The two sets of regulations before you today are fundamental components of the new system. They were developed during phase one of implementation and were subject to a full 12-week consultation. The Act requires that providers of regulated services register with the Welsh Ministers—in practice, the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales. It establishes a revised set of processes for registration and brings into effect a service-based approach, enabling providers to make a single application covering all of their services. Registrations may subsequently be varied to allow for additional services and locations.

If I turn to the Regulated Services (Registration) (Wales) Regulations 2017, this covers the requirements for applications to register and for applications to vary that registration. These include information and documents required upon application. This will ensure that CSSIW has sufficient information to make an informed decision about the proposed service and the suitability of the applicant to provide that service. It also provides clarity and certainty for providers as to the type of information they will be asked for.

The Act also requires service providers to produce annual returns about the services they provide, which will be published on CSSIW's website alongside the provider's inspection report. Much of the detail to be included in an annual return is on the face of the Act. However, the Regulated Services (Annual Returns) (Wales) Regulations 2017 set out further information to be provided about the service, its staffing and any accommodation provided, as well as arrangements for staff training and for workforce planning. This will ensure that everyone has access to accurate, relevant and comparable information, to help decide upon the best service to meet their needs.

The regulations also require that providers use an online annual return form. This will ensure that every provider, regardless of size or corporate structure, completes the return in a consistent way. Although these regulations deal with largely technical issues, they underpin key provisions of the Act. They will help to deliver greater transparency by ensuring that useful information is readily available to all. They will also streamline and simplify registration, reducing the burden on providers whilst ensuring that the regulator can fulfill its duties effectively. Both sets of regulations here are necessary to achieve the new system for regulating and inspecting social care services in Wales, and I commend them to Members.