Part of 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education – in the Senedd at 1:42 pm on 25 April 2018.
Darren, whilst I recognise that the new code cannot be applied retrospectively, as I have said quite clearly, my expectation is that local authorities should be working with the grain of the new code. They are well aware of my intentions and my policy intentions. Any application that is submitted by a local authority, under either the existing code or the future code, is looked at extremely, extremely carefully because I recognise that, for many of those involved in that process, they need the code there to ensure that any consultation and any proposals are tested to the very highest of standards. As I said, I expect the code to be published this term. Subject to the approval of this Assembly, that code will be available for implementation from the new academic year in September.