What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the role of the Future Generations Commissioner, and does it have any plans to empower the role by amending the Well-being of Future Generations Act?
The Future Generations Commissioner for Wales (‘the Commissioner’) prepares an Annual Report on their activities for the current and future year. In the sixth Senedd term the Senedd Equality and Social Justice Committee has responsibility for oversight of the implementation of the Act and has provided scrutiny on the Commissioner’s activities. Their most recent annual scrutiny report of the Commissioner was published in April 2022.
The Commissioner has the necessary duties and powers to support the implementation of the Act. There are no plans to change the statutory role or functions of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales.
The Welsh Government has started the process to scope out a post-legislation evaluation of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. We have been successful in securing a UK Research and Innovation-funded policy fellow to develop the approach and deliver the first stage of the evaluation. Given the broad nature of the Act and its reach, the evaluation will involve stakeholders from across the devolved Welsh public sector, including Senedd Committees and the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales.