Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Act 2019

Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Act 2019

A Committee Bill, introduced by Simon Thomas AM, the then Chair of the Finance Committee. The Committee authorised Llyr Gruffydd AM, Chair of Finance Committee, as the new Member in Charge of the Bill, from 7 November 2018. The Business Committee remitted the Bill to the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee.

 

About the Bill

The Bill included provision which set out the new powers for the Ombudsman to:

  • accept oral complaints;
  • undertake own initiative investigations;
  • investigate private medical treatment including nursing care in a public/private health pathway;
  • undertake a role in relation to complaints handling standards and procedures.

 

Further detail about the Bill can be found in its accompanying Explanatory Memorandum.

 

Current Stage

BillStageAct

 

The Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Act 2019 (external website) became law in Wales (external website) on 22 May 2019.

 

Record of Passage in the Senedd

The following table sets out the dates for each stage of the Bill’s passage through the Senedd.

 

Stage

Documents

Bill introduced: 2 October 2017

Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill, as introduced (PDF, 337KB)

 

Explanatory Memorandum (PDF, 995KB)

 

Presiding Officer’s Statement: 2 October 2017 (PDF, 126KB)

 

Business Committee’s Report on the timetable for consideration of the Bill: 2 October 2017 (PDF, 53KB)

 

Business Committee’s Report on the revised timetable for consideration of the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill (PDF, 50KB)

 

Stage 1: Committee considerations of general principles

The Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee will consider its approach to Stage 1 consideration on 5 October 2017.

 

Public consultation. The Committee issued a call for evidence, which closed on 1 December 2017.

 

Committee Stage 1 Report

The Committee laid its report on 9 March 2018. (PDF 855KB)

Response from the Chair of the Finance Committee

 

Response from Chair of the Finance Committee to Stage 1 report  (20 March 2018) (PDF, 171KB)

 

Correspondence

Letter from Auditor General for Wales to the Chair of Finance Committee (16 October 2017)

 

Letter from Chair of the Finance Committee to the Auditor General for Wales  (7 November 2017)

 

Letter from Adam Price AM (Welsh Only) (28 November 2017)

 

Additional information provided by the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales   (18 December 2017)

 

Additional information from the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman (18 December 2017)

 

Additional information from the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (18 December 2017)

 

Additional information from Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) (22 December 2017)

 

Additional information from Hospice UK

 

Letter from Adam Price AM (18 December 2017)

 

Expert Adviser Report (22 January 2018)

 

Letter from the Chair of the Finance Committee (10 January 2018)

 

Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance  (15 January 2018)

 

Additional information from Citizens Advice Bureau  (19 January 2018)

 

Letter from the Chair of the Finance Committee (30 January 2018)

 

Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance (8 February 2018)

 

Letter from the Chair to Adam Price AM (20 February 2018)

 

Letter from the Chair of the Finance Committee (8 February 2018)

 

Letter from the Chair of the Finance Committee (17 April 2018)

 

Letter to the Chair of the Finance Committee (15 May 2018)

 

Letter from the Chair of the Finance Committee (12 July 2018)

 

Committee dates

The Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee will consider the Bill on the following dates:

 

Date and Agenda

Purpose of meeting

Transcript

Senedd.TV

5 October 2017

Consideration of Approach to Stage 1 Scrutiny (Private)

Private

Private

25 October 2017

Briefing (Private)

Private

Private

29 November 2017

Oral evidence sessions

Transcript

View meeting

7 December 2017

Oral evidence sessions

Transcript

View meeting

13 December 2017

Oral evidence sessions

Transcript

View meeting

11 January 2018

Oral evidence sessions

Transcript

View meeting

25 January 2018

Oral evidence sessions

Transcript

View meeting

1 March 2018

Private discussion of report contents

Private

Private

7 March 2018

Private discussion of report contents

Private

Private

 

The Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee considered  the Bill on the following dates:

Date and Agenda

Purpose of meeting

Transcript

Senedd.TV

15 January 2018

Evidence from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance

 

 

View meeting

15 January 2018

Evidence from the Chair of the Finance Committee

View meeting

 

Committee Stage 1 Report

The Committee laid its report on 9 March 2018. (PDF 673KB)

 

Response from Chair of the Finance Committee to Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee Stage 1 report  (20 March 2018) (PDF, 137KB)

 

Revised Explanatory Memorandum (July 2018) (PDF, 1MB)

 

Revised Explanatory Memorandum (version with tracked changes) (July 2018) (PDF, 1MB)

 

Stage 1: Debate in Plenary on general principles

 

A debate took place in Plenary on 21 March 2018. The motion to agree the general principles of the Bill was agreed.

 

 

Financial Resolution

 

A Financial Resolution in relation to the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill was agreed in Plenary on 17 July 2018.

 

Stage 2: Committee consideration of amendments

 

The Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee agreed on 9 January 2019, under Standing Order 26.21, that the order of consideration for Stage 2 proceedings will be: Section 2; Schedule 1; Sections 3 to 13; Schedule 2;   Sections 14 – 30; Schedule 3; Sections 31 – 42; Schedule 4; Sections 43 – 74; Schedule 5; Sections 75 – 80; Section 1; Long title.

 

Notice of amendments – 16 January 2019 v2

Purpose and Effect Table – 16 January 2019 v3

Notice of amendments – 18 January 2019 v2

Purpose and Effect Table – 18 January 2019 v2

Notice of amendments – 21 January 2019

Purpose and Effect Table – 21 January 2019 v2

Notice of amendments – 24 January 2019

Marshalled List of Amendments – 31 January 2019

Groupings of Amendments – 31 January 2019

 

Stage 2 consideration took place in Committee on 31 January 2019.

 

Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill, as amended at Stage 2

(Amendments to the Bill since the previous version are indicated by side-lining in the right margin.)

Printing changes to the Bill as amended at Stage 2

Explanatory Memorandum, as amended at Stage 2

 

Stage 3: Plenary consideration of amendments

Following the completion of Stage 2 proceedings, Stage 2 began on 1 February 2019.

 

The National Assembly for Wales agreed on 6 March 2019, under Standing Order 26.36, that the order of consideration for Stage 3 proceedings will be: Section 2; Schedule 1; Sections 3-14; Schedule 2; Sections 15-30; Schedule 3; Sections 31-41; Schedule 4; Sections 42-74; Schedule 5; Sections 75-80; Section 1;Long title.

 

Stage 3 consideration took place in Plenary on 13 March to consider amendments to the Bill (as amended at Stage 2).

 

Notice of amendments – 1 March 2019

Purpose and Effect Table – 1 March 2019

Notice of amendments – 6 March 2019

Marshalled List of Amendments – 13 March 2019

Groupings of Amendments – 13 March 2019

 

Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill, as amended at Stage 3

Printing changes to the Bill as amended at Stage 3

Stage 4: Passing of the Bill in Plenary

The Bill was agreed by the Assembly on 20 March 2019.

 

Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill, as passed

Post-stage 4

The Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill was agreed by the Assembly in accordance with SO 12.36 on 20 March 2019. The 28-day period during which the Counsel General or the Attorney General may refer the Bill to the Supreme Court for a decision on its competence began on 21 March 2019. During this period the Secretary of State for Wales may also make an order prohibiting the submission of the Bill for Royal Assent. The 28 day period ended on 18 April 2019.

 

The Solicitor General, on behalf of the Attorney General, the Counsel General, and the Secretary of State for Wales wrote to the Presiding Officer to advise that they would not be referring the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill to the Supreme Court under Section 112 or 114 of the Government of Wales Act 2006.

 

 

Royal Assent

 

Royal Assent was given on 15 May 2019.

 

Contact information

Clerk: Naomi Stocks

Phone: 0300 200 6222

 

Postal address:

Welsh Parliament

Cardiff Bay

Cardiff

CF99 1SN

 

Email: SeneddCommunities@Senedd.Wales

Business type: Bill

Reason considered: Senedd Business;

Status: Complete

First published: 02/10/2017

Documents

Consultations