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 Answers of 8 October 2024 to Questions 5762 and 5607 on Devolution: Norfolk and Devolution: Suffolk, what the evidential basis is for the Government's policy that a single local authority model of devolution would risk the optimal delivery of services.

This government strongly believes that the benefits of devolution are best achieved through the establishment of combined authorities or combined county authorities over sensible economic geographies and supported by a directly elected mayor. These institutions and mayors, with their regional economic competencies and status as members of the Council of Nations and Regions add the capacity and focus required to get the best from new devolved powers and funding. We have therefore decided that mayoral devolution will only be available to areas that come together to establish such institutions over a wider geography.

The Government is committed to bringing meaningful devolution to Norfolk and Suffolk and stands ready to work with partners across the region on progressing a more ambitious devolution settlement, in a way that delivers the best outcomes possible the people of Norfolk and Suffolk, and which sees the right powers in the right places. We are pleased that discussions remain positive and look forward to making progress on devolution.