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 English Devolution White Paper, CP 1218, December 2024, whether she plans to transfer the powers of current (a) Police and Crime and (b) Police, Fire and Crime Commissioners to new Mayoral Combined Authorities in the areas where they are being created.

As set out in the English Devolution White Paper, the government’s ambition is that where mayoral geographies align with police force and fire and rescue geographies, Mayors will be, by default, responsible for exercising Police and Crime Commissioner and Fire and Rescue Authority functions. This will include where new Mayoral Combined Authorities are created.

The timing of the transfer of Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner functions, and therefore plans for future elections, will be determined in due course.