The First Minister has announced the Welsh Assembly Government's new legislative programme for 2008-9.

The five proposed Assembly Measures are:

• Child Poverty - to provide greater support to children and families experiencing poverty and encompass a number of initiatives such as a duty on public agencies to demonstrate their contribution to ending child poverty and to provide free childcare places and other early years' services in specific areas.
• Additional Learning Needs - to extend the range of individuals who may appeal to the Special Educational Needs Tribunal for Wales.
• Charging for non-residential social care - use the powers gained through the Domiciliary Care LCO to establish a fairer and more consistent approach to charging for specified services levied by local authorities.
• Better local services - in the wake of the Beecham report, a Measure for local government which will require local partners to co-operate in effective and joined-up community planning and service improvement based on greater engagement with citizens and a fuller understanding of local priorities.
• Affordable Housing - subject to the approval of the Affordable Housing LCO, the Assembly Government will develop a Measure giving local authorities the power to apply to Welsh Ministers to designate areas of housing pressure where the Right to Buy may be suspended for a limited period.

The Welsh Assembly Government will seek further powers to bring forward legislation through Legislative Competence Orders to enable it to legislate to:

• provide support for carers by placing appropriate duties on public sector organisations;
• place a statutory obligation on local authorities to promote culture and encourage partnership to deliver high quality cultural experiences for their communities;
• provide for Further Education Institutions (FEIs) in Wales to have the power to award foundation degrees.

The press release is available to download from the Welsh Assembly Government’s website.