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

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there are any areas or types of authorities that they would not consider being brought together to form a combined authority.

The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 provides that county councils and district councils may form combined authorities, subject to certain conditions, which the Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill will, if enacted, modify. The 2009 Act does not provide for London Borough councils to form combined authorities and as I informed the House at Report stage on that Bill we are ready to continue discussion on what the most appropriate changes might be to provide the London governance needed for greater future devolution.