Government of Wales Act 1998

114Relations with voluntary organisations

(1)The Assembly shall make a scheme setting out how it proposes, in the exercise of its functions, to promote the interests of relevant voluntary organisations.

(2)In this section “relevant voluntary organisations” means bodies (other than local authorities or other public bodies) whose activities—

(a)are carried on otherwise than for profit, and

(b)directly or indirectly benefit the whole or any part of Wales (whether or not they also benefit any other area).

(3)In determining the provision to be included in the scheme the Assembly shall consider how it intends to exercise such of its functions as relate to matters affecting, or of concern to, relevant voluntary organisations.

(4)The scheme shall specify—

(a)how the Assembly proposes to provide assistance to relevant voluntary organisations (whether by grants, loans, guarantees or any other means),

(b)how the Assembly proposes to monitor the use made of any assistance provided by it to relevant voluntary organisations, and

(c)how the Assembly proposes to consult relevant voluntary organisations about the exercise of such of its functions as relate to matters affecting, or of concern to, such organisations.

(5)The Assembly shall keep the scheme under review and in the year following each ordinary election (after the first) shall consider whether it should be remade or revised.

(6)The Assembly may not delegate the function of making, or remaking or revising, the scheme.

(7)The Assembly shall publish the scheme when first made and whenever subsequently remade and, if the scheme is revised without being remade, shall publish either the revisions or the scheme as revised (as it considers appropriate).

(8)The Assembly shall consult such relevant voluntary organisations as it considers appropriate before making, remaking or revising the scheme.

(9)After each financial year the Assembly shall publish a report of how its proposals as set out in the scheme were implemented in that financial year.