Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. When I first spoke with Welsh local government last November, I told them that I believe in the public good and the public purpose and I very much believe in local government. It is these principles, Deputy Presiding Officer, that drive this Government.

For a great deal of time, many groups and individuals, including local government leaders, have been telling me that the current system and structures for local government are simply not sustainable. In response to this in March of this year, I published the 'Strengthening Local Government: Delivering for People' Green Paper consultation to reinvigorate the debate on the future of local government.

The Green Paper set out our vision for stronger, more empowered local authorities that can provide bold, determined and focused local leadership. Councils with the space to flourish, to be innovative, to work effectively together and with partners, with clear lines of accountability to citizens. For me, this is not an issue of geography or population size, but one of empowerment of local councils. It is not a dogmatic argument based simply on numbers; it is a pragmatic, but principled one that should be rooted in the kind of local democracy we want as a country and that also recognises our communities, local identities and places.

I have been clear that I want local government to build on its strengths. I see local authorities as the shapers and makers of places, working to get the best outcomes for the people they serve. I want local government to have the freedom to make decisions to help them deliver the standard and quality of services that their communities expect and require.