Health and Social Care (Wales) Act 2025

A Welsh Government Bill, introduced by Dawn Bowden MS, Minister for Social Care. The Business Committee has remitted the Bill to the Health and Social Care Committee.

About the Bill

The Bill is intended to eliminate private profit from the care of children looked after, and to enable the introduction of direct payments for Continuing NHS Healthcare. It will also make amendments to ensure that the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 and Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 are able to operate fully and effectively.

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

Current Stage

BillStageAct

The Health and Social Care (Wales) Act 2025 became law in Wales on 24 March 2025. An explanation of the various stages of Senedd Bills is available in the Guide to the Stages of Public Bills and Acts.

Record of Passage in the Welsh Parliament

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

through the Senedd.

¬¬¬Publication of the Act

The Health and Social Care (Wales) Act 2025 has been published and can be assessed through the Welsh Government’s Law Wales website. The relevant Law Wales web page will also provide updated information on the Act, including any revised Explanatory Memorandum prepared by the Welsh Government following Royal Assent, together with details of any subordinate legislation made under the Act.

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¬¬¬Date of Royal Assent (24 March 2025)

Royal Assent was given on 24 March 2025.

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¬¬¬Post Stage 4

The Counsel General and Minster for Delivery wrote to the Llywydd to advise that they would not be referring the Health and Social Care (Wales) Bill to the Supreme Court under Sections 112 and 114 of the Government of Wales Act 2006.

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¬¬¬Stage 4 (4 February 2025)

Stage 4 proceedings took place in plenary on 4 February 2025

Health and Social Care (Wales) Bill, as passed (PDF 388KB)

Llywydd’s statement in accordance with section 111A(3) of the Government of Wales Act 2006 (PDF 270KB)

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¬¬¬Stage 3 (29 November 2024 to 28 January 2025)

Following the completion of Stage 2 proceedings, Stage 3 commenced on 29 November 2024.

The Senedd agreed on 21 January 2025 under Standing Order 26.36, that the order for consideration for Stage 3 proceedings would be: sections 2-13; section 1; sections 14-22; Schedule 1; sections 24-25; Schedule 2; section 26; section 23; sections 27-30; Long title.

Stage 3 proceedings on the Health and Social Care (Wales) Bill took place on Tuesday 28 January 2025.

Notice of Amendments - 17 January 2025

Welsh Government: Purpose and effect table – 17 January 2025

Notice of Amendments – 21 January 2025

Marshalled List of Amendments (v2) – 22 January 2025

Revised Explanatory Memorandum – 22 January 2025

Grouping of Amendments – 23 January 2025

Health and Social Care (Wales) Bill as amended at Stage 3

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¬¬¬Stage 2, Committee consideration of amendments (23 October 2024 to 28 November 2024).

Stage 2 consideration took place in Committee on 28 November 2024.

On 13 November 2024, the Health and Social Care Committee agreed, under Standing Order 26.21, that the order of consideration for Stage 2 proceedings would be: sections 2-13; section 1; sections 14-22, Schedule 1, sections 24-25, Schedule 2, section 26, section 23, sections 27-30, Long Title

Notice of Amendments – 11 November 2024

Welsh Government: Purpose and effect table – 11 November 2024

Notice of Amendments – 18 November 2024

Welsh Government: Purpose and effect table – 18 November 2024

Notice of Amendments – 19 November 2024

Notice of Amendments – 20 November 2024

Notice of Amendments – 21 November 2024

Marshalled List of Amendments – 21 November 2024 (v2)

Grouping of Amendments – 21 November 2024

Written Statement by the Welsh Government: Eliminating profit from the care of children looked after - update on timescale and permitted models - 27 November 2024

Printing changes to the Bill as amended at Stage 2 -11 December 2024

Health and Social Care (Wales) Bill as amended at Stage 2 (Amendments to the Bill since the previous version are indicated by sidelining in the right margin.)

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¬¬¬Stage 1, Committee consideration of the general principles (20 May 2024 – 22 October 2024)

Written Statement by Welsh Government: Introduction of the Health and Social Care (Wales) Bill – 20 May 2024

Committee dates

The Health and Social Care Committee considered the Bill on the following dates:

Date and Agenda	Purpose of meeting	Transcript	Senedd.TV
23 May 2024	Consideration of Approach to Stage 1 Scrutiny (Private)	Private	Private
6 June 2024	Oral evidence session	Transcript	View meeting
12 June 2024	Oral evidence sessions	Transcript	View meeting
27 June 2024	Oral evidence sessions	Transcript	View meeting
10 July 2024	Stakeholder discussion (private)	Note	N/A
10 July 2024	Oral evidence sessions	Transcript	View meeting
17 July 2024	Oral evidence sessions	Transcript	View meeting
26 September 2024	Private discussion of report contents	Private	Private

The Health and Social Care Committee laid its report on 11 October 2024. The Committee received a response from the Welsh Government on 25 October 2024.

A debate took place in Plenary on 22 October 2024. The motion to agree the general principles of the Bill was agreed.

The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee considered the Bill on the following date:

Date and Agenda	Purpose of meeting	Transcript	Senedd.TV
17 June 2024	Oral evidence session	Transcript	View meeting

The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee laid its report on 11 October 2024. The Welsh Government responded to the report on 25 October 2024.

The Finance Committee considered the Bill on the following date: