7. Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee and Equality and Social Justice Committee Debate: Well-being of Future Generations Act 2015: Scrutiny of implementation

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:50 pm on 24 November 2021.

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Photo of Jane Hutt Jane Hutt Labour 4:50, 24 November 2021

I do recognise what the Chair, Mark Isherwood, has said in terms of the five ways—that we need that cultural shift. When people grasp the five ways of working, it actually helps them with their planning and decision making. We are, rightly, today debating the extent to which the sustainable development principle is being applied, whether objectives are being delivered, and what the Act asks. That's what the Act is asking of us, and what the auditor and commissioner are reporting on. But we know this isn't straightforward in terms of the path to well-being goals. They are drivers, and there are drivers that are out of our control, and we need to be resilient to them. But also we need innovation and different choices to be considered in terms of making progress.

The strength of the Act is its focus on ways of working that enable much more sustainable choices to be identified. There will be the views, of course, including those on the commission, on whether decisions by public bodies or Government should be different. Of course, there are improvements to be made. I recognise obviously from Peredur Griffiths's contribution that there have been questions about, 'Is it strong enough? Do we need post-legislative reviews of it?' Obviously, we want to keep that position under review, but we don't want to divert efforts at this stage from the progress that's been made with the well-being of future generations legislation. We think that we are on a path to progress, which is very important, but as I said, we keep the position under review. But we are committed to a review of the public bodies subject to the Act, and I think that's going to be important, and that will allow us to review this part of the legislation and address the recommendations from the former Public Accounts Committee.

So, just in terms of my concluding remarks, we need to improve awareness of the legislation. We have our stakeholder forum, which is now being set up, the national stakeholder forum, and they'll be discussing this later this week. I'm looking forward to hearing their views. But what is emerging in our favour is that there are organisations and groups who don't have to comply at this stage, but are volunteering to comply. Transport for Wales is developing a sustainable development plan shaped by the future generations approach, detailing how they're looking to the future, joining up railroad and active travel. The Football Association of Wales earlier this month committed to creating a sustainability strategy fully aligned with our well-being of future generations legislation. Community groups like Bronllys Well-being Park in Brecon are shaping their vision for their local park in terms of a well-being of current and future generations approach. That's crucial.

So, I think we are in a position where we are promoting the importance of legislation for the future. I'm so grateful to Sarah Murphy for her contribution today, because I think it does inspire people when they say, 'We are looking to the well-being of future generations.' The UK Parliament, Lord John Bird and Simon Fell MP co-sponsoring a well-being of future generations Bill through the UK Parliament, modelled on our legislation. Scotland, they're committed to future generations legislation. And further afield we have the United Nations making substantial commitments to bring in a future generations approach into the UN system, committing to a special envoy for future generations, future reports and events.

So, that's what leadership on this agenda looks like: influencing, inspiring, improving Wales, leading the way at the forefront of the agenda. So, the reports we are being asked to note today are a critical part of the learning journey. We're shaping our action now. They'll shape the journey over the next five years, and of course we'll shortly be publishing our national milestones and an update on our well-being indicator framework.

So, Deputy Llywydd, I'm in my few final remarks. Can I just say how I thank the Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee for their engagement, and look forward to working with the Equality and Social Justice Committee to accelerate action? I do believe that we can be proud of the shift towards a well-being of future generations approach in everything we do, and I wholeheartedly welcome this debate. Diolch.