Commentary on Sections Part 3 – Repeals of Welsh Legislation Part 11 – Welsh Development Agency
169.The Welsh Development Agency (WDA) was established under the Welsh Development Agency Act 1975 and was responsible for encouraging business development and investment in Wales, clearing derelict land and encouraging the growth of local businesses. The Welsh Development Agency Act 1997 increased the financial limits of the WDA.
170.The WDA was abolished in 2006 and its functions were transferred to the Welsh Ministers(19) and the Welsh Government is now responsible for supporting and encouraging business development and investment in Wales.
171.The Welsh Development Agency Act 1997 is redundant, and therefore paragraph 48 of this Schedule to the Act repeals that Act.
172.The Industry Act 1979 (‘the 1979 Act’) raised the borrowing limits of the National Enterprise Board, the Scottish Development Agency and the WDA. Along with the WDA, the other two bodies have also ceased to exist. The 1979 Act has been repealed already insofar as it applies to the National Enterprise Board and the Scottish Development Agency. It remains unrepealed only in relation to the WDA. Since this body no longer exists, the 1979 Act is also now obsolete. Paragraph 46 of this Schedule to the Act therefore also repeals the 1979 Act.
173.The Act amends the Industry Act 1980, which was enacted to reduce the powers of the WDA, the Scottish Development Agency and the National Enterprise Board. These three bodies were to cease to hold shares in companies, in accordance with the (then) Government’s policy of shrinking the public sector. The provisions of the Industry Act 1980 repealed by the Act contain amendments of other enactments that are all now redundant.
174.The Act also (at paragraph 49) amends the Government of Wales Act 1998 (‘the 1998 Act’) in relation to the abolition of the WDA: