Agricultural Sector (Wales) Act 2014

The Agricultural Sector (Wales) Act 2014 (‘the Act’) makes provision for:

•    the establishment of the Agricultural Advisory Panel for Wales,
•    the making of orders which set the terms and conditions for persons employed in agriculture in Wales (“agricultural workers”), and
•    the enforcement of such terms and conditions.

The Explanatory Notes to the Act provide detailed commentary on the various provisions.

Coming into force

In accordance with section 19 the provisions of the Act came into force on 30 July 2014 (the day the Act received Royal Assent).

Subordinate legislation made under the Act:

Consideration of the legislation by the Senedd

This Bill was introduced as an emergency Bill on 8 July 2013 by Alun Davies MS, who was the Minister for Natural Resources and Food at the time.

An Emergency Bill is a Government Bill that needs to be enacted more quickly than the Senedd’s usual four stage legislative process allows. A definition of an Emergency Bill is not provided in the Government of Wales Act 2006 or in the Senedd’s Standing Orders, however Standing Order 26.95 states that:

“If it appears to a member of the government that an Emergency Bill is required, he or she may by motion propose that a government Bill, to be introduced in the Senedd, be treated as a government Emergency Bill.” 

The Bill was passed by Senedd Cymru (then known as the National Assembly for Wales) on 17 July 2013.

More information about the Bill is available on the Senedd’s website, including a record of the passage of the Bill through the Senedd and the Explanatory Memorandum that was prepared by the Welsh Government (at introduction of the Bill). 

The Act received Royal Assent on 30 July 2014.