MS, Minister for Further and
Higher Education: The Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act
2022 (“the 2022 Act”) created a new statutory framework for
publicly funded tertiary education and research in Wales. It also
established the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research
(now known as Medr) and dissolved the Higher Education Funding
Council for Wales.
Since Medr became operational in August 2024, its functions as
provided for in the 2022 Act have been brought into force in
phases. The next phase is planned for April this year. As a
consequence of this, a small number of technical amendments are
required to UK government legislation that extend otherwise than
only to England and Wales, or that relate to matters which are
reserved to the UK Parliament.
Section 150 of the Government of Wales Act 2006 (“GoWA”) enables
the Secretary of State, by way of an Order, to make changes to UK
government legislation in consequence of any provision made by an
Act of Senedd Cymru or subordinate legislation made under those
Acts.
The Secretary of State for Wales is using this power to make the
technical amendments needed to UK government legislation in
consequence of the 2022 Act and the Tertiary Education and
Research (Wales) Act 2022 (Commencement No.4 and Transitory and
Transitional Provisions) Order 2024 made under that Act.
As such, the Secretary State for Wales laid a draft
of The Tertiary
Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022 (Consequential
Amendments) Order 2026 before
the UK Parliament on 2 February for approval.
