WIREDGOV

First Minister Carwyn Jones today has welcomed news of Royal Approval for four new Legislative Competence Orders.

The Orders, known as LCOs, have been made by the Queen in Privy Council. The Culture Duty, Transport, Local Government and School Governance LCOs confer law-making powers on the National Assembly for Wales.

The Transport LCO will enable the Assembly to legislate in relation to the types of vehicles used to provide learner transport and the safety features that they should have. It will allow the Welsh Assembly Government to build on its policy of improving safety for children and young people travelling to school or college, and to safeguard the long-term sustainability of concessionary travel for older people and the disabled.

The Local Government LCO will allow the National Assembly to legislate to strengthen the role of town and community councils, remove barriers and disincentives to people standing for election to community and unitary councils, improve relationships between tiers of local government and introduce a new system for councillor allowances.

The Culture Duty LCO will provide the competence to support the One Wales commitment to place a statutory obligation on local authorities to promote culture and encourage partnership to deliver high quality cultural experiences for their communities.  The Assembly Government's aim is to widen participation in the full range of artistic, cultural, sporting and recreational services and activities.

The school governance LCO will help us drive up standards of attainment and achievement for all learners in Wales by allowing the school governance arrangements to be strengthened and better supported.