Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Thank you, Chair, and my fellow committee Members. As the current future generations commissioner's term draws to a close, it is useful to consider the impact the commissioner and her office have had. Whilst it's not always easy being the first in such a groundbreaking role, it is an opportunity to set a standard. The commissioner has not shied away from contributing to challenging and difficult subjects such as the M4 relief road, climate change and public services. Naturally, it would be easy for politicians to attack the commissioner for not focusing on those things they want her to do, or to expect the commissioner to side with them on a particular issue. But that's not what this role is about; the commissioner's role is to challenge all of us about the decisions we take and how to ensure those decisions are rooted in the principles of sustainability, futureproofing, what we do and what we spend to safeguard the interests of those future generations who will face so many challenges.

There is so much that we have expected the commissioner to do in this first term. I for one have been hugely concerned at the continued level of social and economic inequality in Wales, and perhaps the next commissioner will take note. In 2018 the Equality and Human Rights Commission recommended the implementation of a socioeconomic duty. This means public bodies must have due regard to the need to reduce social inequalities. They set out a series of evidence-based objectives, one of them being to ensure that people's life chances are not held back by barriers in their way. The facts are simple: 200,000 children are in poverty, with 90,000 in serious poverty; a quarter of parents are frequently skipping meals; and 45 per cent of households are in fuel poverty. Poverty can have a major impact on children in their later lives. Poverty can have an adverse affect on their education, so opportunities to develop prosperous careers will be more difficult. If a child skips meals, it can have an impact on their overall health later on. Socioeconomic duty was commenced to improve the lives of those on low incomes. The poorest households in Wales spend 26.2 per cent of their income on energy and food. This is one of the highest figures in the UK. With the cost-of-living crisis, this will undoubtedly rise. The changing economic picture means that Government and the public bodies need to think, work and deliver differently if we are to be agile and creative enough to respond to these present challenges that threaten the development of current and future generations. 

As we enter the final year of the current future generations commissioner's term, a review of how the role is resourced is urgently needed. The commissioner has demonstrated significant impartiality in discharging her duties, tackling big issues that have shown the value of the office, thinking about the bigger picture and how to ensure that all public bodies, including Welsh Ministers, comply with duties placed upon them. The Welsh Government has not enabled her to fulfil her role due to the lack of budget. And in my view, if we are committed to this role being a success, then the resourcing has to be a consideration. The commissioner's role includes supporting 44 public bodies, 16 public services boards, with 368 well-being objectives. In her own words, this has been described as an impossible task. In its current state, I don't think the future generations commissioner is fit for purpose and can deliver the improvements needed for Wales. If the commissioner role is to continue, the Welsh Government need to ensure the office is properly resourced to deliver the requirements of the Act. Thank you very much.