Rewiring the State

Debate between Richard Tice and Louise Haigh

Wednesday 2nd September 2026 Commons Chamber

[Louise Haigh]

My hon. Friend makes an incredibly important point. I have seen it for myself in places as small as Dijon in France, which have incredibly well-functioning integrated transport systems that include tram networks. That is in large part because they are able to raise and keep revenue themselves and continue to invest it in their transport networks. We are removing the veto on decision making for transport infrastructure and devolving a number of powers under the Transport and Works Act 1992, which will speed up the delivery of mass transit networks. My hon. Friend will have heard the Prime Minister’s commitment to both Leeds and Bristol and to working with their mayoral authorities to deliver that at pace.

[Richard Tice (Boston and Skegness) (Reform)]

I congratulate the First Secretary on her appointment. I am sure that the reforms planned to rewire the state are well-intentioned, but it seems that we are going from No. 10 plus the Cabinet Office to No. 10, No. 10 North, the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Cabinet Office and a new OneGov Delivery Agency. We are going from two to five. Does she understand our concerns that she is increasing the size of the state, increasing the cost and slowing down decision making?

[Louise Haigh]

We will reduce the size of the central civil service, shift power and resources out of Whitehall and speed up decision making.