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 oral answer to the hon. Member for Newton Abbot on 12 January, whether any weighting framework will be used to assess revised proposals for Local Government Reorganisation in Devon.

All proposals must have regard to the statutory guidance that was part of the statutory invitation issued on 5 February 2025. This set out six criteria for unitary local government covering issues such as size, sensible geographies, efficiencies, financial sustainability, public service delivery, community engagement, and devolution.

The government plans to consult in early February on all proposals for unitary local government in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay that were submitted by 28 November 2025 and meet the terms of the statutory invitation. In making a decision on which proposals, if any, to implement Ministers will judge proposals in the round against the criteria, which are not weighted. They will have regard to all the representations that were received, including the consultation responses, and any other relevant information available to Ministers.