Public Service Delivery: Devolved Governments

Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee Excerpts

Tuesday 27th October 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I am not aware of the report—apologies to the noble Baroness. GB Energy is intended to and will deliver for British people, including the area in which the headquarters are located.

[Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee (Non-Afl)]

My Lords, a number of bodies have been set up to improve the relationship between Whitehall and the devolved Administrations, such as the Joint Ministerial Committee and the Council of the Nations and Regions. Following the question from the noble Lord, Lord Macintosh, can I suggest to the Minister that they should be the place for the sharing of best practice? At the moment, some people perceive those bodies as talking shops, but much more use could be made of them.

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

The noble Baroness is right. We want to share best practice, and that can go both ways, obviously. We are particularly keen to collaborate around the delivery of public services, and the Test, Learn and Grow work that has been centred in the Cabinet Office is at the heart of the UK Government’s initiatives to do that. We are committed to sharing findings and fostering dialogue with the devolved Governments to ensure that all parts of the UK can learn from different experiences of transforming the state and enhancing public services. I am also very clear that this includes the UK Government learning from other parts of the UK.