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

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to devolve further fiscal powers to local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

Devolution Deals have awarded Mayoral Combined Authorities with greater flexibilities over investment funding through the Single Pot. Some have also committed to pilots for the retention of growth in business rates above a base and further, to pilot the 100% retention system that will be in operation nationally by the end of this parliament. These policies fundamentally change the way local government operates, through the localisation of business rates to fund local government functions.

We continue to welcome Devolution Deal proposals from all areas of the country and have been clear that the most ambitious deals will require ambitious governance reform.