Found: policy, as it was understood and agreed by Parliament during the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill

Found: Health and Care Bill • None.

Found: need to make sure people do not go into hospital, but as many of you will know, our adult social care bill

Found: We are going to be reducing the social care bill.

Found: A great examp le of that is Milton Keynes Council's split on our adult social care bill.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government further to the Written Statement by Baroness Merron on 22 May (HLWS662), whether the commitment by advertisers and broadcasters to implement the advertising restrictions for less healthy food and drink in October 2025 is based on the February 2024 proposed guidance from the Advertising Standards Authority, or the updated guidance discussed in the consultation update on 13 January.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to implementing advertising restrictions for less healthy food and drink on television and online, as part of its ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever. These restrictions are expected to remove up to 7.2 billion calories from United Kingdom children’s diets per year and deliver £2 billion in health benefits.

The Government received representations from a range of stakeholders in response to the Advertising Standards Authority's (ASA) revised implementation guidance and prior to the written statement on 22 May announcing a revised approach to implementing the advertising restrictions. This included written correspondence from the food and drink industry and the advertising industry, however, representations did not reference legal action against the Government or the ASA. We listened carefully to the concerns raised by all stakeholders and worked with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to find a successful resolution.

The resolution was agreed on the basis that advertisers and broadcasters, with the support of online platforms and publishers, have made a unique and public commitment to comply with the restrictions as though they would still come into force from 1 October 2025. The consistent position of the Government is that brand advertising is not in scope of the advertising restrictions, and this was clearly understood by Parliament during the passage of the Health and Care Bill. We have engaged with industry stakeholders and understand that businesses are using the implementation guidance the ASA consulted on between December 2023 and February 2024 as a guide to comply with the restrictions.

Ofcom was appointed as the statutory regulator for the advertising restrictions, and this was set out in primary legislation via the Health and Care Act 2022. Following consultation, Ofcom appointed the ASA as the frontline regulator. The ASA is required by law to consult my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on its non-statutory implementation guidance ahead of publication.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by Baroness Merron on 22 May (HLWS662), what discussions they have had with OFCOM about the effectiveness of the Advertising Standards Authority in handling the non-statutory guidance for the regulations on the advertising of unhealthy food and drink on TV and online.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to implementing advertising restrictions for less healthy food and drink on television and online, as part of its ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever. These restrictions are expected to remove up to 7.2 billion calories from United Kingdom children’s diets per year and deliver £2 billion in health benefits.

The Government received representations from a range of stakeholders in response to the Advertising Standards Authority's (ASA) revised implementation guidance and prior to the written statement on 22 May announcing a revised approach to implementing the advertising restrictions. This included written correspondence from the food and drink industry and the advertising industry, however, representations did not reference legal action against the Government or the ASA. We listened carefully to the concerns raised by all stakeholders and worked with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to find a successful resolution.

The resolution was agreed on the basis that advertisers and broadcasters, with the support of online platforms and publishers, have made a unique and public commitment to comply with the restrictions as though they would still come into force from 1 October 2025. The consistent position of the Government is that brand advertising is not in scope of the advertising restrictions, and this was clearly understood by Parliament during the passage of the Health and Care Bill. We have engaged with industry stakeholders and understand that businesses are using the implementation guidance the ASA consulted on between December 2023 and February 2024 as a guide to comply with the restrictions.

Ofcom was appointed as the statutory regulator for the advertising restrictions, and this was set out in primary legislation via the Health and Care Act 2022. Following consultation, Ofcom appointed the ASA as the frontline regulator. The ASA is required by law to consult my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on its non-statutory implementation guidance ahead of publication.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by Baroness Merron on 22 May (HLWS662), what representations they received from (1) the food and drink industry, and (2) the advertising industry; and whether those representations contained references to legal action against (a) His Majesty's Government, or (b) the Advertising Standards Authority.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to implementing advertising restrictions for less healthy food and drink on television and online, as part of its ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever. These restrictions are expected to remove up to 7.2 billion calories from United Kingdom children’s diets per year and deliver £2 billion in health benefits.

The Government received representations from a range of stakeholders in response to the Advertising Standards Authority's (ASA) revised implementation guidance and prior to the written statement on 22 May announcing a revised approach to implementing the advertising restrictions. This included written correspondence from the food and drink industry and the advertising industry, however, representations did not reference legal action against the Government or the ASA. We listened carefully to the concerns raised by all stakeholders and worked with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to find a successful resolution.

The resolution was agreed on the basis that advertisers and broadcasters, with the support of online platforms and publishers, have made a unique and public commitment to comply with the restrictions as though they would still come into force from 1 October 2025. The consistent position of the Government is that brand advertising is not in scope of the advertising restrictions, and this was clearly understood by Parliament during the passage of the Health and Care Bill. We have engaged with industry stakeholders and understand that businesses are using the implementation guidance the ASA consulted on between December 2023 and February 2024 as a guide to comply with the restrictions.

Ofcom was appointed as the statutory regulator for the advertising restrictions, and this was set out in primary legislation via the Health and Care Act 2022. Following consultation, Ofcom appointed the ASA as the frontline regulator. The ASA is required by law to consult my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on its non-statutory implementation guidance ahead of publication.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Written Statement HCWS652 of 22 May 2025, what assessment he has made of adequacy of the Advertising Standards Authority to perform the role of frontline regulator for the upcoming regulations of HFSS food and drink advertising on TV and online.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to implementing advertising restrictions for less healthy food and drink on television and online, as part of its ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever.

As announced in our Written Ministerial Statement on 22 May, we are working with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to bring forward a statutory instrument (SI) that will provide an explicit exemption for ‘brand advertising’ from the advertising restrictions. This will provide legal clarification on this aspect of the existing policy, which we consulted upon and which was understood and agreed by Parliament during the passage of the Health and Care Bill. We will consult on the draft regulations before they can be finalised and laid before Parliament, which we aim to do as soon as possible. We have amended the coming into force date for the advertising restrictions from 1 October 2025 to 5 January 2026, to allow for this and for the Advertising Standards Authority to publish implementation guidance on how the restrictions will be enforced. However, industry stakeholders have complied with the restrictions voluntarily, as though they will still come into force from 1 October 2025.

The Government appointed Ofcom as the statutory regulator for the advertising restrictions. Ofcom has appointed the Advertising Standards Authority as the frontline regulator to carry out the day-to-day enforcement following consultation.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Written Statement UIN HCWS652 of 22 May 2025, what his planned timeline is for regulations on the advertising of HFSS food and drink products.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to implementing advertising restrictions for less healthy food and drink on television and online, as part of its ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever.

As announced in our Written Ministerial Statement on 22 May, we are working with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to bring forward a statutory instrument (SI) that will provide an explicit exemption for ‘brand advertising’ from the advertising restrictions. This will provide legal clarification on this aspect of the existing policy, which we consulted upon and which was understood and agreed by Parliament during the passage of the Health and Care Bill. We will consult on the draft regulations before they can be finalised and laid before Parliament, which we aim to do as soon as possible. We have amended the coming into force date for the advertising restrictions from 1 October 2025 to 5 January 2026, to allow for this and for the Advertising Standards Authority to publish implementation guidance on how the restrictions will be enforced. However, industry stakeholders have complied with the restrictions voluntarily, as though they will still come into force from 1 October 2025.

The Government appointed Ofcom as the statutory regulator for the advertising restrictions. Ofcom has appointed the Advertising Standards Authority as the frontline regulator to carry out the day-to-day enforcement following consultation.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by Baroness Merron on 22 May (HLWS662), what are the reasons why brand advertising is not included in the scope of TV and online advertising restrictions for less healthy food or drink.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to implementing advertising restrictions for less healthy food and drink on television and online, as part of its ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever.

The decision to exempt brand advertising from these restrictions was made following consultation, and was understood and agreed by Parliament during the passage of the Health and Care Bill.

The position of the Government has been consistent, and on 7 April we re-confirmed our view that brand advertising is not in scope of this policy, as the legislation only restricts adverts that could reasonably be considered to be for identifiable less healthy products.

Industry raised significant concerns in response to the Advertising Standards Authority’s (ASA) draft implementation guidance published for consultation in February. We are aware that many brands have prepared advertising campaigns in good faith ahead of the restrictions’ current coming into force date of 1 October 2025, and remain concerned about how these adverts will be affected by the ASA’s implementation guidance.

There were several meetings between ministers in the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. These discussions culminated in setting out a resolution in our statement of 22 May. We announced that the Government will explicitly exempt ‘brand advertising’ from the advertising restrictions. This is to avoid pigeon-holing brands as less healthy, and instead encouraging brands to reformulate their products and offer healthier options.

Providing this legal clarification on the policy’s intention will provide certainty to industry and will support businesses to invest in advertising with confidence, while ensuring that we deliver on our commitment and protect children from further exposure to junk food advertising and the lifelong harms of obesity.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what are the reasons why "legal clarification" on brand advertising was deemed necessary in the Written Statement by Baroness Merron on 22 May (HLWS662) and not in the Written Statement by Baroness Merron on 22 April (HLWS587).

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to implementing advertising restrictions for less healthy food and drink on television and online, as part of its ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever.

The decision to exempt brand advertising from these restrictions was made following consultation, and was understood and agreed by Parliament during the passage of the Health and Care Bill.

The position of the Government has been consistent, and on 7 April we re-confirmed our view that brand advertising is not in scope of this policy, as the legislation only restricts adverts that could reasonably be considered to be for identifiable less healthy products.

Industry raised significant concerns in response to the Advertising Standards Authority’s (ASA) draft implementation guidance published for consultation in February. We are aware that many brands have prepared advertising campaigns in good faith ahead of the restrictions’ current coming into force date of 1 October 2025, and remain concerned about how these adverts will be affected by the ASA’s implementation guidance.

There were several meetings between ministers in the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. These discussions culminated in setting out a resolution in our statement of 22 May. We announced that the Government will explicitly exempt ‘brand advertising’ from the advertising restrictions. This is to avoid pigeon-holing brands as less healthy, and instead encouraging brands to reformulate their products and offer healthier options.

Providing this legal clarification on the policy’s intention will provide certainty to industry and will support businesses to invest in advertising with confidence, while ensuring that we deliver on our commitment and protect children from further exposure to junk food advertising and the lifelong harms of obesity.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by Baroness Merron on 22 May (HLWS662), what discussions were held between the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport regarding the decision to delay the legislation to regulate unhealthy food and drink advertisement on TV.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to implementing advertising restrictions for less healthy food and drink on television and online, as part of its ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever.

The decision to exempt brand advertising from these restrictions was made following consultation, and was understood and agreed by Parliament during the passage of the Health and Care Bill.

The position of the Government has been consistent, and on 7 April we re-confirmed our view that brand advertising is not in scope of this policy, as the legislation only restricts adverts that could reasonably be considered to be for identifiable less healthy products.

Industry raised significant concerns in response to the Advertising Standards Authority’s (ASA) draft implementation guidance published for consultation in February. We are aware that many brands have prepared advertising campaigns in good faith ahead of the restrictions’ current coming into force date of 1 October 2025, and remain concerned about how these adverts will be affected by the ASA’s implementation guidance.

There were several meetings between ministers in the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. These discussions culminated in setting out a resolution in our statement of 22 May. We announced that the Government will explicitly exempt ‘brand advertising’ from the advertising restrictions. This is to avoid pigeon-holing brands as less healthy, and instead encouraging brands to reformulate their products and offer healthier options.

Providing this legal clarification on the policy’s intention will provide certainty to industry and will support businesses to invest in advertising with confidence, while ensuring that we deliver on our commitment and protect children from further exposure to junk food advertising and the lifelong harms of obesity.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Written Statement of 22 May 2025 on Childhood Obesity, HCWS652, what his distinction is between a product and a brand.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to implementing advertising restrictions for less healthy food and drink on television and online, as part of its ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever.

Advertising restrictions for less healthy food or drink will be determined by whether a television channel or video-on-demand service is regulated by Ofcom. All Ofcom-regulated services, whether broadcast or delivered over the internet, will be subject to a 9:00pm watershed. All other internet-delivered television services will be subject to the 24-hour restriction.

We announced in a Written Ministerial Statement to Parliament on 22 May that the Government will set out in legislation an explicit brand exemption from the advertising restrictions for brand advertising that does not identify a less healthy food or drink product. This will provide legal clarification on this aspect of the existing policy as it was understood and agreed by Parliament during the passage of the Health and Care Bill, following extensive consultation.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Written Statement of 22 May 2025 on Childhood Obesity, HCWS652, whether the output of TV channels not viewed as live broadcast TV will count as (a) TV and (b) online.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to implementing advertising restrictions for less healthy food and drink on television and online, as part of its ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever.

Advertising restrictions for less healthy food or drink will be determined by whether a television channel or video-on-demand service is regulated by Ofcom. All Ofcom-regulated services, whether broadcast or delivered over the internet, will be subject to a 9:00pm watershed. All other internet-delivered television services will be subject to the 24-hour restriction.

We announced in a Written Ministerial Statement to Parliament on 22 May that the Government will set out in legislation an explicit brand exemption from the advertising restrictions for brand advertising that does not identify a less healthy food or drink product. This will provide legal clarification on this aspect of the existing policy as it was understood and agreed by Parliament during the passage of the Health and Care Bill, following extensive consultation.

Found: this session. 12 Lord Forsyth of Drumlean brought an amendment to the Government’s Health and Care Bill

Global Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: namely telemedicine becoming a permanent option for women and girls via an amendment to the Health Care Bill

Global Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: option for women and girls; the banning of virginity testing and hymenoplasty via the Health and Care Bill

Baby Loss APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Gill supported the to the Health & Care Bill, led Jeremy Hunt MP and Baroness Cumberlege, and praised

Baby Loss APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Gill supported the to the Health & Care Bill, led Jeremy Hunt MP and Baroness Cumberlege, and praised

Global Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: . 5 Baroness Sugg’s amendment to ban virginity testing and hymenoplasty in the Health and Care Bill

Child of the North APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Use the move towards Integrated Care Systems outlined in the NHS Long Term Plan and Health and Care Bill

Motor Neurone Disease APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Baroness Finlay asked whether there is anything the House of Lords can do around the Health and Care Bill

Diabetes APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: The importance of placing it into the context of the new Health and Care bill was raised.

Cats APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found:  Care Bill (now Act) o Jacqui Cuff and Lord Black of Brentwood noted that they did some work on the

Diabetes APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Group for Diabetes Chair’s foreword 2012 may well be remembered as the year the Health and Social Care Bill

Motor Neurone Disease APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: experience services delivered by both the health and social care sectors. the health and social care Bill

Found: regarding brand advertising, as it was understood by Parliament during the passage of the Health and Care Bill

Found: standards and hence interoperability in IT systems is seen as a crucial step in 13 Health and Care Bill

Found: The report notes that the Care Bill currently going through Parliament provides an opportunity to end

Found: healthcare policy (formation of the UK Bereavement Commission) and changed the law (Clause 16 Health and Care Bill

Found: healthcare policy (formation of the UK Bereavement Commission) and changed the law (Clause 16 Health and Care Bill

Found: Supplementary Legi slative Consent Memoranda (Memorandum No. 2 and Memorandum No. 3) on the Health and Care Bill

Found: Supplementary Legislative Consent Memoranda (Memorandum No. 2 and Memorandum No. 3) on the Health and Care Bill

Found: SUPPLEMENTARY LEGISLATIVE CONSENT MEMORANDUM (MEMORANDUM NO 4) HEALTH AND CARE BILL 1.

Found: Health and Social Care Committee’s inquiry into the Legislative Consent Memorandum of the Health and Care Bill

Found: Health and Social Care Committee regarding the Legislative Consent Memorandum for the Health and Care Bill

Found: consider and report on the Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (No. 4) on the Health and Care Bill

Found: Government’s Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 4) on the Health and Care Bill

Found: Report on supplementary Legislative Consent Memoranda for the Health and Care Bill (memorandum no.4)

Found: Report on supplementary Legislative Consent Memoranda for the Health and Care Bill (memoranda no.2 and

Found: SUPPLEMENTARY LEGISLATIVE CONSENT MEMORANDUM (MEMORANDUM NO 3) HEALTH AND CARE BILL 1.

Found: Supplementary Legislative Consent Memoranda (Memoranda No. 2 and No. 3) (the SLCMs) on the Health and Care Bill

Found: consider and report on the Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (No. 3) on the Health and Care Bill

Found: SUPPLEMENTARY LEGISLATIVE CONSENT MEMORANDUM (MEMORANDUM NO 2) HEALTH AND CARE BILL 1.

Found: Supplementary Legislative Consent Memoranda (Memoranda No. 2 and No. 3) (the SLCMs) on the Health and Care Bill

Found: consider and report on the Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (No. 2) on the Health and Care Bill

Found: consider and report on the Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (No. 2) on the Health and Care Bill

Found: and update regarding the Legislative Consent Memorandum (LCM) for the UK Government Health and Care Bill

Found: dated 29 September from Russell George MS seeking our views on certain clauses in the Health & Care Bill

Found: senedd.wales) Dear Russell Re: Legislative Consent Memorandum for the Health and Care Bill

Found: October 2021 Page 1 of 3 Submission from the Nursing and Midwifery Council regarding the Health and Care Bill

Found: Health and Social Care Committee scrutiny of the Legislative Consent Memorandum for the Health and Care Bill

Found: public protection, our new short report outlining our view on the implications of the Health and Care Bill

Found: 1 LEGISLATIVE CONSENT MEMORANDUM HEALTH AND CARE BILL 1.

Found: Constitution Committee to consider and report on the Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Health and Care Bill

Found: Constitution Committee to consider and report on the Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Health and Care Bill

Found: and Social Care Committee’s report on the Legislative Consent Memorandum (LCM) on the Health and Care Bill

Found: before the Senedd a legislative consent memorandum (“the LCM”) for the UK Government’s Health and Care Bill

Found: Constitution Committee to consider and report on the Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Health and Care Bill

Found: The Welsh Government’s Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Health and Care Bill 1

Found: question 5 30 LJC Committee, The Welsh Government’s Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Health and Care Bill

Found: Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee, House of Lords, 15th Report of Session 2021–22, Health and Care Bill

Found: Evidence provided as part of the core impact assessments8 for scrutiny of DHSC’s Health and Care Bill

Found: Regulatory Reform (DPRR) Committee set out its view on the power contained within the then Health and Care Bill

Found: Evidence provided as part of the core impact assessments8 for scrutiny of DHSC’s Health and Care Bill

Found: including: Legislative Consent Memoranda for the Nationality and Borders Bill and the Health and Care Bill

Found: including: Legislative Consent Memoranda for the Nationality and Borders Bill and the Health and Care Bill

Found: consideration: 25 January 2022 55 Report on the Legislative Consent Memorandum for the Health and Care Bill

Found: Provisions to support this will be included in our forthcoming Social Care Bill.

Found: taking a more targeted approach so far with instruments like a recent amendment to its Health and Care Bill

Found: As stated in the Explanatory Memorandum to the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care Bill (page 21

Found: As stated in the Explanatory Memorandum to the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care Bill (page 21

Found: inviting further views in respect of mandatory reporting, in the context of the Health and Social Care Bill

Found: reporting of child sexual abuse duties by individuals should be included within the Health and Social Care Bill

Found: services in Wales that it is aiming to address through the eliminate profit provisions in the Social Care Bill

Found: services in Wales that it is aiming to address through the eliminate profit provisions in the Social Care Bill

Found: In February 2022, responding to a recommendation we made during our scrutiny of the Health and Care Bill

Found: The current Social Care Bill is outside of the scope of this commission.

Found: The current Social Care Bill is outside of the scope of this commission.

Found: time would be around 4:45pm on Tuesday, this would be followed by stage 3 of the Health and Social Care Bill

Found: Care Wales (SCW) in supporting playwork will be long term and dependant on the Health and Social Care Bill

Question

How will the Welsh Government monitor the impact of proposed mandatory reporting legislation on the number and quality of child sexual abuse reports, and will there be a formal mechanism for reviewing the outcomes of mandatory reporting once implemented?

Answered by Minister for Children and Social Care

In Wales we have an organisational duty to report abuse and neglect in respect of children and adults.

We wholly agree that where there has been disclosure (from a child or perpetrator); witnessing; or observation of behaviours or other evidence that indicate a child is experiencing or is at risk of sexual abuse, these must be reported without delay, either to the relevant local authority or to the Police, as appropriate. This is part of our existing organisational duty to report.

In our response to the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse's IICSA recommendation 13 on mandating individual duties to report we committed to strengthening and improving compliance with our regulatory frameworks across childcare, education, health and social care. Progress has been made  implementing this work, examples include the work being undertaken jointly by the Childcare, Play and Safeguarding teams in Welsh Government on the revision of the National Minimum Standards for Childcare and the revision of the Exceptions Order.

In our 2022 consultation on the then proposed Social Care Bill, stakeholders were clear in saying that further exploration needed to take place with stakeholders to consider the detail, breadth and impacts of any new duties before any decisions would be made.

There are key differences in the approach taken to mandatory reporting in Wales compared to that proposed by the Inquiry. Our practice and legislation relate to both children and adults who may be experiencing or at risk of abuse, neglect or, in the case of children, harm.

In our response to the final report from the Inquiry we committed to building on the publication of our Code of Safeguarding Practice and combining this with taking further measures to promote access to effective training and tools for practitioners; and to raise and sustain public awareness of abuse, neglect and harm. This work is ongoing, and the revised Code of Practice will be re-launched in 2025.

We have continued to explore individual mandatory duties to report with stakeholder. Any implementation of mandating duties to report on individuals  would be accompanied by an implementation and evaluation plan that will clearly set out how we will measure progress.

Question

What is the Welsh Government's plan to reconcile its existing organisational-based reporting duties under the Social Services and Well-Being (Wales) Act 2014 with the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse's proposal for individual mandated reporters, and what is the timeline for implementing this change?

Answered by Minister for Children and Social Care

In Wales we have an organisational duty to report abuse and neglect in respect of children and adults.

We wholly agree that where there has been disclosure (from a child or perpetrator); witnessing; or observation of behaviours or other evidence that indicate a child is experiencing or is at risk of sexual abuse, these must be reported without delay, either to the relevant local authority or to the Police, as appropriate. This is part of our existing organisational duty to report.

In our response to the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse's IICSA recommendation 13 on mandating individual duties to report we committed to strengthening and improving compliance with our regulatory frameworks across childcare, education, health and social care. Progress has been made  implementing this work, examples include the work being undertaken jointly by the Childcare, Play and Safeguarding teams in Welsh Government on the revision of the National Minimum Standards for Childcare and the revision of the Exceptions Order.

In our 2022 consultation on the then proposed Social Care Bill, stakeholders were clear in saying that further exploration needed to take place with stakeholders to consider the detail, breadth and impacts of any new duties before any decisions would be made.

There are key differences in the approach taken to mandatory reporting in Wales compared to that proposed by the Inquiry. Our practice and legislation relate to both children and adults who may be experiencing or at risk of abuse, neglect or, in the case of children, harm.

In our response to the final report from the Inquiry we committed to building on the publication of our Code of Safeguarding Practice and combining this with taking further measures to promote access to effective training and tools for practitioners; and to raise and sustain public awareness of abuse, neglect and harm. This work is ongoing, and the revised Code of Practice will be re-launched in 2025.

We have continued to explore individual mandatory duties to report with stakeholder. Any implementation of mandating duties to report on individuals  would be accompanied by an implementation and evaluation plan that will clearly set out how we will measure progress.