It is a great pleasure and honour to stand here in the National Assembly and present the second secondary legislation. This, if you like, is my private member’s Bill. I should declare, as noted in the register of interests, that I have been a parent governor of a primary school and a secondary school since 1985. That came to an end in September of this year.

I am keen to present this motion in a clear and concise manner. Therefore, I will not take interventions while I present the motion. I will, however, address any points raised in summing up at the end of the debate. As the second Member to win the ballot, I have first hand experience of the ambiguities of our subordinate legislative powers. I am sure that Elin Jones can appreciate that. We targeted several areas within the education field, including the abolition of league tables. Unfortunately, that was not possible through subordinate legislation under part 7 of Standing Order No. 22. I am disappointed with this, as evidence has shown that these tables lead to social exclusion and damaging competition between schools. Plaid Cymru—The Party of Wales will call on the Minister to address this through her executive powers.

The proposal before us today is equally significant and, possibly, more timely in view of the current developments in careers education and advice. There is currently a duty on secondary schools to provide careers education to all pupils in years 9 to 11—that is, up to 16 years of age.

However, the statutory right to careers education ends there for sixth formers and for those who progress into further education. Under this proposal, the same duty would be applied to students aged 16 to 19 at further education institutions.

At the moment, a great deal of good practice exists within the further education sector despite the fact that there is no legislative duty upon the colleges to provide careers education. Many have adopted a healthy, proactive approach and have developed good, businesslike partnerships with the eight careers service companies in Wales. That was recognised in a report commissioned two years ago by the Welsh Office from the National Foundation for Educational Research. However, it remains that careers education is less developed in the FE sector than in schools. There have been misleading and damaging assumptions that students in further education need less guidance on career planning than school pupils, in view of the vocational nature of many of the courses offered at colleges. The annual report of the careers service in Wales last year stated that minimum service levels in most areas are set below the levels for sixth form support. As a result, the measure proposed in the motion would formalise the provision of careers education in colleges for those aged 16 to 19, underpinning the good practice that currently exists. It would also achieve continuity and progression for those moving from schools into FE institutions. I emphasise that this motion in no way seeks to interfere with existing partnerships between FE colleges and careers companies. We foresee that it would serve as a legislative basis and that these relationships could be consolidated and further strengthened.

Having outlined what the motion will achieve, there are two key questions that need to be addressed. First, what is the potential for the students? That is arguably the most important question. Second, in what way can this measure help secure education, training and skills that meet the future economic and employment needs of Wales? On the first question, one of the overriding aims of this motion is to provide a firmer basis for students to develop the appropriate skills and knowledge required to manage and plan their career development. The measure is a timely one. It ties in with current work by ACCAC, the Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Council for Wales, of drawing up a framework and guidance for careers education provision in schools and colleges. Careers education needs to be outcome driven. In other words, you will identify what you need to achieve for the student and provide a careers guidance that realises those outcomes in the best possible way. We agree with ACCAC that careers education needs to aim towards three targets. They are effective career planning, opportunity awareness and self-awareness. This measure will make an important contribution towards ensuring the structures and support required to meet these targets in the FE colleges. We consulted widely with colleges, careers companies and other interested parties in preparation for today. While being pleasantly surprised by the initiatives in place across Wales, it is clear from the responses that the current provision is departmentalised and fragmented. This motion will establish a more coherent and standardised framework for the provision of careers education in Wales. This is at a time when we are about to see the establishment of a new all-age information, advice and guidance service in Careers Wales.

On the second question, if we broaden the picture and turn to the potential economic benefits of this motion, the ultimate aim is to get people into jobs to help boost the economy by helping to create a better college-leaver for employers. It is no secret that we are underperforming economically in Wales. The national economic development strategy records the culture of underachievement in Wales. There is a crying need to address the skills shortages that are a barrier to employment for many people of all ages in Wales.

A key proposal in the employment skills strategy is the need to focus on all-age skills and preparatory training programmes. Careers education is the obvious means to start introducing people to such programmes. We must use careers education and guidance as a platform to promote innovation and entrepreneurship far more than we do at present. Increasingly, employers are recognising the value of such skills. Students must be made aware of the opportunities offered by nurturing those abilities.

On the amendments, I support Andrew Davies’s call to extend the duty to provide careers education programmes to school sixth forms. I would like to put on record that, when we considered this issue in July, I was given to understand that we could only introduce a single proposal of subordinate legislation under part 7 of Standing Order No. 22, and that it was a case of one or the other. I decided to apply the duty to colleges first, given that careers education is less developed than in school sixth forms. Nevertheless, it makes sense to introduce that measure at the same time, and we warmly welcome the proposal.

It makes perfect sense that the duty should apply to all post-16 students. That was the reasoning behind the amendment in my name calling for careers education to be made available to all full-time students, given the emphasis on life-long learning and supporting mature students. The further education sector reacted by saying that that would be more desirable than limiting it to 16 to 19 year-olds. The practicalities of implementing that amendment need further investigation and the Assembly is probably not in a position to make an informed decision based on the financial implications of such a measure. However, while withdrawing amendment 1 in my name, I call upon the Minister to consider the proposal and give an assurance that she will seek to extend the duty to all full-time students in further education.

Therefore, along with colleges, careers companies and students, I urge you to support the motion as a healthy step in the right direction. Please support this motion for secondary legislation.

Gobeithiaf y caf eich cefnogaeth.

I welcome Brian’s motion and I declare an interest as a member of the Institute of Careers Guidance. I was also formerly a director of Mid Glamorgan Careers Limited.

It is vital that 16 to 19 year-olds have full access to a careers education programme, because there are massive changes in the world of work in the twenty-first century. Because of the wholesale changes in the employment market, people will be expected to take a much greater role in planning their careers than has been the case in the past. Gone are the days of a job for life. We have work patterns that are characterised by short-term contracts, continual re-skilling, personal development and the need sometimes to change careers completely. The Institute of Careers Guidance is changing its name to the Institute of Career Guidance, which reflects—

I am receiving news that 1,300 redundancies in Panasonic have just been announced. As the Member for the Cynon Valley, what can the administration do to promote career guidance for those displaced people?

I will answer Pauline briefly. The same situation arose in Hitachi. The job situation is changing. That is why people need to be as fully equipped as possible in modern times to deal with this. I do not know whether that is applicable to this particular debate.

As I said, it is vital that our young people are equipped to cope with the ever-changing demands made upon them. There is a role here for the careers service. I welcome the fact that the careers service in Wales, which will become Careers Wales in April 2001, is well placed to provide professional guidance on the options available for our young people. They must be congratulated on their work. They are also in a good position because of the close links that the careers companies have had historically with employers. They work closely with local employers to keep themselves up-to-date with new friends and with other agencies. I endorse what Brian said about strengthening any partnerships that the careers services have with further education colleges or other institutions.

There is much more to be done. A recent survey by the National Foundation for Educational Research found that the careers service still fell some way behind the family, subject teachers and friends as providers of influential advice and information involved with career choices. In addition, Estyn, in its consultation with young people, felt that the service needs to improve if young people are to view it as the natural source of advice. I welcome the fact that Careers Wales is being established to provide a national, all-age advice structure. To my mind, that will include all students aged 16 to 19 for whom the benefit of relevant, timely advice will be crucial at that stage in their development.

The provision of a careers programme for students in this age group is an important tool in tackling demotivation that may manifest itself in students. Careers guidance and the careers dedication programme is not simply a one-off chat with an adviser as used to be the case. Careers advice should also be available to part-time students, full-time students and all students who want advice because the world is changing. I accept that the current provision of careers education in the further education sector is somewhat patchy. I am pleased that Brian has brought this to our attention today. However, with the introduction of Careers Wales and the new systems that we will put in place, we should have better advice.

Older students often have difficulty in making up their minds and their choices are often more confusing. They often need sophisticated careers advice to capture their imagination.

I endorse Brian’s motion today. We must seek to end the fragmentation of services for many of our students in the 16 to 19 age group. We must do this so that we can avoid the situation where many of our young people, for one reason or another, may slip through the net.

On behalf of the Welsh Conservative Party, I congratulate and thank Brian Hancock for bringing this to our attention. It is a worthwhile initiative and will gain cross-party support in the Assembly. Christine Chapman emphasised that the need for greater co-ordination between careers providers is obvious and clear. Careers guidance and services, particularly in our schools and further education colleges, is at best patchy. The careers service is often seen as the Cinderella service in the education system. However, it is an essential part of the education system in providing appropriate guidance and support for people who wish to either go on into further education establishments or into work-placed careers.

Sometimes, many young people go through the education system without having appropriate guidance and support. That still happens in schools and is non-existent in many or all further education colleges in Wales. I want to ask one particular point about how this service will be delivered. Will it be up to the particular college to offer a certain number of hours of careers guidance to students on a weekly basis or will it beup to individual students to seek careers guidance and support from appropriate individuals when he or she sees fit? We need to know how this will be delivered within the normal timetable of either a school or college because it will have budgetary and time implications for the schools or colleges concerned. We look forward to the details, as they become available, particularly in relation to those who return to further education colleges. Very often young people, perhaps in their early twenties, who have returned to secure qualifications, do not know who to turn to, who has the appropriate support and who can provide the guidance that they require toassist them in making career choices. For those who have been out of the education system for a number of years, it is daunting to return to college to secure qualifications and to seek appropriate guidance.

In terms of the FE sector, the business link between the FE sector and the outside world tends to be stronger than that found with the school sector. It is often the case that small and medium sized companies will be actively involved in providing education and training packages in the FE sector and providing support and work based placements. That tends to create an environment within which young people have a better understanding of the career choices that are available to them when they leave, more so than the school sector as the links between the traditional school model and the business community tend to be weaker.

In looking forward to the detail that will be provided on this, we must also examine how schools will enhance their links with the outside world and provide stronger links with the business community. This will allow for a greater understanding among young people as to what careers they could enter into once they leave that institution. We look forward to this being brought forward by the Minister for Education and Life-long Learning and to supporting the details as and when they arrive.

Replace ‘Assembly Secretary for Post-16 Education and Training’ with

‘Minister for Education and Life-long Learning’.

Insert ‘46(1) and’ before ‘46(3)’.

Insert new second clause:

To make provision, to secure that a programme of careers education is provided for all pupils aged 16-19 attending maintained schools (except special schools established in hospitals) and pupil referral units.

Add at the end of the motion:

In the case of institutions within the further education sector that objective is to be achieved by imposing a duty to provide such a programme on the governing bodies of such institutions and on the principals or other heads of those institutions.

In the case of the other educational establishments that objective is to be achieved in the case of schools by imposing such a duty on governing bodies and head teachers, and in the case of pupil referral units by imposing such a duty on local education authorities maintaining, and teachers in charge, of such units.

The Liberal Democrats welcome this motion as it calls for an original Wales-based legislation, unlike so much of our Assembly legislation which originates in London. Congratulations to Brian Hancock for bringing this forward. This will be the second piece of Welsh legislation. It follows the Liberal Democrat measure to extend the categories of homeless people who are entitled to receive immediate help. We find the motion acceptable because, as stated in the ETAG report, it needs to be implemented to extend the provision of careers help in schools. The Tories with their competitive tendering system for training caused the schools to miss out and further education colleges miss out too because schools kept a lot of the careers advice within their own institutions.

Many schools and further education institutions are already providing the sort of careers education set out in this motion. This motion gives it a statutory basis and formalises the provisions. We hope that the motion will raise institutions to the standard of the best, ensuring consistency of service to students. The only condition that we place on this is that there will be sufficient funding to implement the motion. Otherwise, we welcome this important interface to assist young people in their career.

Datganaf fuddiant fel aelod o Gyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy ac aelod o gorff llywodraethol Ysgol y Gogarth, ysgol anghenion arbennig yn Llandudno. Yr wyf yn llongyfarch Brian, fel y gwnaeth eraill, ar ei waith da, ei waith ymchwil ac am y modd y mae wedi cyfleu’r cynnig y prynhawn yma a’i osod yn ei gyd-destun. Croesawaf y cynnig. Hoffwn amlinellu rhai o’r ffyrdd y gwelaf y byddai myfyrwyr yn elwa o’r mesur pe bai’r Cynulliad yn datgan ei gefnogaeth ac, ar hyn o bryd, ymddengys yn debygol y bydd cefnogaeth.

Gall y cynnig hwn gyfrannu tuag at atal nifer o gyfleodd sydd yn cael eu colli. Mae economi Cymru wedi dioddef drwy ddiffyg ymwybyddiaeth ymhlith pobl ifanc o’r posibiliadau a’r opsiynau sydd o’u blaenau. Mae darpariaeth sefydlog a chyson o addysg gyrfaoedd yn gallu codi dyheadau a gobeithion ein pobl ifanc. Mae angen ysgogi pobl ifanc i feddwl yn gadarnhaol, i sylweddoli bod cyfleoedd yn agored iddynt ac i gynllunio eu gyrfaoedd mewn ffordd gadarnhaol.

Er mwyn hybu twf yr economi, mae angen annog ein pobl ifanc i berfformio i’w gwir botensial. Mae’r cynnig yn gam tuag at alluogi i hynny ddigwydd ac, yn yr ystyr hwnnw, mae’n gynnig o bwys.

Cyfeiriodd Mick Bates at safonau. Oes, mae lle i bryderu, a rhaid inni weithio’n galed i sicrhau bod y safonau o’r ansawdd gorau. Yr ydym eisoes wedi clywed sut y gallai’r cynnig helpu i safoni’r ddarpariaeth addysg gyrfaoedd o fewn y sector addysg bellach. Byddai’n sicrhau cysondeb a dilyniant i’r myfyrwyr.

Mae’n holl bwysig ein bod yn anelu at safonau ansawdd cyson a chyffredin o fewn addysg gyrfaoedd. Ar hyn o bryd, mae pedwar model yn gweithredu ar draws Cymru. Hoffem weld safon ansawdd genedlaethol ar gyfer Cymru gyfan, fel yr argymhellwyd yn nogfen y Grŵp Gweithredu Addysg a Hyfforddiant. Byddai hyn hefyd yn cyfrannu at system o ddarpariaeth fwy cydlynol a fyddai wedi ei ffurfioli’n effeithiol. Mae angen inni edrych yn ofalus ar safonau ansawdd, a sicrhau eu bod yn gyffredin ledled Cymru.

Mae amcanion y cynnig yn gorgyffwrdd ag amcanion eang y Cynulliad, sydd o bwys mawr i ni. Mae’n ceisio hybu cynhwysiant cymdeithasol drwy leihau’r nifer o bobl sydd yn gadael addysg a hyfforddiant, a hynny drwy addysg gyrfaoedd sydd yn sicrhau bod gan bobl sgiliau sydd yn cydweddu â’r hyn y mae cyflogwyr yn chwilio amdano. Mae dod â’r ddau beth hynny at ei gilydd yn holl bwysig.

Gall y cynnig hwn a’r ddeddfwriaeth hybu cyfleoedd cyfartal a thaclo’r ystrydebau sydd i’w cael yn ein cymdeithas trwy dynnu sylw at bosibiliadau i fenywod neu bobl ag anableddau. Mae gormod o ystrydebau yn bodoli o’n cwmpas. Mae’r elfen o gyfle cyfartal yn holl bwysig.

Mae’r dilyniant y mae’r Mesur yn ceisio ei sicrhau yn cyd-fynd â’r agenda dysgu gydol oes. Mae hynny’n un o themâu pwysig y Cynulliad ac yn un sydd ynghlwm wrth y cynnig hwn. Edrychaf ymlaen at weld y Cynulliad yn ein cefnogi y prynhawn yma.

I welcome Brian’s choice of area for a part 7 Order. Since Gareth referred to the importance of life-long learning, I am particularly pleased to be standing here in my new role as the Minister for both education and life-long learning. The role and importance of career issues is crucial when we look at the link between the two parts of my brief. It is important that we ensure that young people get good, impartial advice on options open to them. I know that the Assembly is wedded to this. Today, with Brian bringing this forward, we are taking our first step to turning this into home-grown legislation.

A planned programme of careers education helps young people develop the career management skills that are so important in a fast-changing economy. In particular, it helps them to take an informed and realistic view of the options available and plan effectively for the future. Brian has cogently explained the position of schools and further education. I am sure that, like me, many Members were surprised that the provision was so patchy. That is why I welcome the fact that we are not only discussing this today but are talking about how we address that patchiness, both in terms of the sectors and in terms of the people who are entitled to receive this new impartial careers advice. Therefore, it is important that we do not simply look at full-time students. I am grateful to Brian for withdrawing this amendment, because as Gareth Jones said, we want to ensure that we provide this advice to everyone. We want to make the opportunities available to everyone whether they are full or part-time students, returning to work, or whether they fall into another category that we have not yet thought about in terms of how the Order will progress. We want to ensure that this advice is available to all.

I particularly welcome the fact that this comes out of the education and training action plan for Wales’s proposal. That proposed—as many people in this Chamber have heard time and time again—an integrated post-16 education and training system, one in which our individual communities and employers could flourish and prosper and where people would enjoy a high standard of education and training throughout their lives. ETAP recognised that if young people are to develop the skills and knowledge needed to manage their career developments, they must have access to an appropriate service. Therefore, the plan made a specific recommendation on this matter in terms of the provision of careers education for all pupils and students aged 16 to 19 in maintained secondary schools and further education institutions, which should be mandatory in Wales. This was supported by the Committee. In February this year, the Assembly as a whole also supported it. I suggest that this is consensual politics in action. This is where we jointly identify the needs of people in Wales and use the opportunity to meet those needs.

Making the provision of careers education mandatory for all 16 to 19 year-olds, whether in FE colleges or schools will oblige the governing bodies, principals, and heads of those institutions to implement suitable policies to support such a service. We will need to ensure that the service provided is monitored and evaluated for its effectiveness, because more young people are deferring decisions on career options until 18 years of age. That is why we need to have this programme available for those between the ages of 16 and 19.

Although I mentioned home grown legislation, it is also important to remind Members that the introduction of Careers Wales in April 2001—which is also supported by the whole Assembly—relates to our effective lobby in Whitehall and Westminster to ensure that that was incorporated in the Learning and Skills Act that achieved its Royal Assent in July and extended the powers of careers services in Wales. This is an example of something that we can bring forward in the full knowledge that we have been able to put our case effectively in Westminster about how we look forward at issues of career services guidance in Wales.

The new Careers Wales will expand the current role of the careers service companies. They will continue to provide the existing draft of support to schools and colleges, but they will also have responsibility for the guidance-related elements of education and business links, something that Gareth identified in his speech and is clearly important. The new Careers Wales companies will therefore be well placed to help both schools and colleges to integrate activities such as work experience within an ongoing programme of careers and work-related education to help all young people plan for the future.

ACCAC has already published guidance on the provision of careers education in providing for choice. In addition, it is pulling together further guidance on suitable learning outcomes for 14 to 19 year-olds resulting from careers education. As the new Minister, I will want to keep a close eye on that.

The Careers Wales budgets for the next three years, as outlined in the draft budget settlement that Edwina launched last week, shows that we are investing £27.8 million from next year and between £31.8 million and £33.8 million for the future. I hope that that is taken into account, in terms of Mick’s point about funding, because it is important that we all sign up to the importance of this issue. The provision for the Careers Service to provide specialist support to secondary schools and FE institutions will, therefore, be found within that budget.

We need to build on Brian’s notion to ensure a comprehensive careers education policy for all our young people. That is why I am so grateful that he accepted our amendment. The points that Jonathan raised were right in terms of the issues that we need to consider under the Order and associated guidance. However, at this stage, we ask the Assembly to endorse this motion and then ask me to bring further motions before the Assembly. Today’s debate has shown that we have a common interest in looking after the careers guidance for all young people in Wales. We must tie it into the skills agenda of employers, so that we know what skills they want and we must look at how we can formulate our education and training agenda to achieve that. I thank Brian Hancock for proposing this motion and I ask you all to support the Government’s amendment to which Brian has agreed in taking this motion forward. I look forward to being in front of you again in three months time with an Order.

Thank you everyone for your support. I did not know that I was that popular. [Interruption.]

Yes, it is an important day because we are trying to make Welsh legislation here in Wales for the people of Wales. It is a great step forward. I thank everyone for their support.

The role of career planning is important, because we do not want people doing nothing because they were given the wrong advice. We want them to be active members of the community developing, promoting and contributing to the economy.

The careers service is good, but it needs developing and strengthening. We have heard about some variation in practice, but there is still good practice. There are four models being worked on at the moment. Perhaps if we were to look at the models and suggest a Welsh model we could strengthen and improve it further.

I agree that part-time and mature students, in fact all students, need careers advice and guidance and, perhaps, education. There may be a timetable problem, particularly for part-time students, but I am sure that by getting our heads down and putting in effort we can sort that out.

Business links are important. Over the years, FE colleges have developed links with local businesses or even large businesses. As a result, some careers advice and guidance has been departmentalised. By having good business links you get good careers advice. We need to build on that and emphasise that further.

This motion appeals to all people in education. We need to be forward looking. Thank you for your support and I hope that you will vote for the motion.

the Assembly notes that a programme of secondary legislation will be submitted for National Assembly approval over the next 12 months to give practical effect to the range of new powers provided in the Act.

It is important that we debate the introduction of the Care Standards Act 2000 in Wales and its many provisions. Social care is one of the most important service areas for which the National Assembly is responsible. A whole spectrum of social services helps to support some of the most vulnerable people in our country to live as independently and safely as possible. Social care has been seen as the poor relation for too long. Social care services are vital for some of the most vulnerable people in our society. We must ensure that they can provide the people of Wales with the best possible care. Dedicated and caring providers and their staff are committed to doing that every day. Standards of care are often good and there are many examples of excellent practice across Wales in all sectors. However, sometimes, accepted standards are not delivered. You know that reports and inquiries have highlighted the weaknesses and failings of the safeguards that aim to protect vulnerable people, particularly children. The most recent and devastating example is the Waterhouse report, which the Assembly has already considered in some depth.

At the heart of the Care Standards Act lies the concern to drive up standards of care and improve protection not only for the thousands of people who rely on social services, but for children in day care settings and with childminders, as well as patients who use private, acute health services. The public should know that staff who provide crucial services are competent and well trained, that clear quality standards will be set and enforced, and that those in need of most protection are properly safeguarded. The Act will mean that real progress can be made in each of these areas. The fundamental reforms that the Act sets in place are long overdue. The current system fails to provide adequate protection from abuse characterised by lack of consistency, independence and coverage. There is not a professional regulatory body of any kind dedicated to overseeing standards and practice in the social care workforce. The provisions in the Care Standards Act, together with secondary legislation that the Assembly will be asked to approve, will put right these deficiencies. It will deliver modern, comprehensive and effective regulatory arrangements for social care and non-NHS health care in Wales.

The involvement of the Assembly’s Health and Social Services Committee from last July in developing the policy for Wales on regulatory form has been crucial. It resulted in broad consensus on the tailoring of requirements for primary legislation impacting on Wales. Delivering distinctive Welsh provisions in the Act from early Assembly policy deliberations is a hallmark of the Act.

You said earlier that the general standard in Wales was good, but that the standards need to be raised. Nobody would dispute that. However, are you not aware that proprietors of residential and nursing homes throughout Wales are desperately worried that the provisions in the Act to change the sizes of rooms, doorways and so on, when the buildings that they are using—often perhaps not having more than 20 patients—are not conducive to such structural changes? If these provisions are rigidly applied, it means that a considerable number of these care homes, residential and nursing, will have to close down. That could be the consequence of rigid application of what are otherwise perfectly good and sensible measures.

I will refer to that issue in my speech and I am sure that it will be raised in the discussion as well.

The Care Standards Act will raise the standards of care provided for those who use the care system. The aim is that whatever care service is delivered, people can be assured that the care will be safe, will meet proper quality standards and will be delivered by skilled and competent staff.

One of the Assembly’s most important priorities, now given statutory force by the Act, has been the establishment of an independent children’s commissioner for Wales. The Health and Social Services Committee, supported by the Pre-16 Education Committee, has been vital in the development of the Assembly’s policy for this office, together with all the organisations who contributed to the consultation process.

An initial Commencement Order to establish the office and to progress necessary practical arrangements has been introduced and is due to come into force on 13 November. Notification has been given of regulations governing the appointment arrangements and it is anticipated that they will come into force before Christmas, to enable an appointment to be formally made as soon as possible.

The recruitment and selection process has begun with the setting up of the Assembly appointment advisory committee, which is, again, a cross-party committee. The office has been advertised. I hope that you have seen it in the press. The deadline for applications is 6 November.

Further secondary legislation is being worked up to commence and inform the commissioner’s core functions under the Act, which we expect to bring forward in the spring. The Assembly’s policy, which is endorsed by all political parties, is to establish a commissioner with wide-ranging scope, covering all children in Wales, whose powers extend across different sectors. I note that two amendments have been tabled on this issue. These are entirely consistent with the Assembly’s policy in this matter and I am content to accept them. We are determined to secure a legislative opportunity to widen the commissioner’s statutory powers as soon as possible. The First Minister has written to the Secretary of State for Wales on this issue and discussions are ongoing.

It is important to note that in social care, staff are our most important asset. The Act gives Wales important new opportunities to raise standards in its social care workforce. The Act establishes a new Assembly sponsored public body called the Care Council for Wales/Cyngor Gofal Cymru. It will have two key tasks, to regulate the social care workforce in Wales and to improve levels of training and qualifications where necessary. It will start work on 1 October 2001. The council’s first job will be to set the standards for social care. There will be a code of practice and conduct for social care workers. There will also be a code of practice for employers, which will require them to have effective complaints and disciplinary procedures to ensure that if people are found to be unsuitable, they are removed and do not reappear elsewhere in another home or in another part of the country.

The council will also be responsible for registering individual workers. This will be an important new lever in improving quality and raising public confidence. In Wales, it will be for the National Assembly to determine how this opportunity is used. With a diverse and dedicated social care workforce of at least 60,000, most of whom have no qualifications, there will have to be a phasing-in of registration.

My paper to the Health and Social Services Committee last month proposed that registration of the workforce would begin in 2002, and would be completed over four or five years. In most cases, we do not intend to wait until all these staff are qualified before they are registered. Whether or not applicants are qualified, the Care Council will be under a duty to refuse entry to the register to those who are unsuitable and it will have powers to suspend or remove from the register in cases of misconduct, bad practice, negligence or abuse.

We are determined that people who use social care services in Wales should be able to rely on a workforce that is properly trained, appropriately qualified and effectively regulated. The present levels of training and qualifications in the social care workforce are low. We will use the National Assembly’s new powers in the Act to improve this situation.

The Act also establishes the Care Standards Inspectorate, which will regulate the organisations providing care services. It will be a new Assembly division from April 2002. It will regulate social care and non-NHS acute health services.

As the Royal Commission on long-term care, chaired by Sir Stewart Sutherland recommended, the Care Standards Inspectorate for Wales will report to the public on the provision of long-term care and have a duty under section 8 of the Act to encourage higher quality in that sector. It will be responsible for regulating the full range of social care services. The inspectorate will regulate thousands of care homes in Wales, accommodating around 15,000 vulnerable people. That will include, for the first time, care homes run by local authorities, which have until now been exempt. The Care Standards Inspectorate will provide a single all-Wales regulation system and will remove the inconsistency and inefficiencies of the current system. Instead of the 27 different authorities currently responsible for regulating care homes, there will be one national body, providing a much more coherent and consistent service, to the benefit of care home owners and their residents.

For the first time, care provided to people in their own homes will be subject to statutory regulation. The Act also breaks new ground by providing that private and voluntary hospitals will, for the first time ever in this country, be subject to a tough, proper and effective system of regulation.

I now turn to children’s homes. We are all too aware of the appalling cases where children have been abused by the very people who are supposed to care for them. The new inspectorate will have significant responsibilities for safeguarding children. All types of children’s homes will be regulated and subjected to rigorous inspections, including, for the first time, private children’s homes for fewer than four children. Regulations to be submitted to the Assembly for approval under the Act will remove the exemption for small children’s homes.

I now turn to early-years care and childminding. On regulation of day care for children under eight and childminding, the Health and Social Services Committee and Pre-16 Education Committee agreed last October that the Assembly will regulate welfare and care issues. That will be in partnership with Estyn, who will continue to inspect educational aspects of early- years education in Wales. There will be a formal protocol setting out the partnership arrangements between the Care Standards Inspectorate and Estyn.

The Act also introduces, for the first time, regulatory regimes for fostering agencies, for residential family centres and for the work of voluntary adoption agencies. The Act gives the National Assembly the powers to set national minimum standards in Wales to secure greater consistency in the regulation of services. Over the next 18 months, we will need to develop about 15 sets of standards covering services from homes for older people and independent hospitals to adoption and childminding for our youngest children. In addition, for the first time, the law will enable these standards to be enforced even-handedly in both the public and independent sectors. That will be an important responsibility. It is a major new opportunity for the Assembly to be clear about what it expects for those vulnerable children and adults who live in homes and use other care services. I would like to think that in approaching that task there will be one simple test: what standards would we expect for our elderly parents, our own young children, or our relatives who have disabilities?

The standards must have regard to what is sensible, what can be achieved and what can be afforded. We will need to strike the right balance between promoting quality of care for service users, and at the same time giving providers a realistic opportunity to make improvements. We may conclude, for instance, that older people may not wish to share their bedroom with a total stranger. However, we will need to bear in mind that—with the best will in the world—reducing the numbers of shared rooms in a home will take time and money. We will need to be particularly sensitive to the situation in smaller homes, and be careful not to drive all our older people into larger establishments because of the way we set our standards.

I know that some Members are aware of a statement on 21 July by the Minister of State for Health, John Hutton, announcing decisions on some of the standards in England. That statement dealt with room and door sizes, and just a handful of other physical standards. That announcement for England does not apply to Wales and does not affect the situation in Wales. We have not made a similar announcement in Wales. We believe that the national minimum standards need to deal, as a whole, with everything that affects the quality of life for service users, not just the physical environment in which they live. It is important that we work through the standards group that we have established with representatives of proprietors. We intend to stick to this plan to bring forward a complete set of standards for consideration around the turn of the year. The final standards must be as a result of our discussion.

Today I met the independent sector providers. I heard their concerns and I understand that this is a time of uncertainty for them. I am looking closely at the impact of any new standards, especially on smaller homes and in rural areas where there may be few alternatives. Care Forum Wales has asked that we work with the care industry to determine sensible arrangements through consultation. That is exactly what we propose to do. The first meeting of the external reference group on national standards will be held in the next few weeks and the group will help us to take forward our commitment to work closely with the sector—

I have finished. Thank you.

Datganaf fuddiant fel arfer fel meddyg a chynghorydd sir. Diolchaf i Jane am ei chyfraniad ac am dderbyn y gwelliannau. Yn naturiol, croesawn y Ddeddf Safonau Gofal 2000, yn enwedig yr hyblygrwydd i ni yng Nghymru ddeddfu, o dan ddeddfwriaeth eilaidd, i addasu penderfyniadau cynradd i ofynion Cymru. Mae hynny’n bwysig er mwyn i ni gael y penderfyniadau gorau i Gymru, i gael comisiynydd plant â phwerau llawn i ofalu am holl blant Cymru—bydd Helen Mary yn siarad am hynny yn y man—a Chyngor Gofal i Gymru a fydd yn hyrwyddo delwedd a safonau gweithwyr cymdeithasol ein gwlad. Mae hefyd yn bwysig cael y gallu i addasu penderfyniadau ynglŷn â chartrefi preswyl a chartrefi nyrsio, gyda phwyslais ar ansawdd y gofal. Mae Rod wedi gadael, ond dyna oedd ei bwynt ef hefyd.

Wedi inni gytuno ei bod yn bwysig gwella ansawdd y gofal, rhaid ystyried safonau, fel y crybwyllodd Jane, ynglŷn â maint ystafelloedd mewn cartrefi preswyl a faint ohonynt sydd yn ystafelloedd sengl neu ddwbl. Rhaid inni sicrhau bod ein safonau yn y maes hwn yn addas i ofynion cartrefi Cymru, gan gofio’r gofynion mewn perthynas â’r iaith Gymraeg, ein cymunedau a’r nifer o gartrefi bach sydd gennym yng Nghymru. Mae angen strategaeth synhwyrol o ganlyniad i ymgynghori â’r sawl sydd yn rhedeg ein cartrefi preswyl.

Mae adroddiad y Comisiwn Brenhinol ar ofal tymor hir am yr henoed hefyd yn bwysig wrth drafod safonau gofal mewn cartrefi preswyl. Yn ôl y Comisiwn Brenhinol ar ofal tymor hir, dylai’r Llywodraeth yng Nghymru fod yn achub ar y cyfle i sefydlu canllawiau asesu cenedlaethol ar gyfer gofal personol. Dylid asesu gofal personol a sicrhau ei fod o’r un safon â gofal nyrsio. Byddai canllawiau asesu cenedlaethol o’r fath yn sicrhau bod gan unigolion yr hawl i gael yr un defnydd o’r un gofal lle bynnag y maent yn byw. Mae’n bwysig ein bod yn cofio argymhellion y Comisiwn Brenhinol ar ofal tymor hir am yr henoed.

I gloi, mae Plaid Cymru’n croesawu’r Mesur hwn a fydd yn rheoli gofal ar draws y sectorau i gyd, fel y dywedodd Jane. Bydd yn rheoli gofal ac yn gwella safonau gofal. Galwn, felly, ar Lywodraeth Cymru i sicrhau bod y rhannau o’r Ddeddf sydd angen eu haddasu ar gyfer dibenion unigryw Cymru yn cael eu haddasu.

I welcome the measures that the Care Standards Act will introduce. I remember soberly that the last Tory Government was of a mind to consider deregulation. I have said that before in this Chamber and I make no apologies for repeating it. There was a move to deregulate play schemes, which was shelved after the dreadful events at Dunblane. I am sure that none of us would like to even consider deregulating any services to children, whether they are short-term play schemes or whatever.

I would like to concentrate on two issues. I want to mention the statutory guidance on local authority charging the home care services. If there has to be charging, I welcome this. However, will this embrace guidance on social security benefits? I am concerned that there are no guidelines, for example, for the means testing of attendance allowances, which, of course, is a non means-testable benefit. If we are to issue guidelines, they must include guidance on social security benefits.

I will ask some questions from the perspective of local government. Given the detailed secondary legislation required—I understand that about 40 Orders are involved—is the timescale of April 2002 a realistic one? What is the timetable for developing the minimum national standard for services? What will happen to staff currently in regulatory posts who do not wish to transfer to the Care Standards Inspectorate in Wales—will they make themselves redundant? What obligations will the employing authorities have towards them? What additional resources will be made available to local authority training departments to meet the major implications for workforce skill development and training? How will the cost of this for the independent sector also be met? How will the relationship between the new regulatory body and local authority complaints and local authority commissioning units be defined? I know that Jane will seek to answer these questions, which relate to important issues, in due course.

The Welsh Conservative Party welcomes the Care Standards Act 2000. The aspiration to drive up the standards of social care to the highest available is an excellent public policy, which we support completely. Appropriate standards that are enforceable by public agencies are necessary, and in no way would we support a policy that would move backwards from that commitment.

I will focus my remarks on the independent care sector because Dai Lloyd has already talked about the children’s commissioner and I believe that Helen Mary Jones will also do that later. We support the amendments. I have commented on the children’s commissioner in the past and I will not repeat them now. The independent care sector is sometimes overlooked, or at least omitted from our discussions. It is appropriate for us to reflect on how vital that sector is. People often think that it is part of the private sector, which is true of some of the provision. However, a lot of the care is provided by voluntary organisations, not for profit organisations and organisations that offer neighbourhood services accustomed and centred on the needs of a particular community. It is important that this sector is maintained and developed. It currently provides 25,000 residential places, which is a huge amount of the capacity available in Wales. If we do anything to endanger a significant number of those places, we will have a crisis in the provision of community care. This sector is one of the largest employers in Wales, with approximately 50,000 employees. It is made up of a number of small employers that, collectively, employ a large number of people. However, it is sometimes difficult to hear its collective voice because it is so fragmented.

I have been encouraged by some earlier references in this debate, especially by the Minister’s remarks. There is a danger that higher standards can undermine this sector by unmet costs. It is one thing to call for higher standards, but it is another thing to commit public resources to ensure that they are met. Even in the private and independent sector, about 75 per cent of people’s places are paid for by the public purse, which is appropriate. We must ensure that the fees are realistic and that they reflect the increase in standards that we demand. There is no question that we are all committed to higher standards, but we cannot leave fees at a stagnated level and expect that, somehow, by magnificent efficiency savings, the sector will be transformed. Higher standards mean higher costs, which must be met. If we are not meeting those costs we must be honest enough to say that the budget is not increasing enough to take care of those costs and that we expect them to be met some other way. I do not think that there is another way. However, we owe it to the providers of independent care to be honest with them.

One thing that this sector is calling for is a national assessment tool. Currently, the flat rate fees do not necessarily reflect individual need, and if we have better assessment and a better accounting for individual need, that needs to be reflected in the cost of that care. A national assessment tool would be a good way of meeting that requirement. The sector has called for it and it is in discussion with the Minister. I would appreciate a response on that.

Remarks have also been made about the physical requirements that are likely to be increasingly driven up by the regulations that will come before us. No matter how long the programme takes to roll out—it may be over five years—someone who has already developed and bought a care home will want to sell that on at some point, when they retire, or they will want to improve on the capacity that they have. We must distinguish between those homes that already exist and new build. It is one thing in new build to have the highest possible standards—we would all support that—but we must remember that many people have already made an investment, say 20 years ago, in their particular home. When we talk about room size, many homes in residential neighbourhoods may be in older type buildings; they are not necessarily easy to transform overnight to meet new regulations on room size. The number of double rooms is crucial. While nobody would presumably want to be put in a room with a stranger, others develop deep companionship with the people with whom they share and are happy in their double rooms.

Finally, I ask the Minister to improve on the consultation with the independent sector, at local level and at Assembly level. We must ensure that this sector is involved in strategic planning, and they must be advised on what sort of level of commissioning they can expect from the public sector and its agencies.

On behalf of the Liberal Democrats, I welcome the introduction of this Act, which will do a great deal to improve standards across the board in all areas of social care. I especially welcome the Act as it includes the amendment that will create in law the post of children’s commissioner, and welcome it as a first step to establishing the Assembly’s vision for that post. We welcome early action on improving standards registration, inspection and training of the care industry. I will focus briefly on a few of the Liberal Democrats group’s concerns. We may be in danger of focusing a little too strongly on physical standards, rather than on the overall quality of life and quality of service that these care homes, nursing homes, and other settings provide. Focusing on the number of electrical sockets or the width of a doorway is not necessarily the best way of ensuring quality in many of these settings.

In our deliberation of any regulations or guidance or secondary legislation, we need to be aware of these issues. In seeking to improve standards for the people of Wales we could inadvertently remove a great deal of choice. Closure of a small rural home because of the inability to meet some arbitrary physical standard could mean an individual, for instance, being forced to move many miles away from their village to a large and unfamiliar setting. I echo many of David Melding’s comments about the independent sector—at private and voluntary organisations—providing care, often, as he said, local care. We do not want to undermine that provision. Often these days we, see in an attempt to drive up standards, a drive towards the centralisation of services and the belief that big is always better. I do not believe that that is always the case. In rural areas, the independent sector is a vital provider of care provision. We could inadvertently remove that choice for individuals by rigidly, as Mr Richards said, applying strict and arbitrary standards.

Do you agree, Kirsty, that the independent sector in rural areas not only upholds these standards, but also provides much needed employment in this area, and that it must be recognised as one of the leading providers of employment in these areas?

As David mentioned, the independent sector and the whole care industry is a major employer throughout Wales. That brings me to my second concern, which is the ability to recruit care workers. In some areas, there are already problems in recruiting the quality of staff that homes and care institutions need. I welcome the move towards staff training and perhaps even giving a new status to this profession. These are important people and because they do not have medical training it does not mean that they are not providing an important service. However, we need to be realistic about how quickly we can implement these training standards and the effect this will have on recruitment opportunities.

Add at the end of the motion

The Assembly calls on the First Minister to make representations to the Secretary of State for Wales so that in the next Queen’s Speech there is a free standing bill providing the Children’s Commissioner for Wales with full statutory powers in line with the policy of the National Assembly.

I address amendment 2 in my name, and I will say a little more in support of Dai Lloyd’s amendment 1. The plans for the establishment of a children’s commissioner for Wales are the fruit of many months of hard work by the Health and Social Services Committee and the Pre-16 Education Committee; we have also had the full co-operation of Ministers. Most importantly, they are the fruit of wide consultation particularly with children and young people. The Assembly has backed wholeheartedly a role for the commissioner in investigating all matters of concern to the children of Wales, not only those in care and those who are vulnerable. I welcome that Jane Hutt has accepted our amendments to the motion, and I am also grateful to David Melding for the Welsh Conservative group’s report.

We must make clear that it is this Assembly, on behalf of the children of Wales, that is establishing the children’s commissioner. The current devolution settlement makes it necessary for the Government of Wales to seek Westminster time to endow the commissioner with statutory powers. However, it is not the Care Standards Act 2000 that establishes the commissioner. The Act simply gives that commissioner initial statutory powers. I am not talking about legal niceties, though we cannot possibly ignore them. I am talking about perception and, importantly, about ownership and responsibility. This motion, as it was tabled by the Government of Wales, raised real concerns, for example, from the voluntary organisations working with and for children. I received several calls asking me whether I thought that this was a move on behalf of the Government of Wales to somehow ditch its commitment to seek full statutory powers for the commissioner for all areas affecting children’s lives. By accepting our amendments today, Jane Hutt has provided them with some reassurance. However, I ask her to account this afternoon for how this motion came to be submitted as it was with no reference to the wider remit of the children’s commissioner. It has fed a perception, which I am afraid is there, that there is some reluctance somewhere to see the fullest powers delivered.

That brings me to amendment 2. Children’s organisations tell me that they are hearing rumours—and we all know that perception is important in politics and that rumours can sometimes influence perceptions—that the Westminster Cabinet are reluctant to grant a free standing bill for our children’s commissioner and are talking in terms of a further hotchpotch of amendments for various Bills at various times. The name of the Welsh Office Minister, David Hanson, has been mentioned as supporting this approach. I urge Jane Hutt, if she can this afternoon, to clearly disassociate herself from this approach, as she has done already by implication in accepting our amendments. I further ask her to report more fully in her response to this debate on the current state of negotiations between the Government of Wales and the UK Cabinet about this matter. On what level are these negotiations being undertaken, how are they progressing, and are we likely to get a freestanding Bill in this Queen’s Speech? The Assembly needs to know this and, more importantly, so do the children of Wales and those who speak for them. I suggest that an exchange of letters at this point is not quite enough.

From our point of view as the opposition party, this situation shows the mess that the current devolution settlement is in. The Assembly, with all-party support, has a clear vision of a powerful commissioner, a voice for all the children in Wales. Yet, the Government of Wales must go cap in hand to other Ministers in another place who may or may not allow a few hours to make this vision a reality. This is not good enough. However, we must live with it for now. The opposition will continue to co-operate fully with the Government of Wales on this for the sake of the children of Wales. We trust that the Government of Wales will do all in its power to persuade the Westminster Government to give our commissioner all the powers that she or he will need.

The Care Standards Act 2000 is designed to improve the lives of people in care. Nobody would disagree with that intention. The most important factor in improving care is to improve the quality of the staff. The staff must be properly trained, must receive the support that they need and must be given the status that they deserve. More than 25,000 people work in social service departments in Wales but in 1997, 95 per cent of social workers were professionally qualified, only 17 per cent of staff in children’s homes had appropriate qualifications, only 7 per cent of residential care staff working with adults and only 8 per cent of day care staff were qualified. This lack of training is something the Act must be used to address as a matter of urgency. There must be criteria for admission to training programmes as well as required outcomes and examinations for all such programmes. It is important to involve social care agencies and employers in the management of these programmes that must be designed to fit the purpose of the job.

Various events have led to the general public having a negative image of social workers. We can look at Northern Ireland’s development of a promotional campaign to raise the profile of social work as a career choice and to stem the falling number of applicants to social work programmes in that region. Using Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety funding, they are attempting there to determine the factors which motivate and demotivate potential social work candidates and to increase the public understanding of the considerable contribution social workers make. There is a chronic shortage of social workers, especially those working with children. This is not surprising bearing in mind the stress which is often involved in that job. Many qualified social workers are leaving the profession, looking to other areas where conditions are better, such as the probation service. Public sector pay has not increased in line with the private sector. We see the haemorrhage of highly qualified staff out of the service.

Social workers too must have regular training as well as supervision and support to ensure that they do not burn out. The status of social care staff must be increased and their registration is fundamental. The Care Standards Act must be used to deal effectively with those unfit to practice on the grounds of misconduct, bad practice, negligence or abuse. Those who use social services in Wales should be able to have the confidence that they are being looked after by staff who are properly trained, have gained adequate qualifications and are effectively regulated. The most improving factor for improving care in all establishments, and in the care service in general, is to ensure that the staff are trained to do a good job, supported to continue to work effectively and given the status commensurate with their level of responsibility so that the job will be attractive to more people.

The debate on the Care Standards Act is complex and large scale and will continue when we consider the regulations. I thank all Members for their helpful contributions. Picking up some of Dai, David and Kirsty’s points about giving assurances that we are looking for Welsh solutions to Welsh needs, this is not about Welsh problems but about Welsh needs. That is why I met with the independent sector today to discuss concerns. I assure David that this is the beginning of a dialogue. I congratulated the independent sector for accessing Assembly Members. We have a good understanding of the sector’s needs. The task group that we have set up will involve those representatives of the independent sector—over 1,000 homes in Wales. We want to keep our Welsh homes in Wales and not have them threatened by the difficulties that they might perceive coming through. They welcomed the national standards and consistency that will come through the Care Standards Inspectorate for Wales.

I want to point out to Kirsty and David that only a handful of standards deal with the physical environment. We must ensure, as I said in my opening remarks, that it is about the care that is given and the way that it is given. It is also about the support that we give to the social care workforce, which is the point that Geraint made so powerfully. We must ensure that we improve communication and consultation with staff and with proprietors in the independent sector.

Moving on to some of Gwenda’s points, the social security means-tested benefits are not a devolved function. Those are issues that the UK Government will consider. However, I wanted to take on board your issue about staff in local authorities. They will have the opportunity to transfer to the Assembly and to continue to undertake this work in relation to the inspectorate. These people have the qualifications, skills and expertise. There are currently 140 inspectors and around 50 administrative staff involved in inspection units and in under-eights regulation. We will need additional staff to deal with the new areas that we are regulating, such as domiciliary care and small homes. We are already having staff conferences to consider issues and needs and we are in consultation with trade unions. This will be about the Assembly employing its own workforce of inspectors and using experienced inspection staff. Those who are working in this field will be encouraged to transfer to the National Assembly. There will be protection under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations. We will work with them on these issues.

I want to pick up on the points that Geraint and others made about the social care workforce. It has not had the status or recognition that it deserves. There are dedicated people working in difficult jobs and circumstances throughout Wales. We need to improve the status of the 60,000 workforce.

It is important—and I am glad that the Minister for Education and Life-long Learning has just entered the Chamber—because we must recognise that the social care workforce is also part of the growing Welsh social economy. The role of CETW will be vital in helping the independent and social care sectors to have access to additional training. I was pleased to hand out certificates in a local, independent firm in my constituency recently. I am sure that many other Members are in that position. We must ensure that we work with the independent sector in supporting their attempts and aspirations to improve the training opportunities for the social care workforce.

Gwenda and David mentioned issues concerning the relationship between the new inspectorate and local authority commissioning units. It is not yet clear how those relationships will work. We discussed this earlier today in my meeting with the representatives from the independent sector. We know that there is an issue about income and charging. In terms of charging, we will have statutory guidance on the charging regimes for domiciliary services. However, in relation to residential and nursing care, we will have to look at the whole interface, particularly in relation to the long-term care of the elderly. We must look at the results of the Royal Commission on the long-term care of the elderly. It is important to have the assessment tools to help in this.

I hope, Helen Mary, that you understand that there was no question of even thinking that I would not accept your amendment 2. I welcomed it, because you know my determination to get these extra powers. I am disappointed that people may have been worried that this amendment was some kind of indication to the contrary.

The Care Standards Act is a huge debate and the children’s commissioner is an important part of it. However, we are looking at the whole area of social care, the Care Standards Act and the Care Council for Wales. There are so many vital parts. I assure you that it is not just about writing letters; it is about making representations. We know that there are rumour machines—perhaps you are closer to them than I, Helen Mary. However, I am confident that we have done everything, as has the First Minster, to secure those wider statutory powers.

I want to make clear that I was never in doubt about your position, Jane, but the wording of the motion as it stood gave rise to concern. Perhaps, when we mention it again, we should look at that.

The other matter that I would like to raise again is whether you are able to dissociate yourself from the idea of a whole range of other amendments to other Westminster Bills as opposed to a freestanding Bill for our children’s commissioner. I realise that it may be difficult for you to do so in the middle of negotiations. However, there is a strong feeling that if we must amend every piece of Westminster legislation that is concerned with children, then our commissioner will have to wait many years until she or he has their full powers.

I think that you are tuned into a different kind of rumour machine than I am. As far as I am concerned it is a Bill to extend the children’s commissioner’s powers. We must leave it at that, except to say that we have an all-party appointments advisory committee, of which Helen Mary is a member, as are David and Kirsty. We meet again in a couple of weeks, with Lorraine Barrett from the former Pre-16 Education Committee. We are doing the work. You saw the advertisements which said that we in Wales are leading the way in the UK with our children’s commissioner. The advertisement already anticipates in writing the extension of the commissioner’s powers, as does the accompanying documentation in the post. This is going to be a real demonstration of devolution at work. We will have our children’s commissioner, and we anticipate those wider powers. I hope that the assurance that I give you today will gain the confidence of the whole Assembly, and the children and young people of Wales, as well as all other vulnerable people. This concerns the Care Standards Bill, where we are using one part of the statutory powers for a children’s commissioner. Let us not forget that that was the first recommendation of the Waterhouse Report. We are honouring that for the children and young people who, unfortunately, experienced abuse in Wales.

Datganaf fuddiant fel aelod o gyngor Rhondda Cynon Taf ac fel fferyllydd.

I declare an interest as Chair of Rhondda Cynon Taff council.

Datganaf fuddiant fel aelod o Gyngor Sir Conwy.

I declare an interest as a member of the City and County of Swansea.

I declare an interest as a member of Newport County Borough Council.