Decision details

The National Assembly for Wales’ Health and Social Care Committee undertook post-legislative scrutiny of the Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010.

The terms of reference for this inquiry were to assess the implementation and operation of the Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010, in particular by:

• assessing the extent to which the stated objectives of the Measure are being achieved;
• identifying whether there are any lessons which can be learned or good practice shared from the making and implementation of the Measure and the associated subordinate legislation and guidance;
• assessing whether the Measure has represented, and will continue to represent, value for money.

The principles underpinning these terms of reference were:

• to see whether legislation is working out in practice as intended;
• to contribute to better legislation;
• to improve the focus on implementation and delivery of policy aims;
• to identify and disseminate good practice so that lessons may be drawn from the successes and failures revealed by the scrutiny work; and
• to assess whether the legislation has represented, and will continue to represent, value for money.

Evidence from the Public

The Committee held a public consultation to gather evidence on this topic.

Evidence from the Minister for Health and Social Services

Evidence from the Minister for Health and Social Services (PDF, 175KB).

The Committee’s report

The Committee reported (PDF, 514KB) in January 2015. The Welsh Government responded (PDF, 145KB) in February 2015.

Plenary debate

The Plenary debate on the Committee’s report on post-legislative scrutiny of the Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010 took place on 5 March 2015.

The item started at 15.49

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Believes that waiting lists for child and adolescent mental health services are unacceptably high.

Amendment 1 was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Amendment 2 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets that current waiting time targets mask often lengthy waiting times for psychological therapies and calls for more transparent and routine data in relation to waiting times for psychological interventions.

Amendment 2 was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM5971 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

To propose the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the content of the Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010 – Duty to Review - Final Report.

2. Believes that waiting lists for child and adolescent mental health services are unacceptably high.

3. Regrets that current waiting time targets mask often lengthy waiting times for psychological therapies and calls for more transparent and routine data in relation to waiting times for psychological interventions.

The motion as amended was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.