Welsh AG gets ‘groundbreaking’ sustainable development role

29 Apr 15
The auditor general for Wales is to take on a statutory duty to audit sustainable development, becoming one of just a handful of auditors general worldwide to do so.
The change follows passage of the Welsh Government’s Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act, which received Royal Assent today. The legislation requires the auditor general to report on the extent to which public bodies have applied sustainable development principles to the way they set their objectives and the steps they are taking to meet these objectives. Commenting on the new power, current auditor general Huw Vaughan Thomas said: ‘I am very pleased that the Wales Audit Office and I have been given such a pivotal role in assessing compliance with this Act. ‘Wales is leading the way in seeking to create a culture and society that values its people, its identity and environment, not just for now but for generations to come. ‘The new duty placed on me will help ensure that Welsh public bodies focus on making the right decisions on our resources in Wales, both for now and also for the long term.’ The Welsh Government hailed the Act as ‘groundbreaking’. It requires public bodies in Wales to work together, involve their communities, reflect the diversity of their communities and take action to stop problems from getting worse. It also established a Public Services Board for each area in Wales, charged with improving economic, social, environmental and cultural wellbeing.
  • Vivienne Russell
    Vivienne Russell is managing editor of Public Finance magazine and publicfinance.co.uk

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