Oral Answers to Questions Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Henry Smith Excerpts
Tuesday 24th March 2015

(9 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Stuart Andrew Portrait Stuart Andrew (Pudsey) (Con)
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

2. What progress he has made on further devolution in England.

Henry Smith Portrait Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con)
- Hansard - -

5. What progress he has made on further devolution in England.

Greg Clark Portrait The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Greg Clark)
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

This Government have a proud record of devolving power from central Government to the cities, towns and counties of this country: we passed the Localism Act 2011; we have initiated and negotiated 28 city deals; we are devolving at least £12 billion of central resources to local places through growth deals; and, with the Greater Manchester agreement, and agreements with other cities to follow, there is now unstoppable momentum to continue that success.

Greg Clark Portrait Greg Clark
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. That is why the Leader of the House has made it very clear that the return of a Conservative Government will correct that injustice and there will indeed be English votes for English laws.

Henry Smith Portrait Henry Smith
- Hansard - -

As well as English votes for English laws and, indeed, devolution to our great cities, can my right hon. Friend assure me that a future Conservative Government will devolve more authority on service delivery to the great counties of England, which have a strong track record of democratic delivery? I welcome the growth deal from which West Sussex has benefited.

Greg Clark Portrait Greg Clark
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

Indeed I will. My hon. Friend was a distinguished leader of one such county. It is clear that the success of the city deals has introduced a model that other capable authorities can take up. I encourage all our county leaders to prepare their plans to take powers from central Government and to be in charge of those budgets that were previously tied up in Whitehall.