Government Response: The Government of Wales Act 2006 (Budget Motions and Designated Bodies) (Amendment) Order 2024

Technical Scrutiny point 1:

The Children’s Commissioner for Wales was added to the Schedule of designated bodies within the Government of Wales Act 2006 (Budget Motions and Designated Bodies) Order 2018 by article 2 of the Government of Wales Act 2006 (Budget Motions and Designated Bodies) (Amendment) Order 2021. As such, the Government of Wales Act 2006 (Budget Motions and Designated Bodies) (Amendment) Order 2024 had the effect of designating only 4 new bodies: FWC IFW Debt GP Limited, FWC SWIF Debt GP Limited, NE Commercial Property (GP) Limited and the Citizens Voice Body for Health and Social Care, Wales.

Technical Scrutiny point 2:            

The Government notes the minor inconsistency identified but considers there is no room for misunderstanding as a result.

Merit Scrutiny point 3:

The Government notes the minor inconsistency between reference to “Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales” in both this Order and the Government of Wales Act 2006 (Budget Motions and Designated Bodies) (Amendment) Order 2023 and reference to “His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales” in other recent legislation.

Having recently considered the technical issue of whether the names of offices or bodies formally established by reference to “Her Majesty”, such as “Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales” should now be changed when referring to them in new legislation (or whether a formal change of name is required), the Government have arrived at the position that references to such offices should refer to “His Majesty” rather than “Her Majesty” and that this can be done without the need for any formal change of name.

The Government is not concerned in this instance that there can be any doubt about what is being referred to in this Order, however it notes the inconsistency.