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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department will take steps to enable Devon to hold regional or mayoral elections in May 2027; and if she will set out the current timetable and decision-making process for proposed changes to local governance arrangements.

On local government reorganisation, I refer the Hon. Gentleman to the Secretary of State’s oral statement of 7 September.

On devolution, Ministers have written to local leaders to understand their preferences on future devolution. Officials have subsequently engaged local authorities across the country, including in Devon, and further conversations between Ministers, local leaders, and MPs will follow, with a view to Government confirming next steps on devolution shortly including the nature of and timeline for any changes to existing devolution arrangements in Devon.