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

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the contribution by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in his Department on 9 June 2015, Official Report, column 79WH, whether his Department has had discussions with local authorities on devolution amounting to something less than the Manchester model which would not require a metro mayor.

The Government has had discussions about devolution and improved local governance with a number of local areas. This includes Sheffield City Region, Liverpool City Region, Leeds, West Yorkshire and its partner authorities, and Cornwall, as set out in the Budget. Negotiations with these and other areas, including over governance structures, are ongoing.

The Government will not force a particular model of governance on any part of the country. However, the Government has been clear that, for metro areas, it will only consider devolving major powers to those that adopt a directly elected, executive mayor for the full metropolitan area. For other parts of the country, The Government is open to considering proposals for strong and accountable local governance in return for devolved powers.