Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010 (nawm1)

PART 1 CHILD POVERTY, PLAY AND PARTICIPATION

CHAPTER 1 ERADICATING CHILD POVERTY

Services to tackle child poverty

7 Local authority duty to secure the availability of free childcare

(1) A local authority must secure that childcare of a prescribed description is available free of charge for such periods as may be prescribed for each child of a prescribed description in its area who—

(a) has attained such age as may be prescribed, but

(b) is under compulsory school age.

(2) This duty is subject to the provisions of regulations made under section 10(1)(c).

(3) In this section “childcare” means—

(a) child minding or day care within the meaning of Part 2 in respect of which the provider is required to be registered under that Part, or

(b) care provided by a person of a description approved in accordance with a scheme made by the Welsh Ministers under section 12(5) of the Tax Credits Act 2002 (c. 21).

8 Parental support services: powers of a local authority

(1) A local authority may provide, secure the provision of or participate in the provision of parental support services to parents of children.

(2) A local authority may not charge for anything provided under subsection (1).

(3) In this section and in section 10 “parental support services” means any of the following—

(a) training in parenting skills;

(b) any other service to promote or facilitate effective parenting.

9 Health support services: powers of a local authority

(1) A local authority may provide, secure the provision of or participate in the provision of health support services.

(2) A local authority may not provide, secure the provision of or participate in the provision of nursing services under subsection (1) for any part of its area without the consent of the Local Health Board for that part of its area.

(3) A local authority may not charge for anything provided under subsection (1).

(4) In this section and in section 10, “health support services” means services providing assistance in relation to the health of children or parents of children (so far as necessary to secure the well-being of their children), apart from assistance that amounts to the provision of medical, dental, ophthalmic, or pharmaceutical services.

10 Regulations about services to tackle child poverty

(1) Regulations may—

(a) require a local authority to secure the provision of parental support services of a prescribed description free of charge for prescribed parents of children in its area;

(b) require a local authority to secure the provision of health support services of a prescribed description free of charge for prescribed children or prescribed parents of children in its area;

(c) provide that the duty in section 7(1) is to apply only in one or more parts of a local authority area;

(d) provide that a requirement in regulations under paragraph (a) or (b) is to apply only in one or more parts of a local authority area.

(2) Regulations under paragraph (c) or (d) of subsection (1) may (among other things)—

(a) specify one or more areas within a local authority area;

(b) provide for the specification of one or more areas by a local authority.