The National Assembly’s Environment and Sustainability Committee is asking whether we need a law to build a better Wales.
The Welsh Government’s much publicised ‘Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Bill’
sets out a series of goals for the development of a more prosperous, resilient, healthier and more equal society.
On a practical level, the Welsh Government aim to achieve this through the creation of statutory public services boards, which would combine representatives from local councils, health boards, fire authorities and Natural Resources Wales with the shared goal of improving outcomes for local people.
The creation of a ‘Future Generations Commissioner’ has also been proposed. This would be an advisory role responsible for guiding public bodies to find the most viable solution for their community and work to embed the principles of sustainable development into public life.
At this, the first stage of the Assembly’s law-making process, the committee is asking whether this Bill is necessary, or whether its objectives can be achieved through existing laws. It will also look at whether the Bill will achieve its intended objectives.
“This is a grand vision from the Welsh Government. A more prosperous, healthy, sustainable and inclusive society is something we all want to see in Wales,” said Alun Ffred Jones AM, Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee.
“The Committee will be examining whether this vision needs to be enshrined in law, and whether the measures the Government has outlined will achieve it.
“As the name suggests, this Bill has the potential to affect everyone in Wales for generations to come, so it is vital that we gather as many views as possible to make sure that, if it is to become law, it truly helps to build a better Wales.”
The Committee will examine these key areas of the Bill:
How should the Welsh Government be legislating to place sustainability and sustainable development at the heart of government?
General clarification on what the “common aim” and “sustainable development” principle mean, and who is to be included in the list of Public Bodies?
How any progress is to be measured and reported.
The predicted financial implications of the Bill.
If you would like to submit your views about the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Bill you can email ES.comm@wales.gov.uk, or write to:
Clerk to the Environment and Sustainability Committee
National Assembly for Wales
Cardiff Bay
Cardiff
CF99 1NA
More information about the Environment and Sustainability Committee can be found here.
More information about the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Bill can be found here.