The Future Generations Commissioner, Sophie Howe has today responded to the Welsh draft budget:

“The Well-being of Future Generations Act is taking us on a journey that challenges our traditional ways of working. It has set us on a new direction of travel that requires a more joined-up approach to preventing problems before they get worse and ensuring that we are planning for the long term challenges that Wales faces.

“The publication of this draft budget is the start of an important stage of this journey and offers the opportunity to shape policies and spending in a way which reflects this.

“The Act also requires me to act as a guardian of the ability of future generations to meet their needs and to encourage pubic bodies to take greater account of the long term impact of the things they do.

“I look forward to providing advice and support to Welsh Government as they work towards their final budget which will help set public bodies on the right track by ensuring budget priorities demonstrate a shift to preventative spending, a more integrated approach in the way public services are funded and therefore delivered and reflect long term thinking and financial planning”