Commentary on Sections Part 2 – Publication Etc. of Welsh Legislation Section 37P – Numbering and classification of Welsh statutory instruments
91.Section 37P sets out the way the King’s Printer for Wales must number Welsh statutory instruments. The effect is that for each calendar year such instruments will be consecutively numbered (starting from number 1). This follows the approach currently adopted for statutory instruments and other legislation (including Acts of the Senedd, Scottish statutory instruments, Northern Ireland Statutory Rules, etc.)
92.Subsection (3) permits the King’s Printer for Wales to also use a subsidiary number alongside the number from the series of Welsh statutory instruments. The use of subsidiary numbers for instruments numbered under the 1946 Act and 1947 Regulations is a practice that began in the 1950s and has developed over time. For example, a subsidiary number prefixed by a “C” is applied to commencement orders or regulations. Statutory instruments made since 1999 by (originally) the National Assembly for Wales and (subsequently) the Welsh Ministers have been identified by giving them subsidiary numbers prefixed by “W.” (in English) or “Cy.” (in Welsh). In practice such numbering will likely not be required in future because all of those instruments will be made as, and numbered under the series of, Welsh statutory instruments.