7. The Education Workforce Council (Interim Suspension Orders) (Additional Functions) (Wales) Order 2021

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:37 pm on 16 March 2021.

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Photo of Mick Antoniw Mick Antoniw Labour 4:37, 16 March 2021

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. We considered these regulations at our meeting yesterday morning, and our report contains only one merits point, which I will briefly summarise for Members this afternoon. Article 12 of this Order makes provision in connection with an application for review of an interim suspension order by the person to whom it relates. Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 12 set out the process and time periods within which certain actions must happen, as has been outlined by the Minister. Where the Education Workforce Council must convene a hearing, the effect of paragraphs 1 and 2 means that it could have very little time to do so. In our report, we have provided an example to illustrate our point that there could be less than a day between a person submitting an application to the council that it reviews an interim suspension order, and then the council subsequently having to convene a hearing to consider the case. In its response to our report, the Welsh Government has acknowledged the timings as set out in our example. The Government’s response also advises that the Order has been drafted following input from stakeholders, including the council, which did not express any concern with regard to the timescales presented. Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd.