Part of Questions to the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip – in the Senedd at 2:45 pm on 18 June 2019.
I think there's a recognition, even through the topical question to me earlier on this month from Andrew R.T. Davies and from discussions we've had in questions to the First Minister, how important the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 is to us, and how important it is that it is now adopted by the public sector, who are responsible for delivering on those seven goals and the five ways of working. It is helping to drive a renewed focus on how the Welsh Government improves how it engages, involving the diversity of the population of Wales, and I think the example of 'Planning Policy Wales' and the national development framework is a really good example of that. It does take strong leadership from us all to move to the Wales we want and, of course, including the commissioner, we have to work with our partners and particularly those who are local authorities, but those who are making those decisions, particularly around planning, to realise the benefits of this Act. But it is a fundamental part of the policy framework.
And, indeed, we do provide a package of national support for regional funding and regular drop-in sessions to help public services boards implement the Act. We have a cross-Government group of senior officials to look at ways we can accelerate the implementation of the Act, informed by our work with the third sector. I think it's very welcome that this Assembly has embraced the well-being of future generations Act by recommending that the Welsh Government uses the integrated impact assessment tool to assess the impact of all new policy on equality, children's rights, the Welsh language, rural-proofing and biodiversity. So, it is embedded now in the way that we work, and it is embedded in those who are responsible, our public bodies, to deliver on it, particularly in relation to sustainable development.