Devolution (East Anglia)
Debate between James Cartlidge and Lord Wharton of Yarm(8 years, 7 months ago)
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James Cartlidge
Will my hon. Friend confirm that at this moment in time, there is only one devolution deal on offer to anyone in East Anglia?
James Wharton
I am happy to confirm that to my hon. Friend. The Government have made a deal, and signatures were added to the document. We want to deliver on that deal and to meet the obligations to which we are committed by the deal, but we do not expect or plan to reopen discussions and to start again. Other areas want to talk about devolution and to secure deals of their own. It is very positive that East Anglia is forging so far ahead with that policy agenda, but we must recognise that if areas want to go back on deals that have been agreed and want to reinvent them before they have been enacted, we will have to look at the allocation of our time and resources to other areas that have not yet reached agreement and need attention and focus.