Wales Order 2025 updates Schedule 9A from 8 Jan 2026

On 8 January 2026, a small but important change lands in Welsh public life. A short Order updates the Government of Wales Act 2006 to reflect reforms that the Senedd passed in 2024. If you work in local government, elections or teach politics, this is a tidy example of how the statute book is kept current.

The instrument has a long title but a clear job: the Government of Wales Act 2006 (Devolved Welsh Authorities) (Amendment) Order 2025. It was made by the King in Council at Buckingham Palace on 10 December 2025, laid before Parliament on 17 December 2025, and it comes into force on 8 January 2026. The text is published on legislation.gov.uk for anyone to read.

What it changes is specific. Schedule 9A-the list of “devolved Welsh authorities”-is updated. Two bodies are deleted: the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (Panel Annibynnol Cymru ar Gydnabyddiaeth Ariannol) and the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales (Comisiwn Ffiniau a Democratiaeth Leol Cymru). In their place, the Order inserts the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru (Comisiwn Democratiaeth a Ffiniau Cymru).

Why now? Because two Senedd Acts from 2024 already made the underlying decisions. Section 12 of the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024 renamed the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales as the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru. Section 56 of the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024 abolished the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales, and section 57 transferred its remuneration functions to the new Commission. The Order simply aligns the 2006 Act’s list with those changes.

For institutions, this means the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru is now the named body you’ll see across legislation and official documents. Where older paperwork refers to the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales, you should read that as the new title. Matters relating to remuneration that once sat with the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales now sit with the Commission under the 2024 framework.

It’s also important to notice what this Order does not do. It does not set pay rates, change electoral boundaries, or create new powers beyond those already provided by the 2024 Acts. Its role is housekeeping: updating Schedule 9A so the law uses the correct names and allocations of functions. No impact assessment was produced because no significant effect on the private, voluntary or public sector is expected, according to the instrument’s note on legislation.gov.uk.

If you teach politics or law, this is a helpful case study in legislative maintenance. Acts of the Senedd in 2024 made the policy calls-rename one body, abolish another, move functions. An Order in Council in December 2025 then amends the parent statute so everything lines up. It shows how different layers of law work together to keep public administration tidy and understandable.

Keep the dates straight. Made: 10 December 2025. Laid before Parliament: 17 December 2025. In force: 8 January 2026. If you draft reports, update websites or prepare committee papers, plan to use “Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru” from that in‑force date to stay consistent with statute.

Source note for learners: this explainer draws on the Order published on legislation.gov.uk and the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024 and the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024. Reading Schedule 9A of the Government of Wales Act 2006 alongside those Acts will help you see how titles, functions and lists are moved across statutes to reflect democratic decisions.