152.This section provides for the establishment of the National Institute for Learning Welsh. The Learning Welsh Institute will be a corporate body with its own legal personality with specific powers and duties in relation to facilitating and supporting the learning of Welsh.
153.Schedule 2 is introduced by this section, which confirms that the Learning Welsh Institute is not a Crown body and makes provision in relation to members, staff, procedures and financial matters. The Schedule also makes minor amendments and consequential provisions to primary legislation.
154.The members of the Learning Welsh Institute are the chair and between six and ten non-executive members, appointed by the Welsh Ministers. The chief executive is an executive member and the chief executive and non-executive members may appoint up to two members of staff to be executive members. The Welsh Ministers may, by regulations, change the number of non-executive and executive members appointed, but the number of non-executive members must always exceed the number of executive members.
155.The first chief executive will be appointed by the Welsh Ministers, with non-executive members appointing the successors. The chief executive is a member of staff at the Learning Welsh Institute and, in that capacity, is also an accounting officer. However, paragraphs 15(2) to (3) of Schedule 2 allow another member of staff to be an accounting officer where the chief executive is unable to fulfil the responsibilities as an accounting officer (e.g. due to a period of long-term ill health), or where there is no chief executive, and during the period until a chief executive is appointed.
156.Schedule 2 also contains provisions about the committees and sub-committees of the Learning Welsh Institute, audit and accounts, procedures, register of interests and supplementary powers.
Commentary on Sections Part 5 - National Institute for Learning Welsh and Schedule 2 - National Institute for Learning Welsh Section 38 - National Institute for Learning Welsh