7. 6. The Education Workforce Council (Accreditation of Initial Teacher Training) (Additional Functions) (Wales) Order 2017

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:05 pm on 14 February 2017.

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Photo of Huw Irranca-Davies Huw Irranca-Davies Labour 5:05, 14 February 2017

Diolch, Lywydd. I welcome the opportunity to speak very briefly on this Order—on a small point, but I think it is an important point—on behalf of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee. Our report to the Assembly identified one point of interest—it was a point of merit—related to the dependence of this Order on a set of regulations yet to be laid by the Welsh Ministers and yet to be scrutinised by our committee. So, in essence, the criteria for the accreditation of the initial teacher training, as described now by the Cabinet Secretary, which are referred to in articles 2 and 3 of the Order, will now be included in separate regulations if the Order is approved today. Now, while the Welsh Government acknowledges the need for these regulations in its explanatory memorandum, and as laid out today, it is, nevertheless, important to draw this dependency to the attention of the Assembly. We have had confirmation from the Welsh Government that these regulations are very close to being laid. Nevertheless, it would be helpful if the Minister today could simply explain why the two instruments couldn’t be laid together and considered as a package. As a final point, we acknowledge that this kind of scenario can occur occasionally. It is not unique. But, we wish to place on record our intention to monitor these situations quite closely and to report accordingly in the interests of good, efficient and transparent law making.