§
Lords amendment: No. 2, in line 21, leave out
by the Assembly of any function
and insert
of any function of the Assembly".
§ Mr. HansonI beg to move, That this House agrees with the Lords in the said amendment.
§ Mr. SpeakerWith this we may discuss Lords amendments Nos. 3 and 6.
§ Mr. HansonThe amendments are technical amendments that have been discussed with the Opposition, considered in the other place and received full support from Members in both Houses.
367 There are circumstances in which the Assembly and the bodies listed in schedule 2 may delegate the exercise of their functions to other persons: for example, the Assembly delegates its duties to provide careers advice to the careers service. It is important that the commissioner's review function under clause 3 extends to all the Assembly's functions and to the functions of other bodies listed, whoever exercises them. Lords amendments Nos. 2 and 3 will remove any doubt about whether the commissioner can do that.
Lords amendment No. 6 is another Government amendment that will add community councils in Wales to the list of bodies whose exercise of functions is subject to review by the commissioner under clause 3. The issue of adding community or town councils was raised by Members in another place on the basis that such councils, especially larger ones, occasionally exercise functions that affect children: for example, provision of playgrounds and recreational facilities. The Government have considered that argument and agree that the addition is appropriate. The Wales Association of Community and Town Councils has been informed and welcomes the change, as does the National Assembly. There is cross-party support for the amendments.
§ Lords amendment agreed to.
§ Lords amendment No. 3 agreed to.