Asked by: Steff Aquarone (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the impact of the increase in employer National Insurance contributions on local authorities in Norfolk.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer to Question UIN 11851 on 8 November 2024.
Asked by: Steff Aquarone (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with (a) Norfolk County Council and (b) North Norfolk District Council on a devolution deal for Norfolk.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
This Government has recently announced that it will not be proceeding with the existing devolution deal with Norfolk County Council which was agreed with the previous Government in December 2022. Instead, Government are continuing with Norfolk to deliver a more ambitious new agreement as we lay the foundations for the English Devolution Bill.
This Government strongly believes that the benefits of devolution are best achieved through the establishment of combined institutions with a directly elected leader. Mayors should have a unique role in an institution which allows them to focus fully on their devolved strategic responsibilities, working hand in glove with council leaders who will vitally also focus on the delivery of the essential services for which they are responsible.
Conflating these two responsibilities into the same individual and institution, as is the case under the mayoral Single Local Authority model of devolution, would risk the optimal delivery of both and is not in line with the direction of travel we are setting out ahead of the English Devolution Bill.
Asked by: Steff Aquarone (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when her Department plans to bring forward the English Devolution Bill; and how that bill will impact Norfolk.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
This Government has recently announced that it will not be proceeding with the existing devolution deal with Norfolk County Council which was agreed with the previous Government in December 2022. Instead, Government are continuing with Norfolk to deliver a more ambitious new agreement as we lay the foundations for the English Devolution Bill.
This Government strongly believes that the benefits of devolution are best achieved through the establishment of combined institutions with a directly elected leader. Mayors should have a unique role in an institution which allows them to focus fully on their devolved strategic responsibilities, working hand in glove with council leaders who will vitally also focus on the delivery of the essential services for which they are responsible.
Conflating these two responsibilities into the same individual and institution, as is the case under the mayoral Single Local Authority model of devolution, would risk the optimal delivery of both and is not in line with the direction of travel we are setting out ahead of the English Devolution Bill.
Asked by: Steff Aquarone (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for what reason she has scrapped the proposed devolution deal for Norfolk.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
This Government has recently announced that it will not be proceeding with the existing devolution deal with Norfolk County Council which was agreed with the previous Government in December 2022. Instead, Government are continuing with Norfolk to deliver a more ambitious new agreement as we lay the foundations for the English Devolution Bill.
This Government strongly believes that the benefits of devolution are best achieved through the establishment of combined institutions with a directly elected leader. Mayors should have a unique role in an institution which allows them to focus fully on their devolved strategic responsibilities, working hand in glove with council leaders who will vitally also focus on the delivery of the essential services for which they are responsible.
Conflating these two responsibilities into the same individual and institution, as is the case under the mayoral Single Local Authority model of devolution, would risk the optimal delivery of both and is not in line with the direction of travel we are setting out ahead of the English Devolution Bill.
Asked by: Steff Aquarone (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of devolving further powers on transport to Norfolk local authorities.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
This Government has recently announced that it will not be proceeding with the existing devolution deal with Norfolk County Council which was agreed with the previous Government in December 2022. Instead, Government are continuing with Norfolk to deliver a more ambitious new agreement as we lay the foundations for the English Devolution Bill.
This Government strongly believes that the benefits of devolution are best achieved through the establishment of combined institutions with a directly elected leader. Mayors should have a unique role in an institution which allows them to focus fully on their devolved strategic responsibilities, working hand in glove with council leaders who will vitally also focus on the delivery of the essential services for which they are responsible.
Conflating these two responsibilities into the same individual and institution, as is the case under the mayoral Single Local Authority model of devolution, would risk the optimal delivery of both and is not in line with the direction of travel we are setting out ahead of the English Devolution Bill.
Asked by: Steff Aquarone (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to provide a devolution deal for Norfolk.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
This Government has recently announced that it will not be proceeding with the existing devolution deal with Norfolk County Council which was agreed with the previous Government in December 2022. Instead, Government are continuing with Norfolk to deliver a more ambitious new agreement as we lay the foundations for the English Devolution Bill.
This Government strongly believes that the benefits of devolution are best achieved through the establishment of combined institutions with a directly elected leader. Mayors should have a unique role in an institution which allows them to focus fully on their devolved strategic responsibilities, working hand in glove with council leaders who will vitally also focus on the delivery of the essential services for which they are responsible.
Conflating these two responsibilities into the same individual and institution, as is the case under the mayoral Single Local Authority model of devolution, would risk the optimal delivery of both and is not in line with the direction of travel we are setting out ahead of the English Devolution Bill.