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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will publish the evidence, assessments and representations considered by Ministers prior to the decision to withdraw the previous minded-to decision for Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool.

In my statement to the House on 29 October 2026, I set out the latest position on local government reorganisation, including in Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool. The previous decision for the area has been withdrawn to allow more time for consideration, and all proposals remain under consideration. We recognise the uncertainty this creates for councils and will inform them at the earliest practical opportunity once consideration is complete.

The Government has also committed to provide £450,000 per previously announced new unitary in transition funding, recognising the costs incurred by areas in good faith. These payments will be made in the coming weeks and are not dependent on the outcome of the review.

I will provide a further update on outcomes by Christmas, and every area will have an outcome by early 2027.