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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 2.2.1 of her Department's English Devolution White Paper, published 16 December 2024, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority becoming a Strategic Authority notwithstanding having a population below 1.5 million.

The English Devolution White Paper sets out clear principles this Government will have regard to when considering proposals for new devolution agreements. This includes a new default assumption that proposals cover a combined population of 1.5 million or above to ensure they can deliver at a strategic scale, and must not create devolution ‘islands’ by leaving areas which are too small to go it alone or which do not have natural partners. There are a limited number of circumstances where it may be necessary to consider proposals that do not meet these principles, and Government will assess these proposals on a case-by-case basis.

All existing Combined Authorities, including Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, will automatically be classified as Strategic Authorities. The Government will consider locally developed proposals for changes to existing Strategic Authority boundaries where they meet the principles set out the in the White Paper.