What is a Legislative Consent Memorandum?
A legislative consent memorandum is a document to inform the Assembly about a bill that is before the UK Parliament which contains provisions on which the Assembly would normally legislate. It is laid before the Assembly by the Northern Ireland Executive Minister for the Northern Ireland department which the devolution matter concerns or by a Member of the Assembly in certain circumstances.
A legislative consent memorandum must be laid if the consent of the Assembly to legislate is sought.
A legislative consent memorandum may include the text of the UK bill and any explanatory notes attached to the bill, and must include—
(a) a draft of the legislative consent motion;
(b) sufficient information to enable debate on the legislative consent motion;
(c) a note of those provisions of the bill which deal with a devolution matter; and
(d) an explanation of—
(i) why those provisions should be made; and
(ii) why they should be made in the bill rather than by Act of the Assembly.
