Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she intends to commission an independent (a) audit and (b) investigation into the governance, lending practices and financial controls of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority in the context of the findings of the Court of Appeal in Weis v GMCA [2026] EWCA Civ 825.

Greater Manchester Combined Authority is subject to independent external audit as part of the established local audit framework. This audit is independent of government and is not commissioned by the Secretary of State.

Greater Manchester Combined Authority is responsible for maintaining appropriate governance and financial management arrangements.

Ministers take a range of factors into account when considering whether to exercise statutory powers in relation to a local or strategic authority and will only act where necessary to secure compliance with the Best Value Duty and on an objective, evidence lead basis.