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 the written statement of 5 February 2025, HCWS418, on English Devolution and Local Government, what additional funding will be provided to councils in the Devolution Priority Programme; and whether these councils will be required to have a mayoral combined authority.

The Devolution Priority Programme aims to see a new wave of mayors elected in May 2026 across new mayoral combined authorities. Areas on the Programme will receive the full backing of government, this will include a long-term Mayoral Investment Fund. Funding will be confirmed at the forthcoming Spending Review.

This government believes that the benefits of devolution are best achieved where there is a mayor in place, to provide strong local leadership and accountability, and the English Devolution White Paper sets out a framework for future devolution agreements, moving away from negotiated deals to a consistent devolution offer.