Scottish Ministers urged to protect future generations

Ministers in Edinburgh must fast-track moves to deliver a commissioner for future generations, according to an influential foundation.

A new briefing paper produced by Dunfermline-based Carnegie UK asks the Scottish Government to quickly deliver the legislation that would lead to the creation of the post north of the border.

Carnegie UK says the moves will lead to policymakers taking more decision that consider the long-term interests of the people of Scotland. Their call follows the Scottish Government’s Finance Secretary John Swinney outlining £615m of spending cuts last week.

Sarah Davidson, chief executive of Carnegie UK, said: “Leaders in Scotland have this year been forced to make incredibly tough decisions, often due to circumstances way beyond their control.

“But when faced with difficult choices today, it can be too easy for those in charge to fail to consider the impact on the people of tomorrow. That’s why we want to see the Scottish Government press on with the creation of a Future Generations’ Commissioner to ensure that prioritising collective wellbeing, now and in the future, is at the centre of our public policy.”

A Future Generations’ Commissioner has been in place in Wales since 2016, following the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.

The role of this commissioner is to be the guardian of future generations. This means helping public bodies and those who make policy in Wales to think about the long-term impact their decisions have.

Carnegie UK argues that the proposed Well-being and Sustainable Development Bill, featured in the 2021 Programme for Government, should include the creation of a Future Generations Commission in Scotland. In addition, they argue these new laws could form the centrepiece of reforms to the Scottish Government’s National Performance Framework.

The Scottish Parliament’s Finance Committee recently released a wide-ranging report that urged Ministers to look again at the operations of the National Performance Framework.

Sarah Davidson said: “The Scottish Government broke ground when they introduced the National Performance Framework in 2007. But now is the time for them to press on to ensure that this important tool is at the heart of decision-making.

“We propose that the National Performance Framework should be reformed to become Scotland’s Wellbeing Framework. That change would, among other things, see funding allocated toward problems identified and ensure all public bodies play their part in delivering our shared priorities.”

For more information, contact Stuart Mackinnon