The Welsh in Education Strategic Plans (Wales) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020

Welsh Statutory Instruments

2020 No. 1194 (W. 271)

Education, Wales

The Welsh in Education Strategic Plans (Wales) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020

Made

2 November 2020

Laid before Senedd Cymru

4 November 2020

Coming into force

1 December 2020

The Welsh Ministers, in exercise of the powers conferred upon them by sections 87 and 97 of the School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013(1), make the following Regulations:

Title and commencement

1.—(1) The title of these Regulations is the Welsh in Education Strategic Plans (Wales) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020.

(2) These Regulations come into force on 1 December 2020.

Amendment of the Welsh in Education Strategic Plans (Wales) Regulations 2019

2.—(1) The Welsh in Education Strategic Plans (Wales) Regulations 2019(2) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 4(1) (duration of ten year plans)—

(a) for “1 September 2021” substitute “1 September 2022”;

(b) for “31 August 2031” substitute “31 August 2032”.

(3) In regulation 5(1) (submission of ten year plans to the Welsh Ministers), for “31 January 2021” substitute “31 January 2022”.

(4) In regulation 7 (annual review report)—

(a) in paragraph (1), for “2022” substitute “2023”;

(b) in paragraph (2), for “31 July 2022” substitute “31 July 2023”.

Kirsty Williams

Minister for Education, one of the Welsh Ministers

2 November 2020

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations make amendments to the Welsh in Education Strategic Plans (Wales) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1489 (W. 269)) (“the 2019 Regulations”) so that the requirement on local authorities in Wales to submit their first ten year plan by 31 January 2021 is amended to 31 January 2022. As a result of these Regulations, that first 10 year plan will have effect on 1 September 2022 until 31 August 2032 (instead of 1 September 2021 until 31 August 2031).

These Regulations also amend the requirement to submit the first review report no later than 31 July 2022 so that the first review report is to be submitted no later than 31 July 2023.

These amendments are made in response to the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Wales and the resulting pressures on local authorities. As a result it is not considered reasonable or appropriate to require local authorities to prepare their plans in accordance with the 2019 Regulations and to consult on them prior to submission to the Welsh Ministers for approval by 31 January 2021.

The Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to these Regulations. As a result, a regulatory impact assessment has been prepared as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with these Regulations. A copy can be obtained from the Welsh Language Division, Education Directorate, Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ.

(1)

2013 anaw 1.

(2)

S.I. 2019/1489 (W. 269).