7. 7. Public Sector Decarbonisation

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:47 pm on 27 June 2017.

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Photo of David Melding David Melding Conservative 4:47, 27 June 2017

I certainly do expect it to continue. I can’t speak for the DUP but I can speak for the Welsh Conservative Party, and we acknowledge man-made climate change. So, our approach is one of supporting and encouraging the Welsh Government, actually, to go further.

But, anyway, we could move more quickly here, and it’s a pity that we haven’t. I realise I’m going to run out of time if I’m not careful. Can I turn to another, I think, inspiring piece of legislation—the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015? It’s quite clear that it has raised expectations across Welsh economic and public life, and that’s important, but one area of disappointment that’s been picked up by WWF Cymru and Chwarae Teg, and has been picked up by our Assembly committees, and the Finance Committee, which the Member, who has just intervened, Simon Thomas, chairs, is that we’ve been relatively slow in embedding that Act into our own budget-setting procedures. Now, in fairness to the finance Secretary, who is listening to this debate, I’m pleased to say, I thought he gave some ground during the budget process in saying, ‘Well, you know, we’re just starting out but we do realise we’re well short of where we want to be in utilising the future generations Act’. But there, again, I think we need to get that Act really effective in our own budget processes as soon as possible so that they help also to shape the decisions we’ll be making to reduce carbon emissions.

I thank you for your indulgence, Deputy Presiding Officer.