Part of Questions to the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip – in the Senedd at 2:43 pm on 18 June 2019.
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.