Rights of Children and Young Persons (Wales) Measure 2011

3 Preparation and publication of the scheme

(1) In preparing, remaking or revising the children’s scheme, the Welsh Ministers must have regard to—

(a) any report of the Committee under article 44(5) or study undertaken under article 45(c);

(b) any other reports, suggestions, general recommendations or other documents issued by the Committee relating to the implementation of the Convention or the Protocols by the United Kingdom.

(2) In preparing, remaking or revising the children’s scheme, the Welsh Ministers may have regard to any other documents (whether or not issued by the Committee) and to any other matters which they consider to be relevant.

(3) Before making, remaking or revising the children’s scheme, the Welsh Ministers must publish a draft of—

(a) the scheme, or

(b) where they intend to revise the scheme, either the revisions or the scheme as revised.

(4) In preparing a draft to be published under subsection (3), the Welsh Ministers must ensure that—

(a) children and young persons,

(b) the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, and

(c) such other persons or bodies as the Welsh Ministers consider appropriate,

are involved in the preparation of the draft.

(5) Before making, remaking or revising the children’s scheme, the Welsh Ministers must consult the following persons on the draft published under subsection (3)—

(a) children and young persons,

(b) the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, and

(c) such other persons or bodies as the Welsh Ministers consider appropriate.

(6) The Welsh Ministers must not make, remake or revise the children’s scheme unless a draft of—

(a) the scheme, or

(b) where they intend to revise the scheme, either the revisions or the scheme as revised,

has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the Assembly.

(7) The Welsh Ministers must lay a draft of the scheme before the Assembly (in accordance with subsection (6)(a)) on or before 31 March 2012.

(8) The Welsh Ministers must publish the children’s scheme when they make it and whenever they remake it; and, if they revise the scheme without remaking it, they must publish either the revisions or the scheme as revised (as they consider appropriate).

(9) If the Welsh Ministers publish a scheme or revisions under subsection (8) they must lay a copy of the scheme or revisions before the Assembly.

(10) In this section—

(a) “the Committee” means the Committee on the Rights of the Child established under article 43(1); and

(b) any reference to an article is a reference to that article of the Convention.