Carl Sargeant, Minister for Natural Resources
This was published under the 2011 to 2016 administration of the Welsh Government
Today I am publishing the statutory guidance for the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 (‘the Act’). This guidance is being issued under sections 14, 22 (2), 51(1) and 40(7) of the Act.
The statutory guidance is an important milestone in the implementation of the Act, which comes into force on 1 April 2016 for specified public bodies across Wales. It offers both a concise overview of the significance of the Act and more detailed guidance for public servants.
Our priority has been to develop clear and simple guidance for use by the specified public bodies and Public Services Boards to implement the Act with consistency and confidence, so that this ground-breaking legislation can make the greatest possible impact.
The guidance adds clarity and direction for those who are subject to the Act and is the culmination of an engagement process that began in January 2015. The formal 10 week public consultation for this guidance began on 7 September 2015 and concluded on 16 November 2015. We received 107 responses to the consultation and I’d like to thank those who responded for their views. A summary of the responses has been published and it was particularly pleasing to see that most of those respondents used the opportunity to welcome the Act and highlight its importance.
The engagement process that has supported this work has included a significant contribution from the Technical Advisory Group. I would therefore like to place on record my thanks for the work undertaken by the group. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Peter Davies for the significant contribution he has made to advancing sustainable development in Wales. In his role on the former UK Sustainable Development Commission, as Commissioner for Sustainable Futures for Wales, , through his work on the ‘Wales we Want’ and in chairing the Technical Advisory Group, he has made a driving force not only in the development of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, but in helping Wales become a global leader in sustainable development.