4. How is the Welsh Government ensuring its compliance with the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015? OAQ54044

The Welsh Government has robust arrangements in place to ensure we are fulfilling the requirements of the well-being of future generations Act. We continue to collaborate with the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales and our partners to realise the benefits of the Act for Wales.

Thank you, Minister. And I don't think you could be criticised for not listening to the future generations commissioner when it came to the M4 decision recently. I'm sure she was pleased that her thoughts were taken on board. I'll leave aside my usual favourite subject of asking about roads, and, if I can, ask you about the monitoring or the enactment of the well-being of future generations legislation when it comes to local government and planning. I'm aware of at least one rural planning application in my constituency that has been called in by the Welsh Government because it breaches, or potentially breaches, the issue of sustainable travel, with an over-reliance on cars in the countryside being a problem at the heart of that application. It seems to me that, whilst we talk the talk here about sustainability and ensuring that future generations are protected, perhaps that message hasn't always permeated out to local authorities or, indeed, to other agencies, which are then responsible for delivering on the ground. So, I wonder if you could tell us how you're liaising with the Minister for planning and local government to make sure that out there, outside the walls of this Chamber, this legislation really is at the heart of everything that local authorities do, because, along with the climate emergency, these are all fine words, but unless they're actually enacted out there on the ground, then we're talking words but good things aren't actually happening in process.

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.