Found: Given the measures contained within the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill currently in

Found: GM also welcomes the inclusion of a ‘right to request’ mechanism in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill

Found: transport systems with the introduction of shared micromobility licencing in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill

Found: Medway requests that the Railways Bill will highlight the significant role the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill

Found: As you are aware, through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill we are introducing a

Found: will you support community enterprises to make use of the new powers in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill

Found: In addition to RCCs, the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (10 July 2025) accelerates

Found: Communities and Local Government to support the local audit reforms set out in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill

Found: We welcome the introduction of a new Community Right to Buy through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill

Found: regional Strategic Authorities, which the Government is legislating for in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill

Found: This is being taken forward through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.

Found: Ideally, there is an opportunity here, especially with the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill

Found: It is disappointing that the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill limits the devolution

Found: For shared e-bikes, TfL welcomes the introduction of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill

Found: One of the things that you are referring to may be the provision in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill

Found: The recent introduction of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill reaffirms the Government

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed ban on upwards only rent reviews on rents of leased Government offices; and what the square footage is of the office property occupied by the Government on commercial leases.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

According to the Government’s 2023–24 Government Estate Annual Data publication, the Government occupies around 1.9 million square metres (approximately 20.5 million square feet) of leasehold office space across the central government estate. The Government has assessed the impact of banning upwards only rent reviews and published this in an Impact Assessment for the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the provision in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill to remove public notices in local papers concerning changes to local authority governance arrangements on local democratic engagement.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Schedule 25 of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill makes provision to amend statutory notice requirements under the Local Government Act 2000, concerning changes to local authority governance arrangements.

In practice, this change will affect only a very small number of councils. Over 80% of councils already operate the leader and cabinet model of governance and provisions in the Bill will limit future changes to local authority governance.

The provision does not prevent local authorities from publishing notices in printed newspapers where this is considered the most appropriate way to inform residents. Instead, local authorities will be able to choose the most suitable communication channels for their area, including local newspapers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to chapter 7 and recommendation 11 of Baroness Casey's independent report entitled National audit on group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse, published on 16 June 2025, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of taxi and private hire vehicle drivers operating outside of the local authority in which they are licensed on the level of risk of child sexual exploitation; what steps her Department has taken to tackle taxi and private hire vehicle drivers operating outside of the local authority in which they are licensed; and if she will bring forward legislative proposals to prevent taxi and private hire vehicle drivers from operating predominantly outside of the local authority in which they are licensed.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The Department has been actively looking at safeguarding and regulatory reform in relation to taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs). Baroness Casey’s National Audit on Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse added valuable evidence to this ongoing work.

The English Devolution White Paper, published in December last year, committed to consult on making all Local Transport Authorities, including Strategic Authorities, responsible for taxi and PHV licensing. Administering taxi and PHV licensing over larger areas could increase consistency and efficiency in taxi and PHV licensing across England, reduce out-of-area working and better match licensing revenue and compliance and enforcement burdens. The consultation will be launched soon.

The Government response to Baroness Casey’s National Audit committed to legislate to address the important issues raised, tackling the inconsistent standards of taxi and PHV driver licensing.

On Tuesday 18 November, the Government tabled an amendment to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill to seek a power for the Secretary of State to set in regulations national minimum standards for taxi and PHV licensing. These standards would be subject to consultation and would be primarily focused on passenger safety and accessibility. This would mean that wherever the public live or travel any taxi or PHV service they use would be subject to robust standards. The power was approved by the Commons at Report Stage and the Bill will now move to the Lords.

The Department continues to consider further options for reform, including out-of-area working and enforcement. We need to ensure that taxis and PHVs are able to work in a way that facilitates the journeys passengers want and need to make, in a consistently safe way, whilst achieving the best overall outcomes for passenger safety.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, a) what steps her Department is taking to ensure consistent national safeguarding standards for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing, including (i) DBS checks, (ii) knowledge and safeguarding tests and (iii) the use of in-vehicle CCTV; b) whether her Department collects data on (i) the number of licences issued by each authority, (ii) the proportion issued to drivers residing outside that authority area, and (iii) the number of drivers operating predominantly beyond the area where they are licensed; and c) what assessment her Department has made of the approach taken by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council in retrospectively applying enhanced licensing standards, and whether it plans to encourage or mandate similar practices nationally.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

On Tuesday 18 November, the Government tabled an amendment to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill to seek a power for the Secretary of State to set in regulations the national minimum standards for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing. These standards would be subject to consultation and would be primarily focused on passenger safety and accessibility. This would mean that wherever they are travelling in England, passengers can be reassured that the drivers of any taxi or private hire vehicle service they are using are subject to robust safeguarding standards. If agreed by Parliament, it would be possible for national standards to be applied to existing licence holders.

The Department has published data about the number of licences issued by each licensing authority. This can be viewed at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/taxi-and-private-hire-vehicle-statistics-england-2024

The Department does not collect data on where licensed taxi or private hire vehicle drivers reside or on the number of taxi or private hire vehicle journeys that take place outside of the area in which the drivers are licensed. Licensing authorities may hold this information.

The Department recognises the good work carried out by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council following the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse to improve their taxi and private hire vehicle licensing functions.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when her Department last met (a) the Mayor of Greater Manchester, (b) combined authorities and (c) other local authorities to discuss potential reforms to taxi licensing across local authority boundaries; when her Department last met (i) local authority's children’s services, (ii) police forces and (iii) local safeguarding partnerships to discuss the risks identified in chapter 7 of Baroness Casey's independent report entitled National audit on group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse, published on 16 June 2025; and what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of the Mayor of Greater Manchester's campaign entitled Backing our taxis: local, licensed, trusted on public safety and out-of-area licensing.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

Department for Transport Ministers and officials meet regularly with a range of stakeholders and discuss various issues relating to taxi and private hire vehicle licensing policy.

The Department is aware of the Mayor of Greater Manchester’s campaign entitled “Backing our taxis: local, licensed, trusted”.

The public should be safe in taxis and private hire vehicles regardless of where they live or travel. The Government has tabled an amendment to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill that would enable national minimum standards to be set for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing. National minimum standards would enable Government to set a strong baseline for licensing right across England, to keep vulnerable children and indeed all members of the public safe, wherever they live or travel.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the readiness of the West Midlands Combined Authority to assume policing governance responsibilities from the Police and Crime Commissioner; and what estimate she has made of the (a) costs of that transfer and (b) projected long-term annual savings from the merger.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government has committed in its English Devolution White Paper to transfer policing functions to Mayors of Strategic Authorities wherever boundaries of the mayoral and policing areas align, by default. Subject to Royal Assent to provisions in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, it is anticipated that the transfer of Police and Crime Commissioner functions to the Mayor of West Midlands would happen by May 2028; the end of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s term of office and at the next election for the Mayor.

There are no costs to the Home Office in transferring PCC functions to the Mayor of an existing Mayoral Combined Authority. As has previously been the case for transfer of policing functions to mayors, the cost of local implementation will be expected to be met locally.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her planned timetable is for transferring Police and Crime Commissioner functions to the Mayor of the West Midlands.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government has committed in its English Devolution White Paper to transfer policing functions to Mayors of Strategic Authorities wherever boundaries of the mayoral and policing areas align, by default. Subject to Royal Assent to provisions in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, it is anticipated that the transfer of Police and Crime Commissioner functions to the Mayor of West Midlands would happen by May 2028; the end of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s term of office and at the next election for the Mayor.

There are no costs to the Home Office in transferring PCC functions to the Mayor of an existing Mayoral Combined Authority. As has previously been the case for transfer of policing functions to mayors, the cost of local implementation will be expected to be met locally.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2025 to Questions 87306 and 87307, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of new planning powers in the (a) Planning and Infrastructure and (b) English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill on the role of (i) local councils and (ii) elected councillors in decision-making on individual planning applications.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Impact Assessments have been published for the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to support community ownership.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, we are introducing a new community right to buy to give communities stronger powers to take ownership of a range of assets which are important to them and protect them for future community use.

Communities will be given the right of first refusal on the purchase of registered assets of community value when they are put up for sale and a longer timeframe to raise funds to purchase the asset.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the letter of 27 October 2025 from the Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness to the hon Member for Thirsk and Malton, what is the planned timetable for introducing the legislation on councillors’ home addresses.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

On 18 November, we tabled government amendments NC45 and 114 to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. These amendments would prevent a member’s or co-opted member’s home address from being included in public registers by default. They are scheduled for debate during the Commons Report Stage from 24 November.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government how they intend to support elected mayors and devolved authorities in tackling climate change in the light of COP 30.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government’s English Devolution White Paper (attached) sets out Environment and Climate Change as a core area of competence for Strategic Authorities. It commits to strengthening their role in leading Local Nature Recovery Strategies and supporting wider environmental delivery. The White Paper also highlights opportunities for Strategic Authorities to influence energy system planning, act as heat network zoning coordinators, and embed climate adaptation principles in local services.

Alongside this, the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill introduces a ‘Right to Request’, enabling Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities to seek additional devolution, including in relation to climate and environmental responsibilities. Departments across government will work with Strategic Authorities to ensure they have the tools they need to tackle climate change.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of (a) the policy options and (b) delivery mechanisms available to enable local authorities to keep pavements (i) clear and (ii) safe for people.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill includes measures to empower local leaders to regulate shared on-street cycle rental schemes, such as Lime bikes, and act decisively to address any issues of poor parking and antisocial behaviour. Rental e-scooters are already tightly controlled. The Department’s guidance specifies that there should be sufficient parking in e-scooter trial areas and local authorities should ensure they do not become obstructive to others. Operators are also using geofencing technology, parking incentives and penalties to improve parking compliance.

Once the e-scooter trials end, the future framework is designed to be flexible and allows new vehicles like e-scooters, to be included as they are legalised for use on the road.

The Department has been considering all the views expressed in response to the 2020 pavement parking consultation and is currently working through the policy options and the appropriate means of delivering them.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposed Community Right to Buy on the establishment of community owned businesses.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, we are introducing a new community right to buy to give communities stronger powers to protect a range of assets which are important to them.

This will help to ensure that community owned businesses have the spaces they need to operate effectively, meeting the needs of the community and benefiting the local economy.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 78178 on City of London Corporation, for what reason the City of London will continue to operate under a committee-based system of governance.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill makes provision to amend the Local Government Act 2000, which sets out the permissible governance arrangements for local authorities in England.

Arrangements for the discharge of local authority functions by City of London Corporation are enabled separately by the Local Government Act 1972. Given the broader range of public and private functions for which the City of London Corporation is responsible, the Government has no current plans to amend these arrangements.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to allow local referendums on (a) local government restructuring, (b) changes to the governance model of local councils and (c) the establishment of combined authority mayors and strategic authorities.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Parliament has set out in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 the process for establishing unitary councils in two-tier areas, and a referendum is not part of the statutory process that has already begun. The process requires statutory consultation, and we will welcome responses from anyone interested in the proposals for unitary local government, including local residents, town and parish councils, businesses and the voluntary and community sector. As set out in the invitation letter, areas must demonstrate how the local community has been engaged in developing proposals.

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill includes provisions to change the available governance arrangements for councils in England. Councils currently operating the committee system will be required to move to the leader and cabinet model within one year of the relevant provision commencing, without holding a referendum. The Bill also prevents the creation of any new local authority mayoralties operating the mayor and cabinet executive governance arrangement. Councils already operating this model will remain able to hold referendums on whether or not to move to the leader and cabinet model.

Referendums will not be required when establishing future strategic authorities. The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill will see Government working in partnership with leaders of the constituent local authorities, as elected representatives, to set up new Strategic Authorities.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 October 2025 to Question 84635 on English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, if he will list each organisation that the Government discussed the Supplementary Vote with prior to the introduction of the Bill.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government engaged with a wide range of local stakeholders during the development of all the measures in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. We engaged with local stakeholders on all the measures in the Bill ahead of the Bill’s introduction, including the Supplementary Vote change.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department consulted mayors on the proposed Supplementary Vote change for (a) mayors and (b) Police and Crime Commissioners prior to the announcement on 10 July 2025.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government engaged with a wide range of local stakeholders during the development of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. We engaged with Mayors on the measures in the Bill, including the Supplementary Vote change, ahead of the Bill’s introduction to Parliament.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether (a) strategic authorities and (b) combined authority mayoral precepts will have any liability for the historic debts of local authorities in their area following local government restructuring.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Legislation set outs that during local government reorganisation, property, rights and liabilities, including debt, transfer from the old councils to the new councils for that area. It is the responsibility of councils to manage their budgets, and it is standard for councils to borrow and to hold debt. In general, as with previous restructures, there is no proposal for council debt to be addressed centrally or written off as part of reorganisation. The Government has committed to unprecedented debt repayment support for Woking and Thurrock councils, given exceptional unsupported debt in these councils.

The ability to issue a mayoral precept has existed in law since 2017. The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill will allow mayors to spend a precept across all functions of a strategic authority. Introducing a precept is a choice for the elected mayor, who must determine the potential benefits when balanced against the costs for residents.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the 10 Year Health Plan on the roles of mayoral authorities in delivering health and social care services.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, the Government is committed to making mayors, or their representatives, members of integrated care boards (ICBs), harnessing the opportunities of joined-up strategic planning between ICBs and strategic authorities, and supporting delivery of a “health in all policies” approach. Subject to the passage of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, mayors will be supported by a new health improvement and health inequalities duty, which empowers and supports strategic authorities to exercise their functions in ways that improve health and reduce health inequalities between people living in their area.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the proposed strategic authority for Surrey will only include Surrey; whether that strategic authority will have an elected mayor; whether that strategic authority will set a council tax precept; and whether that strategic authority will absorb the Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner functions.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Simplifying local government structures in Surrey will ensure a strong foundation for devolution. We are committed to working with partners across Surrey, including new unitary authorities once established, to establish a strategic authority for the area. This strategic authority would receive the functions at the appropriate level, whether Foundation or Mayoral, as set out in the devolution framework, subject to Royal Assent of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.

A strategic authority across Surrey will ensure that relevant functions held at the county level can continue to be delivered on that geographic footprint where possible, such as transport and adult skills. The establishment of a strategic authority will be subject to the relevant statutory tests being met and local consent. We will also ensure fire and rescue functions continue to be governed on the same geography.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether single foundation authorities will have (a) access to full devolution and (b) an elected mayor.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Single foundation strategic authorities will be non-mayoral. The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill makes provision for the Secretary of State to designate a unitary council or county council, which is not covered by an existing strategic authority, as a single foundation strategic authority, subject to the consent of the council involved. The deepest powers and functions will be available to strategic authorities led by a mayor, as set out in the English Devolution White Paper.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether Cornwall Council will have a (a) single foundation elected mayor or (b) council elected mayor.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

As set out in the Written Statement of 24 June 2025 (Simplified Local Leadership Structures, HCWS736), the Government is taking steps to prevent the creation of any further directly elected local authority mayors in England. In addition, the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill makes provision for the Secretary of State to designate a unitary council or county council, which is not covered by an existing strategic authority, as a single foundation strategic authority without a mayor, subject to the consent of the council involved. The English Devolution White Paper makes clear that non-mayoral devolution arrangements for single local authorities will only be considered by exception, and that the Government’s preference is for councils to combine with one or more neighbouring councils in order to be designated a strategic authority.

The Government remains committed to working in partnership with local government, including Cornwall Council, to explore how devolution can best be delivered in each area

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of not facilitating the creation of new directly elected council mayors on mayors for single foundation strategic authorities.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill makes provision to prevent the creation of any new directly elected local authority mayors, whilst allowing for the continuation of 13 existing ‘legacy’ directly elected council mayors. The English Devolution White Paper made clear that single foundation strategic authorities will be non-mayoral. The Government will consider non-mayoral devolution arrangements for a single local authorities by exception. The Government’s preference remains for strategic authorities which bring together more than one local authority over a larger, strategic geography.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 16 September 2025 to Question 7560, on Sheffield City Council, whether he has received written representations from Sheffield City Council on the proposed abolition of the committee system of local authority governance.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I have not received any written representations from Sheffield City Council on the proposed abolition of the committee system of local authority governance. The Government remains open to hearing views from local authorities and others as the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill progresses through Parliament.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2025 to Question 77635 on English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, which organisations (a) supported and (b) did not support changing the electoral system to Supplementary Vote.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has engaged with a wide range of local government stakeholders during the development of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. We engaged with both Mayors and the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners on changing the voting system for Mayors and Police and Crime Commissioners back to the Supplementary Vote.

As part of the usual parliamentary process, a range of stakeholders set out their views on the Bill to the Public Bill Committee, both via the Oral Evidence session on 16 September and in writing.

The Government firmly believes the Supplementary Vote system works better for electing people to single executive roles and ensures a wider range of support than First Past the Post.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of amending the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill to include measures to prevent pavement parking.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The Department held a consultation in 2020 and is working through the policy options to tackle pavement parking and the appropriate means of delivering them. As soon as the Government is satisfied that an optimal solution to this complex issue has been identified, we will announce the next steps and publish our formal response.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to review the criteria for designating Assets of Community Value to consider environmental benefit as a qualifying factor.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The new community right to buy, which we are introducing through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, will give communities stronger powers to take ownership of assets that are important to them and save them for future community use.

Communities will be able to nominate any asset that furthers the social or economic wellbeing of the community, which will include a range of environmental assets, and purchase these if they are put up for sale.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether strategic authority commissioners will be politically restricted.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government will be setting out further details on Commissioners in statutory guidance using powers set out in Schedule 3 of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. We will consider appropriate political restrictions to be included in this guidance.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 29 August 2025 to Question 68122 on Business Premises: Rents, if he will publish that research.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government published a full Impact Assessment upon First Reading of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill on 10 July. All sources for our analysis are included within it.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether statutory consultation on devolution is required for (a) the establishment of mayoralties and (b) all other local government reorganisation.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Statutory consultation requirements apply to the establishment of a Mayoral Combined Authority or Mayoral Combined County Authority, as set out in the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 and the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023, respectively.

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, introduced to the House of Commons on 10 July 2025, includes provisions to make it quicker and simpler for local areas to agree and implement mayoral devolution arrangements in the future.

Local government reorganisation is a separate process and we have invited proposals for unitary councils from councils in the 21 two-tier areas in England. There is a requirement for the Secretary of State to consult with affected councils and such other persons as he considers appropriate before implementing a proposal.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 1 September 2025 to Question 69680 on English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, with which mayors his Department has held discussions on the supplementary vote.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Before the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill was introduced on 10 July 2025, all Mayors were invited to a briefing on the Bill, which included discussions on the change back to the supplementary vote.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 1 September 2025 to Question 69680 on English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, whether the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners supported changing the voting system to supplementary vote.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government has engaged with the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC), on the proposals set out in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.

The government firmly believes the Supplementary Vote system works better for electing people to single executive roles and ensures a wider range of support than First Past The Post.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to introduce a community right to buy for nature that would enable local communities to (a) purchase and (b) restore land for (i) environmental and (ii) biodiversity purposes.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government is committed to ensuring that communities are able to protect all local assets that are important to them. The new community right to buy, which we are introducing through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, will give communities stronger powers to take ownership of these assets and save them for future community use.

Communities will be able to nominate any asset that furthers the social or economic wellbeing of the community, which will include a range of environmental assets, and purchase these if they are put up for sale.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government how much has been spent to date by (1) the local authorities involved, and (2) His Majesty's Government, in preparing to reform local government in accordance with the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government does not centrally hold information about how much local authorities and the Government have spent on preparing for the reform of local government.

A full impact assessment has been conducted by the Government as part of the requirements for the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. It was given a green rating by the Regulatory Policy Committee, indicating it is fit for purpose. The IA has considered costs across the Bill’s policies which will reform local government, and it has been determined these will not be disproportionate and the relevant mitigations will be in place where required. The impact assessment has been published online and can be found here.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress her Department has made on improving the (a) safety and (b) accessibility of streets for blind and partially sighted pedestrians.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Local authorities have a legal responsibility to manage their roads and public spaces in a way that meets the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) under the Equality Act 2010. It is for them to ensure that their streets are designed and maintained in a way that takes account of the needs of everyone, including visually impaired people.

The Government has produced good practice guidance to help them in this, and this is available at

www.gov.uk/government/publications/inclusive-mobility-making-transport-accessible-for-passengers-and-pedestrians

The Government recognises the problems that blind and partially sighted pedestrians can face when motorists park on pavements, and when e-scooters and e-bikes are left blocking pavements. It will make an announcement shortly on next steps on pavement parking, following the 2020 consultation, and is introducing new regulatory powers through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill to help local authorities manage shared micromobility schemes more effectively.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 2.2.5 of the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, when the working group jointly sponsored by his Department and the Greater London Authority will publish its conclusions.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Greater London Authority (GLA) is an Established Mayoral Strategic Authority (EMSA) and will be formally made as such via the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (‘the Bill’). As with other EMSAs, the Bill will grant the GLA the ‘right to request’, allowing them to request additions to the devolution framework to help deliver their areas of competence. Requests could be for further powers, funding or place-based pilots. Requests will be considered by Government and responded to within 6 months. This will be the primary way the powers of all Strategic Authorities will be amended going forward; however the Bill delivers on our commitment to devolve responsibility for the disposal of TfL operational land to the Mayor of London.

It is my Department’s expectation that some of the GLA’s requests for future devolved functions will be informed by an analysis of the powers and policy approaches of any global cities which can provide valuable lessons for London. As such, there is no defined list of global city authorities with which the Department plans to compare to London.

The working group jointly sponsored by my Department and the GLA has met a total of three times since November 2024. It has provided a forum to discuss potential priorities for the GLA’s ‘right to request’ informed by global city comparisons. The group has also worked to ensure the Bill's provisions align with the GLA's unique devolution settlement. Work has also been ongoing to agree an Integrated Settlement for London, as was announced at the Spending Review in June 2025. The working group is intended to provide a forum for engagement with the GLA on an ongoing basis, as such the Department does not plan to publish final conclusions.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 2.2.5 of the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, whether he plans to amend the Greater London Authority's powers.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Greater London Authority (GLA) is an Established Mayoral Strategic Authority (EMSA) and will be formally made as such via the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (‘the Bill’). As with other EMSAs, the Bill will grant the GLA the ‘right to request’, allowing them to request additions to the devolution framework to help deliver their areas of competence. Requests could be for further powers, funding or place-based pilots. Requests will be considered by Government and responded to within 6 months. This will be the primary way the powers of all Strategic Authorities will be amended going forward; however the Bill delivers on our commitment to devolve responsibility for the disposal of TfL operational land to the Mayor of London.

It is my Department’s expectation that some of the GLA’s requests for future devolved functions will be informed by an analysis of the powers and policy approaches of any global cities which can provide valuable lessons for London. As such, there is no defined list of global city authorities with which the Department plans to compare to London.

The working group jointly sponsored by my Department and the GLA has met a total of three times since November 2024. It has provided a forum to discuss potential priorities for the GLA’s ‘right to request’ informed by global city comparisons. The group has also worked to ensure the Bill's provisions align with the GLA's unique devolution settlement. Work has also been ongoing to agree an Integrated Settlement for London, as was announced at the Spending Review in June 2025. The working group is intended to provide a forum for engagement with the GLA on an ongoing basis, as such the Department does not plan to publish final conclusions.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 2.2.5 of the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, which global city authorities his Department plans to consider.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Greater London Authority (GLA) is an Established Mayoral Strategic Authority (EMSA) and will be formally made as such via the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (‘the Bill’). As with other EMSAs, the Bill will grant the GLA the ‘right to request’, allowing them to request additions to the devolution framework to help deliver their areas of competence. Requests could be for further powers, funding or place-based pilots. Requests will be considered by Government and responded to within 6 months. This will be the primary way the powers of all Strategic Authorities will be amended going forward; however the Bill delivers on our commitment to devolve responsibility for the disposal of TfL operational land to the Mayor of London.

It is my Department’s expectation that some of the GLA’s requests for future devolved functions will be informed by an analysis of the powers and policy approaches of any global cities which can provide valuable lessons for London. As such, there is no defined list of global city authorities with which the Department plans to compare to London.

The working group jointly sponsored by my Department and the GLA has met a total of three times since November 2024. It has provided a forum to discuss potential priorities for the GLA’s ‘right to request’ informed by global city comparisons. The group has also worked to ensure the Bill's provisions align with the GLA's unique devolution settlement. Work has also been ongoing to agree an Integrated Settlement for London, as was announced at the Spending Review in June 2025. The working group is intended to provide a forum for engagement with the GLA on an ongoing basis, as such the Department does not plan to publish final conclusions.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 2.2.5 of the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, how many times the new working group sponsored jointly by her Department and the Greater London Authority has met.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Greater London Authority (GLA) is an Established Mayoral Strategic Authority (EMSA) and will be formally made as such via the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (‘the Bill’). As with other EMSAs, the Bill will grant the GLA the ‘right to request’, allowing them to request additions to the devolution framework to help deliver their areas of competence. Requests could be for further powers, funding or place-based pilots. Requests will be considered by Government and responded to within 6 months. This will be the primary way the powers of all Strategic Authorities will be amended going forward; however the Bill delivers on our commitment to devolve responsibility for the disposal of TfL operational land to the Mayor of London.

It is my Department’s expectation that some of the GLA’s requests for future devolved functions will be informed by an analysis of the powers and policy approaches of any global cities which can provide valuable lessons for London. As such, there is no defined list of global city authorities with which the Department plans to compare to London.

The working group jointly sponsored by my Department and the GLA has met a total of three times since November 2024. It has provided a forum to discuss potential priorities for the GLA’s ‘right to request’ informed by global city comparisons. The group has also worked to ensure the Bill's provisions align with the GLA's unique devolution settlement. Work has also been ongoing to agree an Integrated Settlement for London, as was announced at the Spending Review in June 2025. The working group is intended to provide a forum for engagement with the GLA on an ongoing basis, as such the Department does not plan to publish final conclusions.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what progress she has made on reforming the Local Government Pension Scheme to consider local growth priorities in investment strategies.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Pension Schemes Bill includes a new power to require Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) funds to include their approach to local investment in their investment strategies. The Pensions Schemes Bill and the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill also include new reciprocal duties on LGPS funds and strategic authorities to cooperate to identify and develop appropriate local investment opportunities. Wider reforms including consolidation of all LGPS assets in the LGPS asset pools and improved governance will also support LGPS investment in local and regional growth priorities.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 April 2025 to Question 44234 on Police, Fire and Crime Commissioners, what her planned timetable is for incorporating the policing powers of the Police and Crime Commissioners in (a) Suffolk and (b) Norfolk into the powers of the new combined authority mayor; and how this process will interact with the passage of (i) the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill and (ii) associated secondary legislation.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill will provide a route to allow a single Mayor to be the Police and Crime Commissioner for two or more Police areas, provided that there are coterminous boundaries between the Strategic Authority and the Police areas when taken together. All future transfers of Police and Crime Commissioner functions will take place via powers in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill and will be subject to a confirmatory Statutory Instrument which will set out the date of transfer.

In Suffolk and Norfolk, we expect the Strategic Authority to be set up and inaugural Mayoral elections to be held in 2026 with the transfer of Police and Crime Commissioner functions for the start of the financial year in 2027.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has had discussions with Sheffield City Council on the proposed change to a Cabinet governance system.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I have not discussed with Sheffield City Council the measures in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill relating to local authority governance models. I am, of course, very happy to listen to views on all provisions within the Bill as it progresses through Parliament.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 July 2025 to Question 65505 on Housing: Construction, what her planned timetable is for improving the system of developer contributions.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government has already taken important steps to strengthen the system of developer contributions. This includes the introduction of new ‘Golden Rules’ for major development involving the provision of housing on land within or released from the Green Belt, and other changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published in December 2024 which will support the increased provision of affordable housing and infrastructure.

The government is taking further action by giving all mayors of strategic authorities the power to raise a Mayoral Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.

We have also committed to updating the planning practice guidance on viability to ensure that the system works to optimise developer contributions, allowing negotiation only where genuinely necessary.

Details of any further changes to strengthen the system of developer contributions will be set out in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to delay any local elections as a result of the new local government structures proposed in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

No.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 February 2025 to Question 26699 on Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to allow Ministers to change the boundaries of existing strategic authorities.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, introduced to the House of Commons on 10 July 2025, amends provisions in the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 and the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 concerning the establishment and expansion of combined authorities (CAs) and combined county authorities (CCAs), respectively.

These provisions allow for existing CAs or CCAs to be changed through ‘locally-led’, ‘Secretary of State-led’ and ‘Secretary of State-directed’ routes.

The locally-led and Secretary of State-led routes will require local consent. However, where no relevant, viable proposals have been submitted, the Secretary of State may decide to direct the addition of a local government area to an existing CA or CCA.

The Government believes that devolution should be locally-led wherever possible and will work with local leaders to agree proposals that have broad support.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of banning upward-only rent reviews for commercial leases on the valuations of commercial property owned by local authorities.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government has carefully assessed the evidence for banning upwards only rent reviews and published full details in the Impact Assessment for the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.

Based on the data and evidence-base we have available, we have assessed that any costs incurred by landlords will be outweighed by the benefits to tenants and the wider economy of a fairer, more dynamic property market.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to require public e-bike hire schemes to include third-party insurance for (a) injury to people and (b) damage to property as part of the hire fee; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of such a requirement on (i) public safety and (ii) liability for scheme users.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government is empowering local leaders to licence shared cycle schemes through measures in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. These licences will contain some minimum standard conditions set by the Secretary of State to ensure a baseline of safety and operability across the country. This could include specific insurance requirements for operators. We will consult publicly on the nature of these conditions before licensing is implemented to ensure we get it right.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what public consultation her Department has undertaken in relation to the proposed prohibition of upward-only rent reviews for commercial leases in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

No formal public consultation was undertaken prior to the announcement of the policy. However, upwards only rent reviews are an issue of a longstanding concern that artificially inflated rents make it harder for businesses to access commercial property. The government conducted extensive research and expert engagement before deciding to proceed with the ban, which will encourage the market to operate more efficiently, ensuring rents respond to market conditions, and promote less adversarial relations between landlords and tenants.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has had recent discussions with combined authority mayors on provisions in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill on restrictions on being Members of Parliament.

Answered by Jim McMahon

My department has engaged with Mayors and the local government sector ahead of publication of the English Devolution White Paper, where this policy was introduced.

The post of mayor is a significant role at the forefront of delivering change and demands the full attention of any post holder. That is why the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill will prohibit individuals from holding the office of Member of Parliament (or being a member of the devolved legislatures in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) and mayor simultaneously. This is already the case for Mayors who hold Police and Crime Commissioner responsibilities.

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Found: English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill 2024-26: progress of the bill

Found: for the future: 10 Year Health Plan for England, 3 July 2025, p82 179 The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill

Found: Devolution and local government reorganisation The government introduced the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill

Found: strategy require primary legislation and these measures are included in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill

Found: work to deliver our wider package of reform, primarily through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill

Found: including the establishment of the new Local Audit Office, are included in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill

Found: Putting the legislative framework in place The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill

Found: The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (‘the EDCE Bill’) proposes changes to the 2016

Found: The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill will enable local governments across England

Found: class="govuk-table__cell">Meeting of the Mayoral Council to discuss skills the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill

Found: Separately, the government has tabled an amendment to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill

Found: The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill will deepen devolution and support regional growth

Found: English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill: European Convention on Human Rights Memorandum

Found: White Paper sets an ambitious new framework for devolution in England, and the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill