Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether there are any circumstances under which a devolution deal with a combined authority will be undertaken without an elected mayor being proposed.

The Government is open to discussing any devolution proposals that include strong, accountable governance arrangements. But we have been clear—the most ambitious, far-reaching powers and responsibilities will be offered only to those areas that provide a directly-elected, single point of accountability.