Meeting of the Parliament 22 January 2026 [Draft]
I commend Sarah Boyack for her work and her commitment in this area. The proposals to define “sustainable development” and “wellbeing” in law, and to have oversight by the proposed commissioner, are reasonable asks. However, I note the work that the Social Justice and Social Security Committee has done and that it has rejected the proposals for a number of reasons.
I worked with Sarah Boyack on the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee, which I convene, and we looked at culture as being a key part of wellbeing in our society. Only last week, I hosted an event in the Parliament with Art27 Scotland, which brought together artists, practitioners and communities to discuss cultural rights and how access to culture embeds wellbeing, equality and participation in our communities. Participation in the arts, heritage, language and community life improves mental health, reduces isolation, strengthens social cohesion and supports lifelong learning. Such participation is also a preventative measure. We have been talking about taking preventative measures to ensure that people are helped and that interventions happen well before they get to crisis point. In doing that, we are supporting our health service and other public services in our area.
Given the work that has been done and the Government’s response, it is important that we act in this area. It is 10 years since the UN sustainability goals were first established and 15 years since the Christie commission published its proposals. I think that we would all agree that the implementation of those proposals, which would have led to the embedding of wellbeing and sustainability in our decision making, has not occurred to the extent that we would have expected or, indeed, to the extent that we are capable of. That is why I welcome the Social Justice and Social Security Committee’s work on that proposal in the bill. I welcome the fact that wellbeing is regarded as important. In the budget report that the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee has produced, we are looking at the ways in which wellbeing is being embedded across portfolios in the Government.
This is a pivotal time—a really important time. We are at the end of a parliamentary session and are moving to new objectives. The Government is reviewing its own sustainability goals in light of developments. I think that this is an opportunity to start to act in this area to embed wellbeing and sustainability into our policy making and decision making, and that will indeed require a cultural change across Scotland. We need to stop talking about it and get on and do it. This is the opportunity that presents itself to all of us, now and in the future.
It will take co-operation. It will take every single local authority getting on board with the ambition that Sarah Boyack has put in her proposals and getting on board with the work that the Government is doing to implement those proposals. We need that cohesion in order to fully engage and achieve the ambitions of these proposals.