in Schedule 2

A statement that the SI does no more than is appropriate.

Good Reasons

Sub-paragraph (3) of paragraph 28, Schedule 7

Applies to Ministers of the Crown exercising powers in sections 8(1), 9 and 23(1) or jointly exercising powers in Schedule 2. Welsh Ministers have committed to make the same statement when exercising powers in Schedule 2

A statement to explain the good reasons for making the instrument and that what is being done is a reasonable course of action.

Equalities

Sub-paragraphs (4) and (5) of paragraph 28, Schedule 7

Applies to Ministers of the Crown exercising powers in sections 8(1), 9 and 23(1) or jointly exercising powers in Schedule 2. Welsh Ministers have committed to make the same statement when exercising powers in Schedule 2

A statement to explain what, if any, amendment, repeals or revocations are being made to the Equalities Acts 2006 and 2010 and legislation made under them.

 

A statement that the Minister has had due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination and other conduct prohibited under the Equality Act 2010.

Explanations

Sub-paragraph (6) of paragraph 28, Schedule 77

 

Applies to Ministers of the Crown exercising powers in sections 8(1), 9 and 23(1) or jointly exercising powers in Schedule 2. Welsh Ministers have committed to make the same statement when exercising powers in Schedule 2

A statement to explain the instrument, identify the relevant law before exit day, explain the instrument’s effect on retained EU law and give information about the purpose of the instrument, e.g. whether minor or technical changes only are intended to the EU retained law.

Criminal offences

Sub-paragraphs (3) and (7) of paragraph 28, Schedule 7

Applies to Ministers of the Crown exercising powers in sections 8(1), 9 and 23(1) or jointly exercising powers in Schedule 2. Welsh Ministers have committed to make the same statement when exercising powers in Schedule 2

A statement setting out the ‘good reasons’ for creating a criminal offence, and the penalty attached.

Sub-

delegation

Paragraph 30, Schedule 7

Applies to Ministers of the Crown exercising powers in sections 18(1), 9 and paragraph 1 of Schedule 4 to create a legislative power exercisable not by a Minister of the Crown or a Devolved Authority.

 

Welsh Ministers have committed to make the same statement when exercising powers in Schedule 2 or paragraph 1 of Schedule 4 to create a legislative power exercisable not by a Minister of the Crown or a Devolved Authority

A statement to explain why it is appropriate to create such a sub-delegated power.

Urgency

Sub-paragraph (2) and (8) of paragraph 7, Schedule 7

Welsh Ministers exercising powers in Part 1 of Schedule 2 but using the urgent procedure in paragraph 7 of Schedule 7

A statement that the Welsh Ministers are of the opinion that it is necessary to make the SI using the urgent procedure and the reasons for that opinion.


Part 2

 

Statements required when using enabling powers

under the European Union (Withdrawal) 2018 Act

 

 

1.      Sifting statement(s)

 

1.1      The Minister for Housing and Local Government, Julie James AM has made the following statement regarding use of legislative powers in the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018:

 

“In my view the Service Charges (Consultation Requirements) (Wales) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 should be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the National Assembly for Wales (i.e. the negative procedure). This is the case because this instrument provides for necessary technical amendments and makes no substantive changes to the law in Wales”.

 

 

2.      Appropriateness statement

 

2.1      The Minister for Housing and Local Government, Julie James AM has made the following statement regarding use of legislative powers in the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018:

 

“In my view the Service Charges (Consultation Requirements) (Wales) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 do no more than is appropriate. This is the case because the instrument makes amendments which are technical in nature and designed to address failures of retained EU Law to operative effectively after exit day”.

 

3.      Good reasons

 

3.1      The Minister for Housing and Local Government, Julie James AM has made the following statement regarding use of legislative powers in the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018:

 

“In my view there are good reasons for the provisions in this instrument, and I have concluded they are a reasonable course of action. This is because the instrument makes technical amendments to substitute the e-notification system for the Official Journal of the European Union.”

 

4.      Equalities

 

4.1        The Minister for Housing and Local Government, Julie James AM has made the following statement:

 

“The instrument does not amend, repeal or revoke a provision or provisions in the Equality Act 2006 or the Equality Act 2010 or subordinate legislation made under those Acts”.

 

 

4.2        The Minister for Housing and Local Government, Julie James AM has made the following statement regarding use of legislative powers in the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018:

 

“I have had due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under the Equality Act 2010”.

 

 

5.      Explanations

 

5.1        The explanations statement has been made in paragraph 4 (Purpose & intended effect of the legislation) of the main body of this Explanatory Memorandum.

 

6.      Criminal offences

 

6.1        Not applicable.

 

7.      Legislative sub-delegation

 

7.1        Not applicable.

 

8.      Urgency

 

8.1        Not applicable.