Commissioner for Older People (Wales) Bill [HL]

The Government share the view of the Assembly that it is not appropriate to place a requirement on the Assembly or any other person to respond to the commissioner’s annual report. Of course we agree that, if we want to oblige the commissioner to produce a report each year, it should follow that there is a mechanism for considering the observations and recommendations contained in it. I understand that it is the practice of the Assembly to hold a debate on the annual report of the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, which performs that function. That is also the Assembly’s intention in respect of the annual report produced by the Commissioner for Older People.