Health (Wales) Act 2003

Section 2

SCHEDULE 2 Wales Centre for Health: Further Provision

Status

1 The Wales Centre for Health is not to be regarded as the servant or agent of the Crown or as enjoying any status, immunity or privilege of the Crown; and the Centre’s property is not to be regarded as property of, or held on behalf of, the Crown.

Exercise of functions

2 The Centre must carry out its functions effectively, economically and efficiently.

3 Anything authorised or required to be done by the Centre may be done by any member or member of staff of the Centre who, or any committee or sub-committee of the Centre which, is authorised for the purpose by the Centre (whether generally or specially).

Assembly directions

4 The Assembly may give directions—

(a) as to the appointment of staff (including any conditions to be fulfilled for appointment);

(b) as to the terms and conditions of employment of staff (including provision about the payment of pensions, allowances or gratuities and the payment of compensation for loss of employment);

(c) as to the application of any sums received by the Centre under section 2(4).

5 Directions under paragraph 4 may include a direction that the Centre employ any person who is or was employed by a National Health Service trust and is specified in the direction.

6 If it appears to the Assembly that there has been a serious failure by the Centre to perform any function which it considers should have been performed by the Centre, the Assembly may give the Centre such directions as it may consider appropriate for remedying that failure.

7 Directions under paragraph 6 must include a statement summarising the reasons for giving them.

8 A direction under this Schedule must be given in writing.

9 The Centre must comply with any direction given by the Assembly under this Schedule.

Regulations

10 The Assembly may by regulations make provision—

(a) about the appointment of the chairman and other members of the Centre (including any conditions to be fulfilled for appointment and provision about disqualification);

(b) about the tenure of office of the chairman of the Centre (including the circumstances in which he ceases to be chairman or may be removed or suspended from office);

(c) about the tenure of office as a member of the Centre of the chairman or of other members of the Centre (including the circumstances in which they cease to be members or may be removed or suspended from office);

(d) about the appointment, constitution of and exercise of functions by a committee or sub-committee of the Centre (including provision for the inclusion in a committee or sub-committee of persons who are not members of the Centre, or in a sub-committee of persons who are not members of the committee);

(e) about the proceedings of the Centre, or of any committee or sub-committee.

Members

11 The Centre must, if required to do so by the Assembly, pay the chairman and other members of the Centre and any member of a committee or sub-committee who is not a member of the Centre such remuneration, and such travelling and other allowances, as the Assembly may determine.

12 The Centre must, if required to do so by the Assembly—

(a) pay to or in respect of any person who is or has been the chairman or other member of the Centre or a member of a committee or sub-committee such pension, allowances or gratuities as the Assembly may determine; or

(b) make such payments as the Assembly may determine towards provision for the payment of a pension, allowance or gratuity to or in respect of any such person.

13 Where—

(a) a person ceases to hold office as chairman or other member of the Centre or as a member of a committee or sub-committee; and

(b) the Assembly determines that there are special circumstances which make it appropriate for that person to receive compensation,

the Centre must make a payment by way of compensation of such amount as the Assembly may determine.

Chief executive

14 (1) The Centre must appoint a person as chief executive.

(2) The person appointed under sub-paragraph (1)—

(a) may be appointed only with the consent of the Assembly;

(b) is to be appointed on such terms and conditions as the Assembly may determine.

15 The Centre must, if required to do so by the Assembly—

(a) pay to or in respect of any person who is or has been the chief executive of the Centre such pension, allowances or gratuities as the Assembly may determine; or

(b) make such payments as the Assembly may determine towards provision for the payment of a pension, allowance or gratuity to or in respect of any such person.

16 Where—

(a) a person ceases to hold office as the chief executive of the Centre; and

(b) the Assembly determines that there are special circumstances which make it appropriate for that person to receive compensation,

the Centre must make a payment by way of compensation of such amount as the Assembly may determine.

Other staff

17 (1) The Centre may appoint such other staff as it considers appropriate.

(2) Staff appointed under this paragraph are to be appointed on such terms and conditions as the Centre may determine.

18 The Centre may—

(a) pay to or in respect of any person who is or has been a member of staff such pension, allowances or gratuities as the Centre considers appropriate; or

(b) make such payments as the Centre considers appropriate towards provision for the payment of a pension, allowance or gratuity to or in respect of any such person.

19 Where—

(a) a person ceases to be a member of staff; and

(b) the Centre determines that there are special circumstances which make it appropriate for that person to receive compensation,

the Centre may make a payment by way of compensation of such amount as it considers appropriate.

General powers

20 (1) The Centre may do anything which it considers necessary or expedient for the purpose of, or in connection with, the exercise of its functions.

(2) That includes, in particular—

(a) co-operating with other public authorities;

(b) acquiring and disposing of land and other property; and

(c) entering into contracts.

Charging of fees

21 The Centre may charge such fees as it considers appropriate for the provision of advice, information or assistance to any person.

Arrangements for assistance

22 (1) The Centre may make arrangements with such persons as it considers appropriate to assist it in the discharge of any function.

(2) Arrangements may include the payment of fees to such persons.

Accounts

23 (1) The Centre must keep proper accounting records.

(2) The Centre must prepare accounts for each financial year in such form as the Assembly may determine.

Audit

24 (1) The accounts prepared by the Centre for any financial year must be submitted to the Auditor General for Wales before the end of such period after the end of the financial year as the Assembly may direct.

(2) The Auditor General for Wales must—

(a) examine and certify accounts submitted to him under sub-paragraph (1); and

(b) lay before the Assembly a copy of them as certified by him together with his report on them.

Examinations into use of resources

25 (1) The Auditor General for Wales may carry out examinations into the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which the Centre has used its resources in carrying out its functions.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1) is not to be construed as entitling the Auditor General for Wales to question the merits of the policy objectives of the Centre.

(3) The Auditor General for Wales may lay before the Assembly a report of the results of any examination carried out by him under this paragraph.

(4) The Auditor General for Wales and the Comptroller and Auditor General may co-operate with, and give assistance to, each other in connection with the carrying out of examinations in respect of the Centre under this paragraph or section 7 of the National Audit Act 1983 (c. 44) (economy, etc. examinations).

Examinations by the Comptroller and Auditor General

26 (1) For the purpose of enabling him to carry out examinations into, and report to Parliament on, the finances of the Centre, the Comptroller and Auditor General—

(a) is to have a right of access at all reasonable times to all such documents in the custody or under the control of the Centre, or of the Auditor General for Wales, as he may reasonably require for that purpose; and

(b) is to be entitled to require from any person holding or accountable for any of those documents any assistance, information or explanation which he reasonably thinks necessary for that purpose.

(2) The Comptroller and Auditor General must—

(a) consult the Auditor General for Wales; and

(b) take into account any relevant work done or being done by the Auditor General for Wales,

before he acts in reliance on sub-paragraph (1) or carries out an examination in respect of the Centre under section 7 of the National Audit Act 1983 (economy, etc. examinations).

Further provision about accounts and audit

27 The Assembly may by regulations make such further provision about the accounts or audit of the Centre as it considers appropriate.

Evidence

28 A document purporting to be duly executed under the seal of the Centre or signed on its behalf is to be received in evidence and, unless the contrary is proved, taken to be so executed or signed.

Reports and information

29 (1) As soon as practicable after the end of each financial year the Centre must report to the Assembly on the exercise of its functions during the year.

(2) The Centre must publish the report made under sub-paragraph (1).

(3) The Centre must also provide the Assembly with such other information relating to the exercise of the Centre’s functions as the Assembly may request.