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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of non-mayoral devolution agreements.

The English Devolution White Paper will set an ambitious new framework for English devolution, moving power out of Westminster and back to those who know their areas best.

This Government believes that the benefits of devolution are best achieved through the establishment of combined authorities or combined county authorities supported by a mayor. We want every part of England to take its place on the Council of Nations and Regions, with strong and effective partnerships in place with councils and other partners to deliver the missions we have set out to transform the country. Non-mayoral devolution can however be an important step for areas to see early benefits from devolution in the short-term, including on adult skills, as they assess all options to unlock deeper devolution across England.