4. Statement by the Minister for Social Justice: Well-being of Future Generations National Implementation

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:33 pm on 5 October 2021.

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Photo of Jane Hutt Jane Hutt Labour 3:33, 5 October 2021

A very disappointing set of questions and comments on reports—reports that I think actually reflect a very different view about the implementation of the well-being of future generations Act. I think it's really important that we look at the reports—the report, first of all, most importantly, of our own Public Accounts Committee, which, of course, reported before the end of the last session, to which we are responding today. I understand the committee is meeting tomorrow, and I think it will be very useful to see what their response is to our Government response to their recommendations. I thought the Public Accounts Committee report was extremely constructive, extremely useful, and, of course, we have Members here who've sat on that committee and who took part in that inquiry. But, also, I look forward to hearing from them in full. 

But let's just recognise that over the past 18 months the well-being of future generations Act has received considerable scrutiny on its effectiveness as a legislative framework to improve Wales's sustainability, and that's why these reports are so important. We need to look at all three of them in terms of a response. I think the reports from the Public Accounts Committee, the future generations commissioner and the auditor general provide a whole range of findings and ideas on how Government and public bodies can embed sustainable development in how they work, and advance the implementation of the well-being of future generations framework in Wales. So, I really welcome these reports, as they remain an integral part of the cycle of the Act. It would have been good to have heard some questions and comments on our responses to the recommendations that came through these reports.

The Welsh Government continues to provide leadership on the well-being of future generations agenda, we recognise our role as custodians of the legislation, and we want to use the legislation, as it has done already, to drive positive improvements in the way we make decisions in Wales. I've mentioned the new national stakeholder forum that has been set up, and the exchange events to share best practice. And also, I would hope that you have some interest in the consultation on national milestones and the national indicators. I hope that you will respond to these in terms of the consultation that we set out. This is about national milestones, the seven well-being goals for Wales, to provide a description of ways in which we want to achieve an economically, socially and environmentally just Wales.

I just want to finish, in terms of response to your points today, by giving some examples of the difference the well-being of future generations Act has made. It's interesting; in my own portfolio, the community facilities programme provides grants for community-led projects. They're used to improve the environmental and financial sustainability of community facilities; they're very much driven by the five goals—the more equal, more resilient, more sustainable Wales—but also the way in which we work on those. The disability equality forum, which I chair, is also considering the ways in which we can engage more frequently with the voice of disabled people, to ensure the voices of disabled people are heard, and also informing us in terms of the way we implement the socioeconomic duty.

Outside of my portfolio, 'Llwybr Newydd: The Wales Transport Strategy 2021' is a long-term vision, a key goal of the well-being of future generations—what's good for people, the environment, and for Wales, to have an accessible and sustainable transport system. And also, the 'Beyond Recycling' strategy, aiming to support the green recovery, by taking actions that support zero waste, net-zero carbon in Wales. They have all used the well-being of future generations ways of working and seven key goals to drive them forward.