A REVAMPED Public Health Bill – with the controversial e-cigarette ban removed – and legislation blocking the Trade Union Bill in Wales are among regulations to be discussed by AMs over the next 12 months.

First minister Carwyn Jones unveiled six new bills as part of the Welsh Government’s legislative programme for the next year in the Senedd.

Among them is a new Public Health Bill, to include measures around smoking outside hospitals in Wales as well as restrictions on tattooing and piercing for under-16s.

The bill came before AMs earlier this year, but proved controversial after it included a proposed ban on the use of e-cigarettes in places such as playgrounds and places serving food. It was ultimately voted down on the final day of the last Assembly after former Labour minister Leighton Andrews made a joke around Plaid Cymru being “a cheap date”.

Mr Andrews subsequently lost his seat in May’s election – to Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood.

Also included is legislation repealing sections of the UK Government’s Trade Union Bill, which places restrictions on when union members can go on strike, where it applies to devolved areas and another abolishing the Right to Buy and Right to Acquire housing schemes, which Mr Jones said would safeguard Wales’ social housing stock.

The programme also includes two bills setting up the two new taxes which have been devolved to the Senedd, Land Transaction Tax and Landfill Disposal Tax, as well as an Additional Learning Needs Bill providing a new legal framework for supporting people aged up to 25 with special needs.

Mr Jones said: “We are committed to working with AMs in this Senedd and with communities and stakeholders as we take forward our legislative programme this year to ensure the laws we make in Wales are the best they can be for people across Wales.”

Responding to the announcement Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said the Labour Welsh Government had “a lot to learn about legislating”.

“Though some proposals, including an Additional Learning Needs Bill and others, are welcome, this statement tells us very little new information,” he said.

“Equally, there are concerns – with plans to abolish right to buy, and right to acquire, set to restrict opportunity and social mobility.”

But he welcomed comments by the first minister that the limited scale of planned legislation would allow for more Private Members’ Bills to be introduced.

“Given the composition of the Assembly and the balance in public opinion we should be utilising the range of talents across the Assembly to explore legislative solutions to the unique challenges Wales faces,” he said.

Plaid Cymru business manager Simon Thomas raised questions around what the Welsh Government would be doing to replace European Union legislation protecting the environment following the result of last week’s referendum.