WHO'S WHO IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FOR WALES

The National Assembly for Wales and The Welsh Assembly Government

The responsibilty for health and social services in Wales, including mental health, lies with the National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government. The important role of the National Assembly is to develop and implement policies which reflect the particular needs of the people of Wales.

The Assembly Government is the executive arm of the Assembly and has the power to fund, direct and make appointments to NHS bodies in Wales and hold them to account, and to implement policies on care in the community.

Further information about how the Assembly operates can be accessed through the websites for:

the Welsh Assembly Government at        http://new.wales.gov.uk

the National Assembly for Wales at         www.assemblywales.org

Key figures for Mental Health in the Assembly

The Minister for Health and Social Services within the Assembly Government is:

Edwina Hart (Assembly Member for Gower) is the Assembly Minister for Health and Social Services.

The Health, Wellbeing and Local Government Committee is the key National Assembly committee for mental health. It is termed a Scrutiny Committee and, as this terms suggests, its key role is to examine the Government's policies, actions and spending on health and social services, and to hold Ministers to account and also keep an eye on government bodies and agencies within this field.

The Health, Wellbeing and Local Government Committee is chaired by Darren Milar (Assembly Member for Clwyd West)

For more information on the Assembly's Health and Social Service structure, click here.