Well, Michelle Brown, I completely refute the premise that you base your question on. I don't think using the word 'compel' in a conversation about public participation does you or anybody else any favours. So, I do not agree with compelling local authorities to do things—they are themselves democratically elected institutions. What our Act does is empower local authorities to make their own decisions, where they wish to do so. And of course, the Bill also increases a large number of public participation methodologies, which will allow them to consult widely and involve and include their local residents.

We're also, of course, very involved in our increasing diversity in democracy schemes. And the Bill also sets out a number of things that we think will enable more people to come forward to stand at election for local councillors, including remote access to learning, to meetings, remote access to officials, and of course strengthened guidance on assistance for local councillors in carrying out their case load and local roles.