A Welsh Government sponsored body (WGSB) is a

non-departmental public body In the United Kingdom, non-departmental public body (NDPB) is a classification applied by the Cabinet Office, Treasury, the Scottish Government, and the Northern Ireland Executive to public sector organisations that have a role in the process o ...

directly funded by the

Welsh Government The Welsh Government ( ) is the Executive (government), executive arm of the Welsh devolution, devolved government of Wales. The government consists of Cabinet secretary, cabinet secretaries and Minister of State, ministers. It is led by the F ...

. Under the

Government of Wales Act 1998 A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state. In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government is a ...

the bodies were sponsored by the

National Assembly for Wales The Senedd ( ; ), officially known as the Welsh Parliament in English and () in Welsh, is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Wales. A democratically elected body, Its role is to scrutinise the Welsh Government and legislate on devolve ...

and were known as an ''Assembly sponsored public body'', and this was changed by the Schedule 3 of the

Wales Act 2017 The Wales Act 2017 (c. 7) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It sets out amendments to the Government of Wales Act 2006 and devolves further powers to Wales. The legislation is based on the proposals of the St David's Day Comma ...

which amended the

Government of Wales Act 2006 The Government of Wales Act 2006 (c. 32) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed the then-National Assembly for Wales (now the Senedd) and allows further powers to be granted to it more easily. The Act creates a system ...

. Welsh Government sponsored bodies undertake various functions on behalf of the Welsh Ministers, but operate independently of the Welsh Government. Corporate governance is performed by a chair and board for each sponsored body, who are appointed by Welsh ministers, in accordance with governance code established by the

Commissioner for Public Appointments The Commissioner for Public Appointments is a British public servant, appointed by the King, whose primary role is to provide independent assurance that ministerial public appointments across the United Kingdom by HM Government Ministers (and devol ...

. The role and governance of sponsored bodies was stated by

Ken Skates Kenneth Christian Skates (born 2 April 1976) is a Welsh Labour politician who has served as Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales since March 2024. Skates has represented the constituency of Clwyd South in the Senedd since the elect ...

(Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure), in a written statement to the National Assembly, Sponsored bodies are subject to the

Freedom of Information Act 2000 The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (c. 36) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that creates a public right of access to information held by public authorities. It is the implementation of freedom of information legislation in t ...

, under Section 83, and have been given guidance by the

Information Commissioner's Office The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is a non-departmental public body which reports directly to the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. It is the independent regu ...

on how they should exercise this responsibility.

List of public bodies

Executive WGSBs

* Audit Wales *

Public Services Ombudsman for Wales The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales () was established bsection 1(1)of the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Act 2005. The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales brings together the jurisdictions of various offices he replaced, namely the Local ...

*Corporate Services and Inspectorates **

Agricultural Land Tribunal for Wales The Agricultural Land Tribunal for Wales (ALTW) is a tribunal sponsored by the Welsh Government that deal with disputes related to agricultural holdings. It is established under Section 73 of the Agriculture Act 1947, and also has powers under ...

Care Inspectorate Wales The Care Inspectorate Wales (formerly known as Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales) () is a scrutiny body which supports improvement. They look at the quality of care in Wales to ensure it meets high standards. Where improvement is nee ...

** Centre for Digital Public Services ** Education Tribunal for Wales ** Future Generations Commissioner for Wales **

Healthcare Inspectorate Wales Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) (, AGIC) is the national healthcare improvement organisation for Wales. It is a public body which is part of NHS Wales and created in April 2004. History The function of this body is to implement the healthc ...

** Valuation Tribunal for Wales ** Welsh Revenue Authority *Education, Culture and Welsh Language ** Adnodd Cyf **

Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales, branded as simply Amgueddfa Cymru (formerly the National Museums and Galleries of Wales and legally National Museum of Wales), is a Welsh Government sponsored body that comprises seven museums in Wales: * N ...

Cadw (, a Welsh verbal noun meaning "keeping/preserving") is the historic environment service of the Welsh Government and part of the Tourism and Culture group. works to protect the historic buildings and structures, the landscapes and heritage ...

Careers Wales A career is an individual's metaphorical "journey" through learning, work and other aspects of life. There are a number of ways to define career and the term is used in a variety of ways. Definitions The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' defines ...

Education Workforce Council The Education Workforce Council (EWC; ; CGA) is the independent and professional regulator for the education workforce in Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by ...

National Academy for Educational Leadership National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, ce ...

National Library of Wales The National Library of Wales (, ) in Aberystwyth is the national legal deposit library of Wales and is one of the Welsh Government sponsored bodies. It is the biggest library in Wales, holding over 6.5 million books and periodicals, and the l ...

Planning and Environment Decisions Wales Planning is the process of thinking regarding the activities required to achieve a desired goal. Planning is based on foresight, the fundamental capacity for mental time travel. Some researchers regard the evolution of forethought - the capaci ...

Estyn Estyn is the education and training inspectorate for Wales. Its name comes from the Welsh language verb meaning 'to reach (out), stretch or extend'. Its function is to provide an independent inspection and advice service on quality and stand ...

Qualifications Wales Qualifications Wales () is a Welsh Government sponsored body, responsible for the recognition of awarding bodies and the review and approval of non-degree qualifications in Wales. It was established by the Qualifications Wales Act 2015 and beca ...

** Student Finance Wales ** Third Sector Partnership Council **

Welsh Language Commissioner The Welsh Language Commissioner () is a Welsh Government officer, overseeing an independent advisory body of the same name. The position was created following the passing of the ''Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011'', effective on 1 April 201 ...

*Health, Social Care and Early Years **

NHS Wales NHS Wales () is the publicly-funded healthcare system in Wales, and one of the four systems which make up the National Health Service () in the United Kingdom. NHS Wales was formed as part of the public health system for England and Wales crea ...

*** All Wales Therapeutics and Toxicology Centre *** Public Health Wales ***

Welsh Ambulance Service The Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust (), or simply the Welsh Ambulance Service, is the national ambulance service for Wales. As of April 2025, it has 3,500 staff providing ambulance and related services to the 3 million residents o ...

*** NHS Wales Executive *** NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee *** Shared Services Partnership ***Regional boards **** Aneurin Bevan University Health Board ****

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) () is the local health board of NHS Wales for the north of Wales. It is the largest health organisation in Wales, providing a full range of primary, community, mental health, and acute hospital se ...

****

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (CAVUHB; ) is the local health board of NHS Wales for Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan, in the South-east Wales, south-east of Wales. Formed on 1 October 2009 through the amalgamation of three NHS organisati ...

****

Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board (CTMUHB) () is the local health board of NHS Wales for Merthyr Tydfil County Borough, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf, and Bridgend County Borough, Bridgend in the south of Wales. It was renamed from '' ...

****

Hywel Dda University Health Board Hywel Dda University Health Board (HDUHB) () is the local health board of NHS Wales for the west of Wales. Established on 1 October 2009 from the merger of the Hywel Dda NHS Trust, the Pembrokeshire Local Health Board, Ceredigion Local Health B ...

**** Powys Teaching Health Board **** Swansea Bay University Health Board ** Cafcass Cymru ** Digital Health and Care Wales ** Health Education and Improvement Wales **

Higher Education Funding Council for Wales The Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) was the Welsh Government Sponsored Body responsible for funding the higher education sector. It was replaced by Medr, the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research from August 2024. ...

(replaced by Medr) ** Llais (Wales) **

Older People's Commissioner for Wales The Older People's Commissioner for Wales () is responsible for protecting older people's rights as set out in the United Nations Principles for Older Persons. The Commissioner's function is to advocate for the rights of people older than 60 an ...

** Prison Health and Social Care National Oversight Group ** Social Care Wales *Local Government, Housing, Climate Change and Rural Affairs ** Design Commission for Wales ** Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales ** Meat Promotion Wales **

Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru The Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru () is a Welsh Government sponsored body, responsible for defining local government boundaries and Senedd constituency boundaries in Wales, also known as . The Commission was established originally as ...

** National Adviser for Violence against Women and other forms of Gender-based Violence, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence **

Natural Resources Wales Natural Resources Wales () is a Welsh Government sponsored body, which became operational from 1 April 2013, when it took over the management of the natural resources of Wales. It was formed from a merger of the Countryside Council for Wales, E ...

Sport Wales Sport Wales ( Welsh: ''Chwaraeon Cymru'') is the national organisation responsible for developing and promoting sport and physical activity in Wales. Working alongside partners such as governing bodies of sport and local authorities, they aim t ...

Cardiff Airport Cardiff Airport () is an airport in Rhoose, Vale of Glamorgan. It is the only airport offering commercial passenger services and cargo services in Wales. The airport is owned by the Welsh Government, operating it at arm's length as a commercia ...

*Economy, Energy and Transport ** Cwmni Egino **

Development Bank of Wales The Development Bank of Wales (branded as simply Banc; ) is a Welsh development bank that provides financial support for Welsh businesses and is owned by the Welsh Government. The bank provides loans for businesses to start up, strengthen and gro ...

** Global Centre for Rail Excellence ** Industry Wales ** International Business Wales ** Residential Property Tribunal Wales **

Transport for Wales Transport for Wales (TfW; ; ) is a not-for-profit company owned by the Welsh Government and managed at arms length by its appointed board. TfW oversees the Transport for Wales Group (TfW Group) consisting of itself and its subsidiaries: Trans ...

** Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru ** Residential Property Tribunal Wales

Former executive WGSBs

These organisations have now been integrated into their respective departments. * ELWa – The National Council for Education and Training for Wales * Health Professions Wales * Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales * Wales Tourist Board *

Welsh Development Agency Welsh Development Agency (WDA; ) was an executive agency (or QUANGO) and later designated an Assembly Sponsored Public Body (ASPB). Established in 1976, it was tasked with rescuing the ailing Welsh economy by encouraging business development and ...

* Welsh Language Board

Advisory WGSBs

* Agricultural Dwelling House Advisory Committee * All Wales Medicines Strategy Group * Ancient Monuments Board for Wales * Historic Buildings Council for Wales * Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales * Social Services Inspectorate for Wales Advisory Group * Welsh Centre for Post-Graduate Pharmaceutical Education * Welsh Dental Committee * Welsh Industrial Development Advisory Board * Welsh Medical Committee * Welsh Nursing and Midwifery Committee * Welsh Optometric Committee * Welsh Pharmaceutical Committee * Welsh Scientific Advisory Committee

Tribunals

* Adjudication Panel Wales * Agricultural Land Tribunal (Wales) * Mental Health Review Tribunal for Wales * Registered Inspectors of Schools Appeals Tribunal for Wales *Registered Nursery Education Inspectors Appeal Tribunal *Residential Property Tribunal Wales * Rent Assessment Panel for Wales * Special Educational Needs Tribunal * Valuation Tribunal for Wales * Welsh Language Tribunal

Other bodies funded by the Welsh Government

Fire and Rescue Authorities * Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Authority * North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority * South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority

National Park Authorities A national park authority is a special term used in Great Britain for legal bodies charged with maintaining a national park of which, as of October 2021, there are ten in England, three in Wales and two in Scotland. The powers and duties of all su ...

* Eryri National Park Authority * Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority * Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority Principal councils *

Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council () is the governing body for Blaenau Gwent, one of the Subdivisions of Wales, Principal Areas of Wales. History The borough council was created in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 as a lower-tier Dist ...

Bridgend County Borough Council Bridgend County Borough Council () is the governing body for Bridgend County Borough, one of the principal areas of Wales. History Bridgend County Borough and its council came into effect from 1 April 1996, following the '' Local Government (W ...

Caerphilly County Borough Council Caerphilly County Borough Council () is the governing body for Caerphilly County Borough, one of the principal areas of Wales. The last full council elections took place 5 May 2022. Political control The first election to the new council was h ...

Cardiff Council Cardiff Council, formally the County Council of the City and County of Cardiff () is the governing body for Cardiff, one of the Administrative divisions of Wales, principal areas of Wales. The principal area and its council were established ...

Carmarthenshire County Council Carmarthenshire County Council ( or ''Cyngor Sir Gaerfyrddin'') is the local authority for the county of Carmarthenshire, Wales. It provides a range of services including education, planning, transport, social services and public safety. The co ...

Conwy County Borough Council Conwy County Borough Council () is the local authority for Conwy County Borough, one of the principal areas of Wales. History Conwy County Borough was created in 1996 under the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994, which replaced the previous two ...

Denbighshire County Council Denbighshire County Council is the unitary authority, unitary local authority for the county of Denbighshire, one of the principal areas of Wales, principal areas of Wales. The council is based at County Hall, Ruthin, County Hall in Ruthin. Ther ...

Flintshire County Council Flintshire County Council is the unitary local authority for the county of Flintshire, one of the principal areas of Wales. It is based at Tŷ Dewi Sant, Ewloe since 2025. It was previously based at County Hall in Mold. Elections take place ...

Isle of Anglesey County Council The Isle of Anglesey County Council () is the local authority for the Isle of Anglesey, a principal areas of Wales, principal area with county status in Wales. Since 2022 the council has 35 councillors who represent 14 multi-member electoral war ...

Monmouthshire County Council Monmouthshire County Council (or simply Monmouthshire Council) () is the governing body for the Monmouthshire principal area – one of the unitary authorities of Wales. The current unitary authority was created in 1996 and covers the eastern ...

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council () is the governing body for Merthyr Tydfil County Borough, one of the Principal Areas of Wales. History The parish of Merthyr Tydfil was governed by a local board from 1850 until 1894, when it was replace ...

Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council (or simply Neath Port Talbot Council) is the local authority for the county borough of Neath Port Talbot, one of the 22 Principal areas of Wales, principal areas of Wales. The council was controlled by the ...

Newport City Council Newport City Council () is the governing body for Newport, one of the principal areas of Wales. It consists of 51 councillors, who represent the city's 20 wards. The council is currently, and has historically been, held by the Labour Party. ...

Pembrokeshire County Council Pembrokeshire County Council () is the local authority for the county of Pembrokeshire, one of the principal areas of Wales. History There have been two bodies called Pembrokeshire County Council. The first existed from 1889 until 1974, and th ...

Powys County Council Powys County Council () is the local authority for Powys, one of the 22 principal areas of Wales. The council is based at County Hall in Llandrindod Wells. History The county of Powys was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act ...

Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council () is the governing body for Rhondda Cynon Taf, one of the principal areas of Wales. The council headquarters are at the Llys Cadwyn development in Pontypridd. History The council was established on 1 Ap ...

* City and County of Swansea Council *

Torfaen County Borough Council Torfaen County Borough Council () is the governing body for Torfaen, one of the Principal Areas of Wales. History The borough council was created in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 as a lower-tier district council with borough status. ...

Vale of Glamorgan Council The Vale of Glamorgan Council is the governing body for the Vale of Glamorgan, one of the Subdivisions of Wales, Principal Areas of Wales. History The new Vale of Glamorgan Council unitary authority came into effect on 1 April 1996, following th ...

Wrexham County Borough Council Wrexham County Borough Council () is the governing body for Wrexham County Borough, a principal area with city status in north Wales, covering Wrexham and the surrounding area. History Wrexham County Borough Council was created in 1996 under the ...

Notes

References

External links

Current list of Welsh Government sponsored bodies
Welsh Government {{UK-gov-stub