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 her oral statement of 5 February 2025 entitled English Devolution and Local Government, Official Report, column 767, if she (a) plans to legislate to direct local government restructuring in areas where principal authorities do not submit a request to restructure or (b) will consent to the decision not to submit a request.

The English Devolution White Paper set out that “We will expect all two tier areas and smaller or failing unitaries to develop proposals for reorganisation” and “We will deliver this process as quickly as possible, including through legislation where it becomes necessary to ensure progress.”

I will set out detail on any further plans in due course.