Letters Patent for the National Health Service Finance (Wales) Act 2014, The Control of Horses (Wales) Act 2014 and Further and Higher Education (Governance and Information) (Wales) Act 2014 – signed with Her Majesty’s own hand signifying Her Assent
New Welsh laws to change the way the NHS is financed, tackle the problem of fly grazing horses and to reform the governance of Further Education Institutions in Wales have been granted Royal Assent by Her Majesty the Queen.
A Bill receives Royal Assent when Letters Patent under the Welsh Seal signed with Her Majesty’s own hand signifying Her Assent are notified to the Clerk of the Assembly.
The First Minister, as Keeper of the Welsh Seal, applied the Seal to the Letters Patent in a ceremony in Cardiff earlier today [Monday 27th January 2014].
First Minister Carwyn Jones said:
“Through our ambitious five year legislative programme, we are introducing ‘made in Wales’ solutions to the issues affecting us as a nation.
“These Acts represent a further step in our drive to improve public services and make Wales a better place.”
The National Health Service Finance (Wales) Act 2014 removes the existing duty on local health boards to break even annually and replaces it with a three year rolling financial duty together with a tolerance threshold, as permitted by Welsh Ministers.
Minister for Health & Social Services, Mark Drakeford said:
“The current expectation on Local Health Boards to balance their books each and every year encourages short term decision-making around the end of the financial year. This prevents a more sustainable approach to service provision.
“The new Act will provide Local Health Boards with greater financial flexibility and help the NHS in Wales to focus its service planning, workforce and financial decisions over a longer and more sustained period.”
The Control of Horses (Wales) Act 2014 provides local authorities with the power to seize, impound, return to the owner, sell, re-home or, as a last resort, euthanase horses by humane means when they are on land without lawful consent.
Minister for Natural Resources & Food, Alun Davies said:
“The police, animal welfare charities and our local authorities have been on the front line, working together to try and deal with this awful problem.
“I thank them all for their work so far and hope our new legislation will allow them to deliver a consistent and robust approach to tackling fly grazing along with a loud and clear message from the Welsh Government that this behaviour will no longer be allowed to continue in Wales.”
The Further and Higher Education (Governance and Information) (Wales) Act 2014 will enhance the autonomy and decision making abilities of Further Education Institutions and allow data relevant to student grants and loans to be shared by Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) with the Welsh Ministers.
Minister for Education & Skills, Huw Lewis said:
“This Act is of paramount importance in ensuring that our education system in Wales is strengthened and bureaucracy reduced. We are committed to delivering modern and streamlined arrangements for the delivery of student support in Wales.
“This Act will create significant efficiencies, simplify the application process and provide a quicker, leaner service for students applying for loans and grants. The Act will also give greater autonomy to further education corporations on dissolution and governance related matters to better ensure that the public investment in these bodies is focused on the needs of learners.”
