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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, notwithstanding the delay to local government reorganisation announced on 7 September, if she will meet with Hertfordshire local government leaders to discuss accelerating devolution.

Our ambition remains to ensure every area in England has, or is in the process of establishing, a strategic authority by the end of 2027, with strategic authorities in place everywhere by the end of 2028, and I want to work with Hertfordshire on how best to achieve that over the coming months.