Education (Wales) Measure 2009

Disability discrimination claimsW

[F19Right of a child to make a disability discrimination claimW

(1)Schedule 17 to the Equality Act 2010 is amended in accordance with this section.

(2)In the heading to paragraph 3 (jurisdiction), after “Jurisdiction” insert “— England and Wales”.

(3)After paragraph 3 insert—

“3AJurisdiction — Wales

(1)A claim that a responsible body for a school in Wales has contravened Chapter 1 of Part 6 in relation to a person because of disability may be made to the Tribunal by that person (“the relevant person”).

(2)But this paragraph does not apply to a claim to which paragraph 13 or 14 applies.

(3)The relevant person’s right to claim is exercisable concurrently with the right of the relevant person’s parent under paragraph 3.

(4)The exercise of rights under this paragraph is subject to provision made by regulations under paragraphs 6 and 6A.”.]

[F210[F2Time for bringing proceedings]W

(1)Schedule 17 to the Equality Act 2010 is amended in accordance with this section.

(2)In paragraph 4 (time for bringing proceedings), after sub-paragraph (2), insert—

“(2A)If, in relation to proceedings or prospective proceedings on a claim under paragraph 3 or 3A, the dispute is referred for resolution in pursuance of arrangements under paragraph 6C or for conciliation in pursuance of arrangements under section 27 of the Equality Act 2006 before the end of the period of 6 months mentioned in sub-paragraph (1), that period is extended by 3 months.”.]

[F311[F3Tribunal procedure]W

(1)Schedule 17 to the Equality Act 2010 is amended in accordance with this section.

(2)In paragraph 6 (procedure)—

(a)in sub-paragraph (2)(a), after “paragraph 3” insert “or 3A”;

(b)after sub-paragraph (3)(c), insert “(ca) for adding and substituting parties;”.]

F412Case friendsW

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[F513[F5Advice and information]W

(1)Schedule 17 to the Equality Act 2010 is amended in accordance with this section.

(2)After paragraph 6A (case friends — Wales) insert—

“6BAdvice and information — Wales

(1)A local authority in Wales must arrange for any disabled child in its area and for the case friend of any such child to be provided with advice and information about matters relating to disability discrimination in schools.

(2)In making the arrangements, the local authority must have regard to any guidance given by the Welsh Ministers.

(3)The arrangements must comply with any provisions made in regulations by the Welsh Ministers that relate to the arrangements.

(4)The local authority must take such steps as it considers appropriate for making the services provided under sub-paragraph (1) known to—

(a)disabled children in its area,

(b)parents of disabled children in its area,

(c)head teachers and proprietors of schools in its area, and

(d)such other persons as it considers appropriate.”.]

[F614[F6Resolution of disputes]W

(1)Schedule 17 to the Equality Act 2010 is amended in accordance with this section.

(2)After paragraph 6B (advice and information — Wales) insert—

“6CResolution of disputes — Wales

(1)A local authority in Wales must make arrangements with a view to avoiding or resolving disagreements between responsible bodies and disabled children in its area about contraventions of Chapter 1 of Part 6.

(2)The arrangements must provide for the appointment of independent persons with the functions of facilitating the avoidance or resolution of such disagreements.

(3)In making the arrangements, the local authority must have regard to any guidance given by the Welsh Ministers.

(4)The arrangements must comply with any provisions made in regulations by the Welsh Ministers that relate to the arrangements.

(5)The local authority must take such steps as it considers appropriate for making the arrangements under sub-paragraph (1) known to—

(a)disabled children in its area,

(b)parents of disabled children in its area,

(c)head teachers and proprietors of schools in its area, and

(d)such other persons as it considers appropriate.

(6)The arrangements cannot affect the entitlement of any person to make a claim to the Tribunal, and the local authority must take such steps as it considers appropriate to make that fact known to disabled children, to parents of disabled children and to case friends for disabled children in its area.”.]

[F715[F7Independent advocacy services]W

(1)Schedule 17 to the Equality Act 2010 is amended in accordance with this section.

(2)After paragraph 6C (resolution of disputes — Wales) insert—

“6DIndependent advocacy services — Wales

(1)Every local authority in Wales must—

(a)make arrangements for the provision of independent advocacy services in its area;

(b)refer any disabled child in its area who requests independent advocacy services to a service provider;

(c)refer any person who is a case friend for a disabled child in its area and who requests independent advocacy services to a service provider.

(2)In this paragraph “independent advocacy services” are services providing advice and assistance (by way of representation or otherwise) to a disabled child who is—

(a)making, or intending to make a claim that a responsible body has contravened Chapter 1 of Part 6 because of the child’s disability; or

(b)considering whether to make such a claim; or

(c)taking part in or intending to take part in dispute resolution arrangements made under paragraph 6C.

(3)In making arrangements under this paragraph, every local authority must have regard to the principle that any services provided under the arrangements must be independent of any person who is—

(a)the subject of a claim to the Tribunal, or

(b)involved in investigating or adjudicating on such a claim.

(4)The arrangements must comply with any provisions made in regulations by the Welsh Ministers that relate to the arrangements.

(5)Every local authority in Wales must take such steps as it considers appropriate for making the arrangements under this paragraph known to—

(a)disabled children in its area,

(b)parents of disabled children in its area,

(c)head teachers and proprietors of schools in its area, and

(d)such other persons as it considers appropriate.

(6)The arrangements may include provision for payments to be made to, or in relation to, any person carrying out functions in accordance with the arrangements.

(7)A local authority must have regard to any guidance given from time to time by the Welsh Ministers.”.]

[F816[F8Role of Welsh Ministers]W

(1)Schedule 17 to the Equality Act 2010 is amended in accordance with this section.

(2)After paragraph 6D (independent advocacy services — Wales) insert—

“6EPower of direction — Wales

(1)If the Welsh Ministers are satisfied (whether on a complaint or otherwise) that a local authority—

(a)has acted, or is proposing to act, unreasonably in the discharge of a duty imposed by or under paragraph 6B, 6C or 6D, or

(b)has failed to discharge a duty imposed by or under any of those paragraphs,

they may give that local authority such directions as to the discharge of the duty as appear to them to be expedient.

(2)A direction may be given under sub-paragraph (1) even if the performance of the duty is contingent on the opinion of the local authority.

(3)A direction—

(a)may be varied or revoked by the Welsh Ministers;

(b)may be enforced, on the application of the Welsh Ministers, by a mandatory order obtained in accordance with section 31 of the Senior Courts Act 1981.”.]