This is the fourth Commencement Order made by the Welsh Ministers under the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 (“the Act”). It commences section 56(1) of the Act, in so far as it inserts section 144A into the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (“the 2014 Act”), and section 56(2) of the Act (which amends section 196(6) of the 2014 Act). The commencement date is 4 September 2017.

Section 144A of the 2014 Act makes provision in relation to annual reports by local authorities about the exercise of their social services functions, including provision in relation to the content and form of those reports.

Section 56(2) of the Act amends section 196(6) of the 2014 Act so that the first regulations made under section 144A(2)(b) of the 2014 Act are subject to the affirmative procedure. Regulations under section 144A(2)(b) can prescribe other information which must be included in local authority annual reports.