SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE 1The Commissioner for Older People in Wales
Status
1
1
The Commissioner is a corporation sole.
2
The Commissioner is not to be regarded as the servant or agent of the Crown or as enjoying any status, immunity or privilege of the Crown.
3
The Commissioner's property is not to be regarded as property of, or property held on behalf of, the Crown.
Appointment and term of office
2
Regulations may make provision—
a
as to the appointment of the Commissioner (including any conditions to be fulfilled for appointment);
b
as to the term of office of the Commissioner (including the circumstances in which he ceases to hold office or may be removed or suspended from office).
Remuneration etc
3
1
a
pay the Commissioner such remuneration and allowances, and
b
pay, or make provision for the payment of, such pensions or gratuities to or in respect of him,
as may be provided for under the terms of his appointment.
2
The F2Welsh MinistersF2 must pay to or in respect of a person who has ceased to hold office as the Commissioner—
a
such amounts by way of pensions and gratuities, and
b
such amounts by way of provision for those benefits,
as may have been provided for under the terms of his appointment.
3
Deputy Commissioner and other staff
4
1
The Commissioner must appoint a deputy Commissioner.
2
The deputy Commissioner is a member of the Commissioner's staff.
3
The deputy Commissioner may discharge the functions of the Commissioner during a vacancy in the office of Commissioner or at any time when the Commissioner is for any reason unable to act.
4
At any time when the deputy Commissioner has power to act under sub-paragraph (3), any property or rights vested in the Commissioner may be dealt with by the deputy Commissioner as if vested in him.
5
The Commissioner may appoint such other staff as he thinks necessary for assisting him in the discharge of his functions.
Delegation
5
A function of the Commissioner may be discharged on his behalf by any person including any member of his staff, to the extent authorised by the Commissioner.
Superannuation Act 1972 (c. 11)
6
1
In the Superannuation Act 1972 in Schedule 1 (kinds of employment to which section 1 of that Act applies)—
a
in the list of “Other Bodies”, at the end insert “
Employment as a member of staff of the Commissioner for Older People in Wales
”
;
b
in the list of “Offices”, at the appropriate place insert “
Commissioner for Older People in Wales
”
.
2
Payments by the F8Welsh MinistersF8
7
Reports to the F10Welsh MinistersF10
Sch. 1 para. 8: words in heading substituted (the amendment coming into force immediately after the end of "the initial period" (which ended with the day of the first appointment of a First Minister on 25.5.2007) in accordance with art. 1(2)(3) of the amending S.I. and see ss. 46, 161(5) of Government of Wales Act 2006 (c. 32)) by The Government of Wales Act 2006 (Consequential Modifications and Transitional Provisions) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/1388), arts. 1(2)(3), 3, Sch. 1 para. 141(6)
8
1
2
The regulations may in particular—
a
specify the contents of a report and the persons to whom copies of a report must be sent;
b
make provision about the publication of a report.
3
Subject to sub-paragraph (4), a report made by the Commissioner under the regulations must not—
a
mention the name of any person, or
b
include any particulars which, in the opinion of the Commissioner, are likely to identify any person and which, in his opinion, can be omitted without impairing the effectiveness of the report.
4
Sub-paragraph (3) does not apply if, after taking account of the interests of any persons he thinks appropriate, the Commissioner considers it to be in the public interest to include that information in the report.
Estimates
9
1
For each financial year other than the first, the Commissioner must prepare an estimate of the income and expenses of his office.
2
3
Accounts
10
1
The Commissioner must—
a
keep proper accounting records, and
2
The directions which the F16Welsh MinistersF16 may give under sub-paragraph (1)(b) include, in particular, directions as to—
a
the information to be contained in the accounts and the manner in which it is to be presented;
b
the methods and principles in accordance with which the accounts are to be prepared;
c
the additional information (if any) that is to accompany the accounts.
3
Accounting officer
11
1
The Commissioner is the accounting officer for the office of the Commissioner.
2
The accounting officer has, in relation to the accounts and the finances of the Commissioner, the responsibilities which are from time to time specified by the Treasury.
3
In this paragraph references to responsibilities include in particular—
a
responsibilities in relation to the signing of accounts,
b
responsibilities for the propriety and regularity of the finances of the Commissioner, and
c
responsibilities for the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which the resources of the Commissioner are used.
4
The responsibilities which may be specified under this paragraph include responsibilities owed to—
b
the House of Commons or its Committee of Public Accounts.
5
If requested to do so by the House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts, the Audit Committee may—
a
on behalf of the Committee of Public Accounts take evidence from the accounting officer, and
b
report to the Committee of Public Accounts and transmit to that Committee any evidence so taken.
Audit
12
1
The accounts prepared by the Commissioner for a financial year must be submitted by him to the Auditor General for Wales no later than 30 November in the following financial year.
2
The Auditor General for Wales must—
a
examine, certify and report on each set of accounts submitted to him under this paragraph, and
b
no later than four months after the accounts are submitted to him, lay before the Assembly a copy of them as certified by him together with his report on them.
3
In examining accounts submitted to him under this paragraph, the Auditor General for Wales must, in particular, satisfy himself that the expenditure to which the accounts relate has been incurred lawfully and in accordance with the authority which governs it.
Examinations into the use of resources
13
1
The Auditor General for Wales may carry out examinations into the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which the Commissioner has used his resources in discharging his 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 Commissioner.
3
In determining how to discharge his functions under this paragraph, the Auditor General for Wales must take into account the views of the Audit Committee as to the examinations which he should carry out.
4
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.
Examinations by the Comptroller and Auditor General
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Evidence
15
A document purporting to be duly executed under the seal of the Commissioner or to be signed by him or on his behalf is to be received in evidence and, unless the contrary is proved, taken to be so executed or signed.
Disqualifications
16
In the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 24) in Part 3 of Schedule 1 (certain disqualifying offices), at the appropriate places insert the following entries— “
Commissioner for Older People in Wales
”
; “
Member of staff of the Commissioner for Older People in Wales
”
.
17
In the Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 25) in Part 3 of Schedule 1 (certain disqualifying offices), at the appropriate places insert the following entries— “
Commissioner for Older People in Wales
”
; “
Member of staff of the Commissioner for Older People in Wales
”
.
Welsh language scheme
18
In section 6(1) of the Welsh Language Act 1993 (c. 38) (public bodies for the purposes of Part 2 of that Act), after paragraph (n) insert—
na
the Commissioner for Older People in Wales;
Supplementary powers
19
1
2
Miscellaneous
20
In section 144 of the Government of Wales Act 1998 (c. 38)
(accounts, audit and reports), in subsection (8)(a), after “the Children's Commissioner for Wales,” insert “
the Commissioner for Older People in Wales,
”
.
21
In the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (c. 36)—
a
in the table in section 76(1) (disclosure of information between Information Commissioner and ombudsmen), at the end insert—
The Commissioner for Older People in Wales
The Commissioner for Older People (Wales) Act 2006
b
in Part 6 of Schedule 1 (other public bodies: general), at the appropriate place insert “
The Commissioner for Older People in Wales
”
.
Financial year
22
Regulations must specify the periods which are to be treated, for the purposes of this Schedule, as the first and subsequent financial years of the Commissioner.
SCHEDULE 2Persons whose functions are subject to review under section 3
Local government and fire
A county council, county borough council or community council in Wales.
A joint board the constituent authorities of which are all county or county borough councils in Wales.
A fire and rescue authority in Wales constituted by a scheme under section 2 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 (c. 21) or a scheme to which section 4 of that Act applies.
Health and social care
F25Social Care Wales .
A Local Health Board.
An NHS trust managing a hospital or other establishment or facility in Wales.
A Special Health Authority discharging functions in relation to Wales.
The Wales Centre for Health.
A family health service provider in Wales.
An independent provider in Wales.
Health Professions Wales or Proffesiynau Iechyd Cymru.
National Leadership and Innovations Agency for Healthcare.
Education and training
The National Council for Education and Training for Wales.
The Office of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales or Prif Arolygydd Ei Mawrhydi dros Addysg a Hyfforddiant yng Nghymru.
The Higher Education Funding Council for Wales.
A further education corporation discharging functions in relation to Wales.
A higher education corporation discharging functions in relation to Wales.
An institution in Wales falling within section 91(5)(a) of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 (c. 13).
The governing body of a maintained school in Wales at which further education is provided.
F23...
F24Qualifications Wales.
Arts and leisure
The Arts Council of Wales.
The Sports Council for Wales.
The Wales Tourist Board.
The National Library of Wales.
The National Museums and Galleries of Wales.
The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales.
Environment
A National Park authority for a National Park in Wales.
F22The Natural Resources Body for Wales.
The Environment Agency.
The Forestry Commissioners.
Miscellaneous
The Welsh Development Agency.
F21Comisiynydd y Gymraeg (The Welsh Language Commissioner).
An agricultural wages committee for an area wholly in, or consisting of, Wales.
SCHEDULE 3Persons whose arrangements are subject to review under section 5
Local government
A county council or county borough council in Wales.
Health and social care
A Local Health Board.
An NHS trust managing a hospital or other establishment or facility in Wales.
A Special Health Authority discharging functions in relation to Wales.
A family health service provider in Wales.
An independent provider in Wales.
Education and training
The National Council for Education and Training for Wales.
A further education corporation discharging functions in relation to Wales.
A higher education corporation discharging functions in relation to Wales.
An institution in Wales falling within section 91(5)(a) of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 (c. 13).
The governing body of a maintained school in Wales at which further education is provided.
SCHEDULE 4Minor and consequential amendments
Care Standards Act 2000 (c. 14)
1
1
The Care Standards Act 2000 is amended as follows.
2
After section 75 (obstruction etc) insert—
75ZAWorking with the Commissioner for Older People in Wales
1
This section applies where it appears to the Commissioner that a case which he is—
a
examining in accordance with regulations made under section 74, or
b
considering whether to examine in accordance with such regulations,
relates to or raises a matter which could be the subject of an examination by the Commissioner for Older People in Wales (the ‘connected matter’).
2
Where the Commissioner considers it appropriate, he must inform the Commissioner for Older People in Wales about the connected matter.
3
Where the Commissioner considers that the case also relates to or raises a matter which he is entitled to examine himself (‘the children matter’), he must also if he considers it appropriate—
a
inform the Commissioner for Older People in Wales about the Commissioner's proposals for the examination of the case; and
b
consult the Commissioner for Older People in Wales about those proposals.
4
Where the Commissioner and the Commissioner for Older People in Wales consider that they are entitled to examine, respectively, the children matter and the connected matter they may—
a
co-operate with each other in the separate examination of each of those matters;
b
act together in the examination of those matters; and
c
prepare and publish a joint report containing their respective conclusions in relation to the matters they have each examined.
5
Where the Commissioner considers—
a
that the case is not one which relates to or raises a matter that he is entitled to examine himself, and
b
that it is appropriate to do so,
he must inform the person whose case it is, or another person interested in it that he thinks fit, about how to secure the referral to the Commissioner for Older People in Wales of the connected matter.
3
In section 76 (further functions) in subsection (5), after “in
particular” insert “
(a)
”
and at the end insert—
b
provide that the Commissioner may make a joint report with the Commissioner for Older People in Wales where they have discharged their respective functions under this Act and the Commissioner for Older People (Wales) Act 2006 in relation to the same matters.
Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Act 2005 (c. 10)
2
1
The Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Act 2005 is amended as follows.
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4
In section 41 (interpretation), for the definition of “investigation” substitute—
“‘investigation’—
- (a)
in relation to the Ombudsman, means an investigation under section 2 (and cognate expressions must be construed accordingly);
- (b)
in relation to another ombudsman or commissioner, includes an examination (and cognate expressions must be construed accordingly;)”
Sch. 1 para. 7: words in heading substituted (the amendment coming into force immediately after the end of "the initial period" (which ended with the day of the first appointment of a First Minister on 25.5.2007) in accordance with art. 1(2)(3) of the amending S.I. and see ss. 46, 161(5) of Government of Wales Act 2006 (c. 32)) by The Government of Wales Act 2006 (Consequential Modifications and Transitional Provisions) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/1388), arts. 1(2)(3), 3, Sch. 1 para. 141(4)