Local Authorities Duty to Secure Sufficient Play Opportunities as of 1st July 2014

Written statement by Vaughan Gething, Deputy Minister for Tackling Poverty

I am pleased to inform Assembly Members that sections 11(3) and 11(4) of the Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010 will be commenced on 1st July 2014.

Section 11(3) will place a duty on Local Authorities to secure sufficient play opportunities for children in their areas, so far as reasonably practicable, having regard to their play sufficiency assessments. Section 11(4) will require Local Authorities to publish information about play opportunities in their areas and keep this information up to date.

The commencement will be followed by Statutory Guidance to support Local Authorities in complying with this duty. Section 70 of the same Measure will be commenced on 30th June 2014 to bring fully into force the Welsh Ministers powers to issue guidance under the Measure.

This will complete the commencement of section 11, Play Opportunities of the Children & Families (Wales) Measure 2010.

I am confident that this legislation will take forward our agenda for children’s play in Wales and our commitment to continue to improve opportunities for all children and young people to play in safety and, in particular, to support improved access to play for children with disabilities.