Government: Role of the State

Lord Campbell of Alloway Excerpts

Tuesday 2nd November 2010 Lords Chamber

[Lord Taylor of Holbeach]

I am not in a position to answer that question definitively, but I will ask my noble friend, the Minister responsible, to write to the noble Baroness on that issue. However, we do not see the bodies that are being created under the proposals that I have been talking about as state bodies. They will be community governed and community empowered.

[Lord Campbell of Alloway]

My Lords, has not the role of the state many aspects, one of which is to retain our residual sovereignty?

[Lord Taylor of Holbeach]

Yes; I suppose each to his own. Government centrally certainly has fundamental responsibilities for the security and stability of the society in which we live. However, the policy direction of the Question was about the devolution to local communities of responsibilities that are not necessarily matters for the security and establishment of the state. I was able to give an affirmative answer to my noble friend Lord Roberts of Conwy’s request that that is government policy.