To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what internal audit mechanisms are in place to ensure that defense transformation is aligned to the strategic priorities of the National Security Strategy 2025.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what internal audit mechanisms are in place to ensure that defense transformation is aligned to the strategic priorities of the National Security Strategy 2025.

Lords motion to take note of democratic accountability, citizen participation and electoral reform in relation to local government. Agreed to on question.

Lords motion to take note of democratic accountability, citizen participation and electoral reform in relation to local government. Agreed to on question.

I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Shipley, on securing this debate on crucial issues. I wish him a long and happy retirement; like the rest of the House, I am grateful for all that he has done here.

To the noble Lord, Lord Campbell-Savours, I am in complete disagreement that we...

I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Shipley, on securing this debate on crucial issues. I wish him a long and happy retirement; like the rest of the House, I am grateful for all that he has done here.

To the noble Lord, Lord Campbell-Savours, I am in complete disagreement that we...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Shipley, for securing this debate and for the considerable experience he has brought to your Lordships’ House from his time in local government. He was a former leader of Newcastle City Council, and I pay tribute to him for that. He leaves...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Shipley, for securing this debate and for the considerable experience he has brought to your Lordships’ House from his time in local government. He was a former leader of Newcastle City Council, and I pay tribute to him for that. He leaves...

My Lords, I agree strongly with the right reverend Prelate on community participation being fundamental to democracy.

I shall miss my noble friend Lord Shipley, but he is entirely right to retire. I am strongly in favour of retirement from this House as a principle, and I shall follow him next...

My Lords, I agree strongly with the right reverend Prelate on community participation being fundamental to democracy.

I shall miss my noble friend Lord Shipley, but he is entirely right to retire. I am strongly in favour of retirement from this House as a principle, and I shall follow him next...

My Lords, I, too, will miss the noble Lord, Lord Shipley, in the Chamber. I thank him for his commitment and long service to local

government; it has been a pleasure to work with him. I declare an interest as a vice-president of the Local Government Association.

Amid local government reorganisation...

My Lords, I, too, will miss the noble Lord, Lord Shipley, in the Chamber. I thank him for his commitment and long service to local

government; it has been a pleasure to work with him. I declare an interest as a vice-president of the Local Government Association.

Amid local government reorganisation...

My Lords, it is a delight and privilege to follow my noble friend Lord McCobb’s eloquent maiden speech—the first of what I am sure will be many thoughtful contributions to our House and certainly the first of many times that we will hear him talking up the wonders of Hull....

My Lords, it is a delight and privilege to follow my noble friend Lord McCobb’s eloquent maiden speech—the first of what I am sure will be many thoughtful contributions to our House and certainly the first of many times that we will hear him talking up the wonders of Hull....

My Lords, I declare my interest as a councillor in central Bedfordshire. I thank the noble Lord, Lord Shipley, for his contribution both to this House and to local government, which, as a previous chair of the LGA, I can really appreciate. His introduction illustrated his knowledge about and passion...

My Lords, I declare my interest as a councillor in central Bedfordshire. I thank the noble Lord, Lord Shipley, for his contribution both to this House and to local government, which, as a previous chair of the LGA, I can really appreciate. His introduction illustrated his knowledge about and passion...

My Lords, the Companion to our proceedings nowadays discourages Back-Bench Members from paying tribute to valedictory and maiden speakers and as a Deputy Speaker I feel obliged to follow the rules, albeit somewhat reluctantly, so I will simply thank my noble friend Lord Shipley for everything that he has done...

My Lords, the Companion to our proceedings nowadays discourages Back-Bench Members from paying tribute to valedictory and maiden speakers and as a Deputy Speaker I feel obliged to follow the rules, albeit somewhat reluctantly, so I will simply thank my noble friend Lord Shipley for everything that he has done...

My Lords, it is a great pleasure to take part in this interesting and well-informed debate. I add my thanks to the noble Lord, Lord Shipley, for bringing the debate to the House and wish him well for his future beyond us. I am sure many more exciting challenges lie...

My Lords, it is a great pleasure to take part in this interesting and well-informed debate. I add my thanks to the noble Lord, Lord Shipley, for bringing the debate to the House and wish him well for his future beyond us. I am sure many more exciting challenges lie...

My Lords, I would like to place on record my thanks to the noble Lord, Lord Shipley, who has been a worthy sparring partner over the last

two and a half years that I have been in your Lordships’ House. It is often the way that, as one door closes,...

My Lords, I would like to place on record my thanks to the noble Lord, Lord Shipley, who has been a worthy sparring partner over the last

two and a half years that I have been in your Lordships’ House. It is often the way that, as one door closes,...

My Lords, this has been a welcome and wide-ranging debate, which has enabled many different interpretations of a general debate about local government and electoral reform. The health of our local governance structures is vital to our health of our democracy; the two are inextricably entwined. That is why this...

My Lords, this has been a welcome and wide-ranging debate, which has enabled many different interpretations of a general debate about local government and electoral reform. The health of our local governance structures is vital to our health of our democracy; the two are inextricably entwined. That is why this...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Shipley, for this important debate on democratic accountability, public participation and electoral reform in local government. It is particularly poignant that he chose his final speech to be on this subject, which is so important to so many of us in this...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Shipley, for this important debate on democratic accountability, public participation and electoral reform in local government. It is particularly poignant that he chose his final speech to be on this subject, which is so important to so many of us in this...

My Lords, I begin by thanking the noble Lord, Lord Shipley, for an excellent valedictory speech and for securing this debate as his final farewell and statement to this House. The noble Lord was introduced to the House in 2010, but it is his service over many more years than...

My Lords, I begin by thanking the noble Lord, Lord Shipley, for an excellent valedictory speech and for securing this debate as his final farewell and statement to this House. The noble Lord was introduced to the House in 2010, but it is his service over many more years than...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for her response to the debate, which has been very helpful, with a lot of food for thought and a lot of pointers for the future. I have great confidence in Ministers driving forward the devolution debate. I hope that this Chamber will, in...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for her response to the debate, which has been very helpful, with a lot of food for thought and a lot of pointers for the future. I have great confidence in Ministers driving forward the devolution debate. I hope that this Chamber will, in...

Hear, hear!

Hear, hear!

My Lords, I thank colleagues from across the House for the privilege of working with them over the last 16 years in this Chamber on Bills, on Select Committees and on the general work of this House. Having reached the age of 80, I have decided that the time has...

My Lords, I thank colleagues from across the House for the privilege of working with them over the last 16 years in this Chamber on Bills, on Select Committees and on the general work of this House. Having reached the age of 80, I have decided that the time has...

My Lords, as someone who watches most proceedings in the House, albeit remotely, I personally pay tribute to the noble Lord, Lord Shipley, as he leaves the House, for his great service—and I mean great service—particularly in the handling of legislation. He will be surprised to know how often I...

My Lords, as someone who watches most proceedings in the House, albeit remotely, I personally pay tribute to the noble Lord, Lord Shipley, as he leaves the House, for his great service—and I mean great service—particularly in the handling of legislation. He will be surprised to know how often I...

My Lords, it is a privilege to address this House for the first time. I have been touched by the welcome that I have received from noble Lords on all sides of the House. I am particularly grateful to my noble friends who introduced me: my noble friend Lady Pinnock,...

My Lords, it is a privilege to address this House for the first time. I have been touched by the welcome that I have received from noble Lords on all sides of the House. I am particularly grateful to my noble friends who introduced me: my noble friend Lady Pinnock,...

The Government is committed to a radical shift in where power and resources lie, empowering local leaders to drive growth and improve outcomes for their communities. But stronger local leadership must be matched by strong local institutions. As powers and investment increase, so too does the responsibility to demonstrate strong...

The Government is committed to a radical shift in where power and resources lie, empowering local leaders to drive growth and improve outcomes for their communities. But stronger local leadership must be matched by strong local institutions. As powers and investment increase, so too does the responsibility to demonstrate strong...