Wales Act 2017

68 Office of Communications

(1) Section 1 of the Office of Communications Act 2002 (the Office of Communications) is amended as set out in subsections (2) to (5).

(2) In subsection (3), after paragraph (aa) insert—

“(ab) a member appointed by the Welsh Ministers;”.

(3) After subsection (3A) insert—

“(3B) Before appointing a member under subsection (3)(ab) the Welsh Ministers must consult the Secretary of State.”

(4) In subsection (5), before “and (b),” insert “, (ab)”.

(5) After subsection (11) insert—

“(12) Paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Schedule apply in relation to the appointment made under subsection (3)(ab) as if—

(a) any reference to the Secretary of State were to the Welsh Ministers, and

(b) after the paragraph 2(7) treated as inserted by subsection (11) there were inserted—

“(8) Before the Welsh Ministers remove a person from office they must consult the Secretary of State.””

(6) The Schedule to that Act is amended as set out in subsections (7) and (8).

(7) In paragraph 11 (accounts and audit)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (3)(c), after “the Scottish Ministers” insert “and the Welsh Ministers”;

(b) after sub-paragraph (4) insert—

“(5) The Welsh Ministers shall lay a copy of the statement and report sent to them under sub-paragraph (3) before the National Assembly for Wales.”

(8) In paragraph 12 (annual report)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (1), for “and the Scottish Ministers” substitute “, the Scottish Ministers and the Welsh Ministers”;

(b) after sub-paragraph (4) insert—

“(5) The Welsh Ministers shall lay a copy of every report sent to them under this paragraph before the National Assembly for Wales.”