House of Commons Report Stage of the Professional Qualifications Bill to be held imminently

This written statement by Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles, updates members on recent developments on the UK Government Professional Qualifications Bill:

“On 22 February the UK Government tabled two amendments to the Professional Qualifications Bill at Report Stage in the House of Commons.

“The UK Government intends to hold House of Commons Report Stage imminently.  This unfortunately leaves no opportunity for the Senedd to consider the amendments before Report Stage is completed.  This also means the UK Government are proceeding with the Bill without securing legislative consent from the Senedd, or indeed any of the Devolved Governments. This is wholly unacceptable and an action which breaches the Sewel convention. Although the ‘carve out’ amendment is welcome, the tabled amendments do not fully address my concerns.

“In accordance with Standing Order 29 I will lay a further Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No 3) before the Senedd.”

Professional Qualifications Bill

A Bill to make provision relating to entitlement to practise certain professions, occupations and trades; and for connected purposes

Sponsoring departments:

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Lord Grimstone of Boscobel Conservative, Life peer

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Kwasi Kwarteng Conservative, Spelthorne