Developments and decisions on the reorganisation of English local government in 2025-26

Developments and decisions on the reorganisation of English local government in 2025-26

A briefing paper which "maps" (or summarises) the main elements of the United Kingdom's uncodified constitution.

A briefing paper which "maps" (or summarises) the main elements of the United Kingdom's uncodified constitution.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the May election results in Scotland and Wales on their relationship with those nations.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the May election results in Scotland and Wales on their relationship with those nations.

A briefing on Section 30 Orders, secondary legislation made under the Scotland Act 1998 to increase or restrict – temporarily or permanently – the Scottish Parliament’s legislative authority.

A briefing on Section 30 Orders, secondary legislation made under the Scotland Act 1998 to increase or restrict – temporarily or permanently – the Scottish Parliament’s legislative authority.

Motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

Motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

Lords motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

Lords motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

My Lords, these regulations were laid on 16 March 2026. When referring to the Hampshire and the Solent combined county authority hereafter, I will use the term “strategic authority” unless there is a particular reason to be specific.

This Government were elected on a manifesto commitment to widen and deepen devolution...

My Lords, these regulations were laid on 16 March 2026. When referring to the Hampshire and the Solent combined county authority hereafter, I will use the term “strategic authority” unless there is a particular reason to be specific.

This Government were elected on a manifesto commitment to widen and deepen devolution...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Taylor of Stevenage, for introducing these regulations and outlining their effect. I declare my interest as a councillor in central Bedfordshire, although that does not extend quite as far as Hampshire.

We on these Benches recognise the Government’s broader ambitions to pursue devolution...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Taylor of Stevenage, for introducing these regulations and outlining their effect. I declare my interest as a councillor in central Bedfordshire, although that does not extend quite as far as Hampshire.

We on these Benches recognise the Government’s broader ambitions to pursue devolution...

I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Jamieson, for his comments. I know that he has great experience of dealing with matters such as this. I will pick up each of his points in turn.

The first is the issue of restructuring for its own sake. That is just not...

I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Jamieson, for his comments. I know that he has great experience of dealing with matters such as this. I will pick up each of his points in turn.

The first is the issue of restructuring for its own sake. That is just not...

Before the Minister sits down, can she clarify two points?

First, the Minister mentioned the 30-year funding. The point is that, in effect, it has been delayed for two years by a delay to the mayoral elections: obviously, that is of concern locally.

Secondly, in looking at wider devolution, there is concern...

Before the Minister sits down, can she clarify two points?

First, the Minister mentioned the 30-year funding. The point is that, in effect, it has been delayed for two years by a delay to the mayoral elections: obviously, that is of concern locally.

Secondly, in looking at wider devolution, there is concern...

I will take the second point first because, as I hope I conveyed in my winding speech, the proposals we have considered have all come from authorities themselves. They set out very clearly the proposals that they sent forward and, in most areas, there were a number of different proposals....

I will take the second point first because, as I hope I conveyed in my winding speech, the proposals we have considered have all come from authorities themselves. They set out very clearly the proposals that they sent forward and, in most areas, there were a number of different proposals....

Moved by

Baroness Berridge

317: After Clause 85, insert the following new Clause—

“Rutland: status as a ceremonial county

(1) The Lieutenancies Act 1997 is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph 3 of Schedule 1 (counties and areas for the purposes of the lieutenancies in Great Britain), in the Table, after “Nottingham” insert as a...

Moved by

Baroness Berridge

317: After Clause 85, insert the following new Clause—

“Rutland: status as a ceremonial county

(1) The Lieutenancies Act 1997 is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph 3 of Schedule 1 (counties and areas for the purposes of the lieutenancies in Great Britain), in the Table, after “Nottingham” insert as a...

My Lords, Amendment 317 seeks to amend the Lieutenancies Act 1997 to ensure the continuation of Rutland as a ceremonial county with its own lord-lieutenant. I am grateful to the Minister for her email today relating to this matter, and for acknowledging

“the unique circumstances, given that Rutland’s ceremonial status derives...

My Lords, Amendment 317 seeks to amend the Lieutenancies Act 1997 to ensure the continuation of Rutland as a ceremonial county with its own lord-lieutenant. I am grateful to the Minister for her email today relating to this matter, and for acknowledging

“the unique circumstances, given that Rutland’s ceremonial status derives...

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Berridge, for pointing out the possibility of the gap. I have to confess that I had not fully understood that there was likely to be a gap between the two. I have been told that this matter would be satisfactorily...

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Berridge, for pointing out the possibility of the gap. I have to confess that I had not fully understood that there was likely to be a gap between the two. I have been told that this matter would be satisfactorily...

My Lords, this is an important issue on which we have tried to come to a solution. I thank my noble friend Lady Berridge for bringing forward this amendment and explaining the issue so well. It speaks to the wider issue of ensuring that local identities rooted in geography and...

My Lords, this is an important issue on which we have tried to come to a solution. I thank my noble friend Lady Berridge for bringing forward this amendment and explaining the issue so well. It speaks to the wider issue of ensuring that local identities rooted in geography and...

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Berridge, for her amendment. One of the reasons I love local government is the variety of unique and special issues that we come across all the time, and this is one great example of that. I acknowledge Rutland’s unique circumstances,...

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Berridge, for her amendment. One of the reasons I love local government is the variety of unique and special issues that we come across all the time, and this is one great example of that. I acknowledge Rutland’s unique circumstances,...

I am grateful to the Minister for that assurance of continuity. I would have been grateful for clarity that there cannot be the possibility of two sets of statutory instruments, because that is where the possibility of a gap exists, but I am grateful for those reassurances. I hope that...

I am grateful to the Minister for that assurance of continuity. I would have been grateful for clarity that there cannot be the possibility of two sets of statutory instruments, because that is where the possibility of a gap exists, but I am grateful for those reassurances. I hope that...

Moved by

Lord Norton of Louth

318B: After Clause 85, insert the following new Clause—

“Review of the Act

(1) The Secretary of State must—

(a) carry out a review of the operation and effect of this Act,

(b) set out the conclusions of the review in a report,

(c) publish the report, and

(d) lay a copy...

Moved by

Lord Norton of Louth

318B: After Clause 85, insert the following new Clause—

“Review of the Act

(1) The Secretary of State must—

(a) carry out a review of the operation and effect of this Act,

(b) set out the conclusions of the review in a report,

(c) publish the report, and

(d) lay a copy...

My Lords, Governments since 2008 have been committed to undertaking post-legislative scrutiny of Acts three to five years after enactment. In Committee on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, the Minister, the noble Baroness, Lady Smith of Malvern, reminded the Committee that she was a member of the Government who...

My Lords, Governments since 2008 have been committed to undertaking post-legislative scrutiny of Acts three to five years after enactment. In Committee on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, the Minister, the noble Baroness, Lady Smith of Malvern, reminded the Committee that she was a member of the Government who...

My Lords, one of the advantages of having volunteered to stay beyond the Whip issued to these Benches tonight—and it is 12.50 am—is that it gives me the opportunity briefly to comment on Amendment 318B, moved by the noble Lord, Lord Norton of Louth. There is great merit in the...

My Lords, one of the advantages of having volunteered to stay beyond the Whip issued to these Benches tonight—and it is 12.50 am—is that it gives me the opportunity briefly to comment on Amendment 318B, moved by the noble Lord, Lord Norton of Louth. There is great merit in the...