Government Response: The Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010 (Commencement No. 10) Order 2025

Scrutiny point 1:                             The Welsh Government acknowledges the reason for the Committee’s request to clarify the reasons for bringing section 71 of the Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010 (“the Measure”) into force at this stage.

Commencement of section 71 of the Measure was overlooked on implementation of the Measure. Whilst section 71 of the Measure is a general interpretation provision, this oversight does not appear to have caused an issue in operation of the overall statutory framework introduced by the Measure to date.

However, the Welsh Government recognises the legal certainty that commencing the provision brings and has therefore taken the step of commencing section 71 of the Measure now. Commencement of section 71, albeit at a late stage, ensures clarity within the statute book.