As this is my first debate, since being elected, on the well-being of future generations Act, I'd like to start by thanking the many people who made this happen, especially many of those people behind the scenes, whose names we'll never probably know publicly, but who really did put their blood, sweat and tears into this trailblazing legislation. And I don't use that phrase lightly, because I really do believe the well-being of future generations Act is very much a labour of love and hope and determination to make a fairer, greener and happier Wales. And the beauty of the Act is that it forces us to look at our own point in history, this time right here and right now, not only as individuals, but as a species on this planet that we share with many others for a fraction of a time, because we have not always been the only humans here, but we are the only ones left.

And I think, as was starkly highlighted by many at COP26, including Greta Thunberg and David Attenborough, it is painfully obvious that some of our weaknesses as a species include being creatures of habit, resistant to change and relying on natural resources as if there is an endless supply. Our lives are busy and stressful, our population growing, and the gap between the poorest and the wealthiest in our society continues to grow. I believe the well-being of future generations Act is unique in forcing us to face these tendencies and issues together and think of the future, for not just ourselves, but others. It encapsulates the values of socialism: caring about strangers, people you'll never meet, people who aren't even born yet. As Jenny Rathbone just said, if it didn't exist, we would be trying to make it happen.

And you can very much see that reflected in the future generations commissioner's the 'Art of the Possible' programme of work partnership approach, shining a light on the great work that is improving well-being across Wales, encouraging people to set out a positive vision of the possible, of what Wales could look like if our public bodies respond to the opportunities that the legislation provides to make better decisions for future generations.

Furthermore, I think it is commendable to see that, with such a huge brief, with big goals and high expectations, the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales's office is forging a path that incorporates the 17 sustainable development goals and aims to create an equal, prosperous, resilient and healthy Wales. This has been particularly relevant in the wake of COVID-19, and I'm pleased to see that our Welsh Government is considering the well-being of future generations Act in its recovery strategy to build a stronger, greener, fairer Wales, particularly in relation to the commissioner's 'A Fit for the Future Programme for Government', which includes specific ideas for investing in the decarbonisation of homes, the new nation transport strategy and the continuing development of skills policy.

But as well as sustainable goals, the Act is also about creating a Wales of cohesive communities with a vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language that is globally responsible and learns from others. We have very much seen these in the recommendations for universal basic income and a four-day work week by the commissioner, building on my colleague Jack Sargeant's campaigns for both. Both of these policies have been trialled in other countries and aim to provide people with more autonomy, time with loved ones, improved mental and physical well-being, as well as collective economic benefits. And now, in Wales, Welsh Government has committed to a two-year trial of UBI in both urban and rural areas across Wales, with many local authorities, like Rhondda Cynon Taf—not my own, but I know that they have—expressing an interest in holding the pilot. And recently as well, we had a big debate on the four-day work week, and the Deputy Minister, Hannah Blythyn, has committed to keeping an eye on the trials that are currently happening in Iceland and Scotland.

So, when it comes to the implementation of the Act, I believe the evidence demonstrates consistent, transparent and thorough scrutiny by Members of the Senedd, the future generations commissioner and the Auditor General for Wales. And I would like to pay tribute to the Members of the fifth Senedd and those in the Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee. Along with my fellow members of the newly formed Equality and Social Justice Committee, chaired by Jenny Rathbone, I look forward to continuing this work to ensure that the well-being of future generations Act is achieving all that it is set out to do, in particular, recommendations 3, 4 and 11, which relate to strengthening relationships between the future generations commissioner and Welsh public bodies, as well as ensuring that the five ways of working are embedded in their plans for recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, so that gains that have been made in the immediate response to the pandemic are not lost and that they shift their focus from day to day to long-term and prevention.

So, in conclusion, there is much that has been done in actually a very short amount of time with also a global pandemic happening, but there is still more that can be done and I welcome Welsh Government's continued commitment to demonstrating that the implementation of the well-being of future generations agenda is not an add-on activity and is being used to challenge, question and improve its current ways of working, so that more sustainable choices can always be considered.