Leighton Andrews, Minister for Public Services
This was published under the 2011 to 2016 administration of the Welsh Government
I would like to inform Assembly Members that a consultation document on “Ask and Act” has been published on the Welsh Government website.
The consultation relates to draft statutory guidance to be issued under section 15 of the Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015 (‘the 2015 Act’). In addition to this, the consultation also relates to guidance to be issued under section 60 of the Government of Wales Act 2006. Both sets of guidance will form the consultation document on “Ask and Act”.
The draft guidance outlines specific requirements on relevant authorities (as defined in section 14 of the Act) in relation to “Ask and Act” - a principles based approach to targeted enquiry for violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence throughout the public service.
The consultation will run for 12 weeks until 27 January 2016. It is crucial that the views of stakeholders inform future development of this guidance and I will consider these carefully prior to laying the guidance issued under section 15 of the 2015 Act before the Assembly.