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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish his Department's analysis of any legal obligations owed by the Government to proceed with mayoral elections in (a) Greater Essex and (b) other areas in which 2026 inaugural mayoral elections were cancelled.

The Government has announced that it is minded to hold inaugural mayoral elections for the four Devolution Priority Programme places that are also undertaking local government reorganisation in May 2028 rather than May 2026, so that areas can complete the reorganisation process before Mayors take office. This decision has been taken because devolution is strongest when it is built on strong foundations. The establishment of the Greater Essex Combined County Authority would be done via secondary legislation and this legislation would set out the date of the first mayoral elections, subject to the approval of both Houses of Parliament and the consent of the constituent councils.