Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her planned timetable is for the implementation of the proposals in the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024.

The deadline for application to the Devolution Priority Programme was 10 January and we will confirm participants shortly after. The English Devolution Bill will be introduced in the first session, subject to parliamentary time. Integrated funding settlements will be provided to Greater Manchester and West Midlands Combined Authorities at the start of the next financial year (25/26) and four more Mayoral Combined Authorities will follow in the 26/27 financial year. Further changes to funding and programmes will be delivered through the Spending Review process.

We intend to formally invite reorganisation proposals in January 2025 from all relevant councils. We expect to deliver new unitary authorities in April 2027 and 2028.