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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make a comparative assessment of the potential economic merits of a (a) six and (b) four county and city deal for the East Midlands.

We are committed to ensuring that every part of England that wants a devolution deal will have one by 2030. Our recently announced devolution agreement with the four upper tier authorities of Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire covers an area of over two million people who will benefit from a mayor. The directly elected mayor will take important decisions for their area on transport, skills, and housing, with a new long-term investment fund totalling £1.14bn over 30 years. Devolution must be locally-led, rather than top-down. We will be happy to consider other devolution opportunities in the East Midlands where there is local support.