Measures to improve public health & planning among First Minister’s legislative priorities

New laws to improve public health, planning and education were outlined by the First Minister today as he set out the legislative priorities for the next Assembly year.

Among the new bills proposed by the Welsh Government are laws which will simplify the planning process, lay the ground for local authority mergers, ensure Wales has world-class qualifications, improve public health and implement new taxes, as recommended by the Silk Commission.

Setting in motion the Welsh Government’s first legislative steps since the Silk Commission, the First Minister said a new corporate body, operationally separate from Welsh Ministers, will be established through a Tax Collection and Management Bill to legally administrate the taxes devolved to Wales once the Wales Bill is implemented by the UK Government.

This will ensure taxes are collected and managed efficiently and effectively and put procedures in place to protect taxpayers and their rights in the full and proper payment of these Welsh taxes.

The Local Government Bill will set in motion plans for local authority reform, giving the powers needed to enable mergers to take place in a logical and planned way. The Bill will not specifically deliver council mergers, this will happen after the Assembly elections in 2016, but it will enable Welsh Ministers to merge local authorities who wish to do so voluntarily ahead of the main merger and reform programme.

A Planning Bill will provide the legislation necessary to modernise and simplify, rather than frustrate development, which in turn will deliver the homes, jobs and infrastructure that Wales needs.

A Public Health Bill will take action to address some public health concerns, including proposals to reduce the use of e-cigarettes in enclosed public spaces and an introduction of Minimum Unit of Pricing of alcohol to 50p per unit, which could now become law.

The other Bills set out today will also:

• Create a new framework for the assessment of children and young people with additional learning needs and the planning provision to meet those needs;
• Provide improved protection to Wales’ listed buildings and ancient monuments;
• Improve private renting, including considering a requirement for all landlords to ensure the property is fit for people to live in;
• Ensure we have the right legislative framework to manage our natural resources in a simplified and joined up way, as set out in the Programme for Government;
• Establish the regulatory and inspection regime needed to protect and promote the well-being of people in Wales in most need of care and support.

The First Minister said:

“When I announced this Government’s ambitious five year legislative programme I set out our plans to address many of the issues the people of Wales care deeply about, such as improving public services despite the difficult financial situation.

“We are now halfway through the programme, and while we have already achieved many of our goals, the ten bills I am announcing today continue our commitment, with legislation that will really make a difference to the people of Wales – with measures to improve private renting and improve health for all.

“This legislative programme also sees us take action on two major areas of reform, putting in place the measures needed for local authority mergers and entering a new phase of the devolution story by preparing for our new tax-raising powers.

“This is an exciting step for Wales, we have already seen some landmark moments since we were granted the powers to pass laws in 2011, showing what can be achieved by laws made in Wales for Wales. I believe the plans I have set out today will continue this momentum and make Wales an even better place in which to work and live.”