Commentary on Sections

Section 2 – The children’s scheme

25.Subsection (1) – This requires the Welsh Ministers to make a children’s scheme. The scheme must set out the arrangements that the Welsh Ministers have made, or propose to make, in order to ensure that they and the First Minister comply with the due regard duty.

26.Subsection (2) - This makes provision about other matters that may be included in the children’s scheme. The scheme may require the Welsh Ministers to publish reports on the operation of the scheme or on any other matter mentioned in it. In addition the scheme may specify matters which must be included in those reports or in reports which the Welsh Ministers must publish under section 4(1) to explain how they and the First Minister have complied with the main duty.

27.Subsection (3) – This allows the scheme to include any other matters that the Welsh Ministers consider appropriate.

28.Subsection (4) – This makes provision about revising or remaking the children’s scheme. The Welsh Ministers must consider whether to revise or remake the scheme within six months of the Committee making any suggestion or general recommendation under article 45(d) of the Convention, based on a report submitted to the Committee by the United Kingdom under its obligation in article 44(1)(b).

29.Subsection (5) – This permits the Welsh Ministers to revise or remake the children’s scheme at any other time.

30.Subsection (6) – This defines terms used in section 2.