Consultations
Current Consultations on the WCVA website can be found by clicking here. Current Welsh Assembly Government Consultations can be found by clicking here.
Other Consultations of relevance to the Third Sector: |
National Assembly for Wales - Do you want Wi-Fi internet in the Senedd?
The Assembly is investigating the demand for open Wi-Fi in all buildings in the Assembly Estate.
To view this consultation, click here.
Food Standards Agency - Lifting of Post-Chernobyl Sheep Controls
The Food Standards Agency is seeking views on the proposal to remove all remaining controls on the movement of sheep from the restricted areas, based on the assessment that the risk to consumers from radioactivity in sheep resulting from the Chernobyl nuclear accident is now very low.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 8th February 2012
Welsh Government - New mandatory power of possession for anti-social behaviour
The consultation paper proposes to introduce a new mandatory power of possession for anti-social behaviour.
We welcome views on:
• Introducing a mandatory power of possession; and
• The implementation of this power
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 10th February 2012
Welsh Government - Consultation on UK recovery and recycling targets for packaging waste for 2013-2017
The Producer Responsibility Obligations Regulations on packaging waste came into force on 16 March 2007. This is a joint consultation on the new targets by:
• the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra);
• the Scottish Government; and
• the Welsh Government.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 10th February 2012
General Medical Council - Help us review Good Medical Practice 2012
The General Medical Council is seeking your views on Good Medical Practice – a draft for consultation. This questionnaire is aimed at representatives of organisations but is open to anyone.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 10th February 2012
The All Wales Joint Arson Group (JAG) - The Wales Arson Reduction Strategy 2012-2015
Despite an overall reduction in deliberately set fires recorded in recent years, arson remains a very real, damaging and costly problem in Wales. JAG is committed to achieving a sustained reduction in the incidence and impact of arson and believes that collaboration, multi-agency working and community involvement will play a crucial role in delivering this.
Firebrake Wales, the Welsh fire safety charity, is a member of the Joint Arson Group and is delighted to undertake this consultation on behalf of JAG.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 12th February 2012.
Ministry of Justice - Appointments and Diversity: A Judiciary for the 21st Century
A consultation on proposed amendments to the statutory and regulatory frameworks for judicial appointments, together with improving judicial diversity.
Although the principle of appointment on merit will remain, the changes will enable clear career progression and flexible working arrangements to encourage applications from previously untapped talent pools.
The wide ranging consultation seeks views whether, when considering two candidates of equal ability, there could be a presumption in favour of selecting the person from an underrepresented group.
Lack of diversity among judges has been shown to have a negative impact on the experience of people who use the courts, and limits the range of life experiences that judges can draw upon.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 13th February 2012
Food Standards Agency - The Food Additives (Wales) (Amendment) and the Extraction Solvents in Food (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2012
To provide stakeholders with an opportunity to comment on the provisions of the draft Food Additives (Wales) (Amendment) and the Extraction Solvents in Food (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2012 and the associated EU legislation.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 16th February 2012
Welsh Government - Meeting the Housing Challenge: Building a consensus for action
Housing can have a large influence on people’s social and economic well being. So it is a key part of how we are tackling poverty and inequalities.
We are committed to ensuring everyone has access to a decent home. But there are some big challenges facing us and they are not easy to solve:
• There are not enough homes because our population is increasing, people are living longer, and more people are choosing to live alone;
• Many homes need improvement, particularly those rented from private landlords and some older;
• Ensuring people get the services they need to find and keep their home, particularly those in very difficult personal circumstances or crisis situations at home; and
• The impact that the rising cost of living and benefits changes are having on some people are cause for concern.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 17th February 2012
Welsh Government - Fire and Rescue National Framework 2012 Onwards
Under section 21 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 (“the 2004 Act”) the Welsh Ministers must prepare and consult on a Fire and Rescue National Framework setting out priorities and objectives for Fire and Rescue Authorities (FRAs). This consultation provides a draft of the proposed Fire and Rescue National Framework for 2012 onwards (the draft Framework) (see Annex A). You are invited to comment on its content.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 17th February 2012
Welsh Government - The management of HIV infected health care workers
This consultation seeks your views on the proposed changes to the current policy on HIV-infected healthcare workers.
Recommendations were made following a review on the current national guidance on the management of healthcare workers infected with HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. The review was undertaken by a working group of the:
• Expert Advisory Group on AIDS;
• UK Advisory Panel for Healthcare Workers Infected with Blood-borne Viruses and;
• Advisory Group on Hepatitis.
We are seeking responses to these recommendations to help assess the working group’s advice ensuring patients remain protected from the risk of HIV infection.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 23rd February 2012
Welsh Government - Policy content of the Recognised Persons (Monetary Penalties) (Determination of Turnover) (Wales) Order 2012
The Welsh Government is consulting on proposals to make an Order which sets out how Welsh Ministers will determine the turnover of an awarding organisation for fining purposes.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 24th February 2012
Department for Work and Pensions - Support for mortgage interest – call for evidence
This call for evidence sets out the Government’s ideas on simplifying the help provided towards mortgage interest payments for working age and pensioner home owners, and considers potential future changes in line with Universal Credit principles, and fairness to taxpayers. It seeks responses to a number of questions and other comments that respondents may wish to make about the options in the document or other potential option.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 27th February 2012
Welsh Government - Proposed procedural changes for advertising road traffic regulation orders
It is proposed, subject to the outcome of this consultation, to amend 3 sets of existing regulations to simplify the process for advertising Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs), giving both Welsh Ministers and Welsh Local Traffic Authorities (WLTAs) greater flexibility for advertising such orders and removing the current statutory requirement to have to place public notices in newspapers.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 29th February 2012
Welsh Government - Proposed Changes to Social Housing Sales Data Collections
We want to know your views about our proposals for changes to the data items collected and published on social housing sales.
The purpose of this consultation is to seek users’ views on proposals for:
• Changes to the data items collected on social housing sales and to the accompanying definitions;
• The use of publications on social housing sales.
Your contributions will help us to understand the impact these changes could have on the individuals and organisations that use these statistics. The outcome of this consultation will inform our decision as to whether these changes can be implemented. This is in line with the Official Statistics Code of Practice which states that effective user engagement is fundamental both to trust in statistics and securing maximum public value.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 1st March 2012
Food Standards Agency - The Food Hygiene (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2012
The Food Standards Agency in Wales is seeking views on the current draft of the Food Hygiene (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2012, which is due to come into force in April 2012, noting in particular the 'ambulatory reference' and the health mark for meat from animals subject to 'emergency slaughter'.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 2nd March 2012
Learning Disability Wales - Consultation on draft National Occupational Standards for Supported Employment
It is important that we work with the supported employment sector to ensure that the NOS capture and meet the needs of those who use them. We are inviting comment from as many experts, practitioners and employers in supported employment across the UK as we are able to reach.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 2nd March 2012
Welsh Government - Review of Shellfish Water Designations in Wales
The Shellfish Waters Directive covers the quality of shellfish waters. It applies to those coastal and brackish waters (estuaries) which we believe need protection or improvement to support shellfish life and growth and contribute to the high quality of shellfish that we eat.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 2nd March 2012
Welsh Government - Revision of Planning Policy Wales Chapter 7 Supporting the Economy
We are revising planning policy for economic development to make sure that it can deliver our aspirations for economic recovery in Wales.
This work has been informed by a research report, Planning for Sustainable Economic Renewal. This report was written for us by Roger Tym and Partners in association with Asbri Planning.
We also want your views on the structure of a new Technical Advice Note (TAN) which we will publish next year. A more detailed separate consultation will be undertaken on the TAN later in 2012. At this stage we simply want to know if you think the structure of the TAN is appropriate.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 5th March 2012
Welsh Government - Consultation on the draft document ‘Together Against Cancer’ a national Delivery Plan for the NHS up to 2016.
This consultation is seeking comments and views from clinicians, NHS managers and service users.
Cancer remains a top priority for Wales. Over the coming years, around 1 in 3 people will be diagnosed with cancer before age 75 and around 4 in 10 at some stage during their lifetime. Cancer is a common diagnosis and the incidence is increasing.
The draft Delivery Plan sets out the Welsh Government’s vision for the population of Wales and what this means for NHS cancer services.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 5th March 2012
Department for Work & Pensions - Bereavement Benefit for the 21st Century
This consultation document forms an integral part of this Government’s review of bereavement benefits. We are seeking views on how these payments should support future working-age widows, widowers and widowed civil partners. Payments made under the War Pensions Scheme or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme will not be affected by this review. The review will not impact those already in receipt of bereavement benefits at the point at which a new scheme is introduced.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 5th March 2012
Ministry of Justice - Introducing fees in employment tribunals and Employment Appeal Tribunal
This consultation is aimed at users of the employment tribunals and the Employment Appeal Tribunal, the legal profession, the judiciary, the advice sector and all with an interest in this area in England, Wales and Scotland.
Bringing a claim or an appeal to the employment tribunal or the Employment Appeal Tribunal is currently free of charge with the full cost of running the tribunals being met by the taxpayer.
The aim of these proposals is reduce the taxpayer subsidy of these tribunals by transferring some of the cost to those who use the the service, while protecting access to justice for the most vulnerable.
Views are welcomed on fee charging structures and two options are proposed in this consultation.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 6th March 2012
Welsh Government - Food Hygiene Rating (Wales) Bill
The Welsh Government is committed to preventing poor health and reducing health inequalities. As part of this, we plan to put forward a Bill which will introduce a statutory Food Hygiene Rating Scheme.
The Food Hygiene (Wales) Bill will make it compulsory for food businesses in Wales to display information on their hygiene standards (their food hygiene rating). A food businesses rating will have to be displayed in a prominent position that can easily be seen by customers. This will provide consumers with information about the hygiene practices of food businesses. The Scheme will also help consumers choose where to eat or shop for food.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 7th March 2012
Welsh Government - Children and young people’s continuing care guidance
It is designed for all those planning and providing children’s continuing care services in Local Health Boards, Local Authorities and their partners.
It describes the process for putting in place continuing care packages for those children and young people whose needs cannot be met by existing universal or specialist services alone.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 13th March 2012
Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission - Consultation on draft regulations: Child Support Management of Payments and Arrears (Write off and Part Payment in Full and Final Satisfaction) Amendment Regulations 2012
The Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008 (“the 2008 Act”) gave the Commission a number of new arrears management powers to allow the Commission to manage efficiently the level of child maintenance arrears that have previously accumulated and are owed to the Child Support Agency (CSA).
The Government proposes to take regulations to Parliament in spring 2012 to enable the introduction of these powers. These will set out in detail the manner in which the Commission may operate them. The latest draft versions of these regulations are included in the annexes at the end of this document.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 12th March 2012
Welsh Government - Draft Mental Health (Secondary Mental Health Services)(Wales) Order 2012
This consultation seeks your views on a Draft Order.
It provides further definition about what are to be considered Secondary Mental Health Services under the Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010.
This Order has the effect of:
• Excluding any service provided as part of a local primary mental health support service under Part 1 of the Measure from being considered as a secondary mental health service;
• Enabling secondary mental health services provided elsewhere in the United Kingdom to be considered as secondary mental health services for Part 3 of the Measure in Wales.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 14th March 2012
Welsh Government - Review of the Implementation of the Nitrates Directive in Wales
The Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC) requires Member States to review their implementation of the Directive every four years.
The EC Nitrates Directive is intended to reduce water pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources and is transposed in Wales under the Nitrate Pollution Prevention (Wales) Regulations 2008.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 16th March 2012
Welsh Government - Consultation on the breeding of dogs
The Animal Welfare Act 2006 allows Welsh Ministers to replace the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973 with appropriate Regulations.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 27th March 2012
Welsh Government - Proposals to amend the requirements for registration of the education workforce in Wales
To deliver this agenda the Minister wants to ensure that the education workforce works together as a single group of professionals to improve educational standards for the people of Wales.
There are considerable differences between the requirements for professional standards, qualifications, initial training, performance management and continuing professional development across the different sectors of the education workforce. While some of these differences are entirely appropriate, reflecting real differences in sector requirements, others are more artificial, creating barriers to cooperation and mobility among the workforce. It also does not assure the public that all education professionals exhibit similar high standards of professional conduct and competence and so can undermine parity of esteem.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 30th March 2012
Welsh Government - Consultation on options to replace the Social Fund Community Care Grants and Crisis Loans for Living Expenses
This consultation document seeks views on replacing the Community Care Grants and Crisis Loans for living expenses once the funding is devolved to the Welsh Government in April 2013.
The Welfare Reform Bill that is currently before Parliament abolishes the discretionary Social Fund and paves the way for delivery of new local services to replace Community Care Grants and Crisis Loans for general living expenses.
From April 2013 the Social Fund is being devolved to local authorities in England, the Scottish Government and to the Welsh Government. The Welsh Government will receive funding equivalent to that which was spent on the Community Care Grants and Crisis Loans in Wales at the point at which responsibility is transferred.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 30th March 2012
Welsh Government - Shared Purpose – Shared Delivery
We are consulting on new statutory guidance which is intended to integrate local service planning, streamline partnership working, and strengthen the strategic role and accountability of the local service board.
The Guidance is intended to replace existing statutory guidance deriving from a number of pieces of legislation: Community Strategies (Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009), Children and Young People’s Plans (Children Act 2004, Children and Families Measure 2010), and Health Social Care and Well-being Strategies (NHS Wales act 2006).
Community Safety planning is non-devolved (Crime and Disorder Act 1998) so the guidance is advisory only for Community Safety planning in Wales.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 30th March 2012
Welsh Government - Fining policy of the Welsh Ministers
The Welsh Government is consulting on proposals to introduce a fining policy as part of the powers of sanction that may be applied to awarding organisations which breach their conditions of recognition.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 1st April 2012
Welsh Government - Protecting children in Wales arrangements for multi-agency child practice reviews - Draft guidance
We are seeking your views on proposed new arrangements for Child Practice Reviews (CPR).
The purpose of the new framework is to replace the present Serious Case Review system. As part of the new CPR framework, different types of reviews will be undertaken depending on the nature of the incident and the circumstances of the child involved.
Two practitioner workshops have been organised to provide further details. The first is in Swansea on 20 January 2012 and the second in Conwy on 14 March 2012.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 2nd April 2012
The Boundary Commission for Wales - proposals for changes to Parliamentary constituency boundaries
On the 11th of January 2012, Boundary Commission for Wales (the Commission) published comprehensive details of its initial proposals for a revised constituency map. The launch sees the start of a 12 week public consultation period during which the Commission asks people to ‘have their say’ either by submitting a written representation or by making an oral one at one of five hearings that will take place across Wales.
The new rules mean there will be substantial changes to Parliamentary constituencies across the UK. In Wales these implications include:
- Reducing the number of parliamentary constituencies in Wales from 40 to 30
- Making sure constituencies have a more equal level of registered electors and are between 95% and 105% of the UK Electoral Quota of 76,641 electors.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 4th April 2012
Boundary Commission for Wales - The 2013 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies in Wales
The Commission is now publishing their initial proposals for public consultation. Those proposals take careful account of developments since the last general review, in particular the fundamental change to the legislation. It is emphasised, however, that the proposals are all provisional. Great importance is attached to the opportunity now given for all concerned to make representations to the Commission, whether in support of or objecting to the proposals. The Commission have decided to publish initial proposals for the whole of Wales in a single document. Whereas in previous reviews it was possible to present proposals by reference to the 8 preserved counties of Wales, this is no longer possible. It has been necessary to conduct this review on an all-Wales basis. We encourage you to comment, whether in support of or objection to our initial proposals - we will consider all representations fairly and may revise the constituency boundaries as a result. You can have your say by writing in (either by emailing us at bcomm.wales@wales.gsi.gov.uk or by writing to the Boundary Commission for Wales). During February and March 2012 we will hold a series of public hearings where the public will be able to give their views in person.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 4th April 2012
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills - Proposals to Align Nine Directives with the New Legislative Framework: Consultation
This consultation seeks your views on the European Commission’s Proposals to align a package of nine Directives to the New Legislative Framework.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 6th April 2012
Food Standards Agency - The Materials and Articles in Contact With Food (Wales) Regulations 2012
The Food Standards Agency in Wales is seeking comments from industry, enforcement authorities, port health authorities, consumers and other interested stakeholders on the Materials and Articles in Contact with Food (Wales) Regulations 2012 and the associated draft impact assessment.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 9th April 2012
Department for Work and Pensions - Draft Occupational Pension Schemes and Pension Protection Fund (Equality) (Amendment) Regulations 2012
This consultation concerns amendments to the Equality Act 2010 and the Pensions Act 2004 to reflect development in the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union. These developments in European law mean that, where a pension scheme is equalising its benefits as between men and women, it has to assume a notional comparator where the inequality is a result of the Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP) provisions in the Pension Schemes Act 1993.
This consultation is particularly aimed at trustees and managers of contracted-out defined benefit schemes and their advisers.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 12th April 2012
Welsh Government - Draft Guidance in support Statutory Recovery Targets set under Waste (Wales) Measure 2010
The Guidance is prepared under section 7 of the Waste (Wales) Measure 2010. It supports the definitions in the Order and the monitoring regime set under regulations 4 and 5 of the Regulations.
This Guidance will provide clarity on:
• the definitions of recycling, preparation for re-use and composting contained in the Order; and
• the monitoring and reporting requirements contained in the Regulations.
We are also seeking your views on proposals to introduce legislation that will define the position on:
• the de-watering (the removal of water from) anaerobic digestion (AD) digestate (what is left after digestion) from facilities; and
• how the recovery rates from AD, composting and the recycling of IBA and air pollution control residues (APCR) are calculated for facilities that take materials from multiple sources.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 16th April 2012
Department for Culture, Media and Sport - Gambling Act 2005: Legislative Reform Orders
The Government is seeking views of two proposals to use powers under the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 (LRRA) to amend the Gambling Act 2005 by means of a Legislative Reform Order (LRO) to:
i. remove restrictions on the employment of people under the age of 18 years at a track with a betting premises licence;
ii. remove restrictions on the availability of entitlements to gaming machines at premises selling alcohol at airports.
These restrictions serve no regulatory purpose and have arisen purely as unintended consequences stemming from the implementation of the Gambling Act. In the case of tracks it is proposed to create an exemption for tracks to allow them to employ under-18s in non-gambling roles when betting might be taking place. In the case of premises selling alcohol at airports it is proposed to allow such premises to take advantage of the same gaming machine entitlements that are available to other alcohol licenced premises elsewhere in Great Britain.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 16th April 2012
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs - European Marine and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)
This consultation seeks your views on proposals on the European Commission’s proposals for the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.
The European Commission published their proposals for the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) that will replace the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) from 1 January 2014 until 31 December 2020.
The EMFF is structured around four pillars:
- Smart, Green Fisheries; intended to help address discards, support fisheries which are less damaging to the marine environment, support innovation value added, and build resilience to external factors;
- Smart, Green Aquaculture; which aims to help aquaculture businesses achieve economic viability and competitiveness;
- Sustainable Development of Fisheries Areas; targeted at reversing the decline of many coastal and inland communities dependent on fishing; and
- Integrated Maritime Policy (IMP); which includes a number of cross cutting measures including maritime surveillance, data sharing, Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) and Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM). The funding under this pillar will be held by the Commission and centrally distributed.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 18th April 2012
Department for Work and Pensions - Personal Independence Payment: assessment thresholds and consultation
This consultation is intended to seek views on the second draft of the assessment criteria for Personal Independence Payment and in particular on the changes that have been made since the first draft, the proposed descriptor weightings and entitlement thresholds and the draft regulations. At this stage in the development process we do not envisage making significant changes to the broad principles or scope of the assessment and so are not seeking views on these.
The Department is keen to hear views from all interested parties but in particular from disabled people and disability organisations.
To view this consultation, click here. Closing date: 30th April 2012
Race Equality First - All Wales Hate Crime Research Project
All Wales Hate Crime Research Project: Survey to help raise awareness of hate crime and incidents in Wales and improve support for victims
Race Equality First would like to invite you to share your views and experience of hate crime and hate-related incidents in Wales, by participating in a survey that forms an important part of the All Wales Hate Crime Project. This Project is being led by Race Equality First in partnership with Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan Equality and Human Rights Network and Cardiff University and has been generously funded by the Big Lottery Fund.
The survey is being undertaken by the independent research organisation Ipsos MORI, and is designed to be completed by both victims and non-victims of hate crimes and incidents.
Please indicate your interest in participating in the survey online, by registering your email address at the survey website:
http://www.waleshatecrimeresearch.com/
If you have previously completed this survey in a hard-copy format and sent it back to Ipsos MORI, you do not need to complete the survey again.
For more information on the project please visit our website: www.waleshatecrimeresearch.org.uk
Welsh Government - Website Customer Satisfaction Survey
This is an information-gathering activity on behalf of the Welsh Government aimed at improving and developing our website to meet your needs and expectations.
Things move fast on the web. Check out www.wales.gov.uk if you haven't done so recently. The answers you provide help us improve the site. The survey is anonymous and all the information you provide will be kept secure and totally confidential.
The survey should take less than 5 minutes to complete - Click here.
