Obviously, local government has stated that they don't want to move in that direction, and I accept that. I will not impose this on local government if that's not what they wish to do, and they have made it crystal clear that they don't want to move in that direction. So, we have to consider this, and in calling for a more mature discussion, what I've been trying to do is discuss with local government what kind of powers are needed on a more local level. We've received a response on that, and then we must consider how to implement those policies. It's important that you read not just the blog in its entirety, but also that you read what local authorities and local government had to say in November. They said clearly that the current structure wasn't sustainable for the future. They were clear on that, and they were also clear that they didn't want to move in the direction that Welsh Government wanted them to move. So, they were clear on those two points in November.

So, we must now consider those points, and I would wish to have time to reflect and look at which options we have before moving forward. In my blog, I was trying to expand or enhance the discussion. I don’t know whether I’ve succeeded in doing that this afternoon, but I’d like a broader discussion on the role of local government and our Government and which powers are necessary for local government and then move on to consider which structures would enable us to sustain quality services and also secure democratic accountability at a local level. That is what I want to do, and that is what I will do. Once this process is concluded, I will come here to make a clear statement on the direction in which we wish to move forward.