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 oral statement by the Prime Minister of 1 September 2026 on Direction of Government, Official Report, column 28, whether (a) Cornwall and (b) other local authorities will have the same level of funding and power if they adopt a strategic authority restructure without a mayor, relative to those with a mayor.

Strategic authorities without a mayor will have access to many of the same powers as mayoral strategic authorities, including the power to establish an Overnight Visitor Levy. However, a number of functions will continue to be reserved for mayoral strategic authorities in recognition of the enhanced governance and accountability that this structure provides. Full details of the new functions to be devolved to mayoral and non-mayoral strategic authorities will be set out in a White Paper this autumn.