8. 8. Debate: The Children's Commissioner for Wales's Annual Report 2015-16

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:23 pm on 15 November 2016.

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Photo of Huw Irranca-Davies Huw Irranca-Davies Labour 5:23, 15 November 2016

(Translated)

I speak in this debate today in my capacity as Chair of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee. At the end of the fourth Assembly, the committee suggested in its legacy report that we should consider exploring issues surrounding the appointment and accountability of commissioners. It did so because it saw these as important matters of constitutional principle. Following our report on the Wales Bill, we have started to address our forward work programme and, as part of that process, we’ve been considering the merits of undertaking some work on the appointment and accountability of commissioners. As a first step in this process, we held an informal, productive meeting with some experts yesterday. While we have not fully formed our thinking on these issues, I thought it appropriate to draw the Assembly’s attention to the likelihood of the committee taking forward work in this area. With the approval of the Business Committee, I intend to make a committee statement on our agreed way forward in due course. Thank you very much.