Further and Higher Education (Governance and Information) (Wales) Act 2014
The Further and Higher Education (Governance and Information) (Wales) Act 2014 (‘the Act’) makes provision to give effect to proposals to increase college freedoms, giving them greater control over their own governance and dissolution arrangements. It does not change the principal powers of colleges to provide further, higher and (within some limits) secondary education. A key consideration informing the provisions is the decision by the Office of National Statistics to reclassify Further Education institutions (FEIs) as part of central government for the purpose of National Accounts.
The Act also modernises the delivery of student finance by making it more efficient. It establishes a legal basis for His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to supply information to the Welsh Ministers (and others acting on behalf of or exercising functions for the Welsh Ministers) in connection with student loans and grants.
The Explanatory Notes to the Act provide detailed commentary on the various provisions.
Coming into force
Sections 9, 11 and 12 came into force on 27 January 2014, which is the day the Act received Royal Assent, in accordance with section 11(1).
The other provisions of this Act come into force on a day appointed by the Welsh Ministers by order made by statutory instrument, in accordance with section 11(2).
The following Order has been made:
Subordinate legislation made under the Act:
No subordinate legislation has been made under the Act.
Consideration of the legislation by the Senedd
The Bill was introduced on 29 April 2013 by Leighton Andrews AM, who was the Minister for Education and Skills at the time. Following a change in ministerial portfolios in June 2013, the First Minister authorised Huw Lewis AM, Minister for Education and Skills, as the new Member in Charge of the Bill, from 26 June 2013. The Bill was passed by Senedd Cymru (known then as the National Assembly for Wales) on 3 December 2013.
More information about the Bill is available on the Senedd’s website, including a record of the passage of the Bill through the Senedd and the Explanatory Memorandum that was prepared by the Welsh Government (at introduction of the Bill).
The Act received Royal Assent on 27 January 2014.
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