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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress is being made on a devolution deal in Lancashire.

We are committed to providing clarity across England on what devolution means for different administrations so all authorities operate in a common framework. We are aiming to be able to provide local areas with this clarity on how best to take forward their devolution and local growth ambitions over the coming months.

We are pleased that council leaders in Lancashire have been discussing how to collaborate effectively. It is now for the Lancashire councils to consider how and over what area they should collaborate to achieve the best outcomes for their residents. The Government looks forward to hearing more about local progress in due course.