Asked by: Baroness Eaton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to give (1) council leaders, and (2) directly elected mayors, the statutory right to sit on local resilience forums in their areas.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
There are currently no plans for council leaders or mayors to sit on Local Resilience Forums (LRFs). Through the Devolution White Paper and the UK Resilience Action Plan, the Government has committed to working with local leaders to clarify and strengthen the role of local government and mayors in local resilience. The Government believes stronger links to elected leaders will increase our overall resilience as responses will be better tailored to geographic areas, accounting for local challenges and needs. As part of MHCLG’s Stronger LRF Trailblazers Programme, five local areas have begun testing new methods to strengthen accountability to democratically elected local leaders.
The Government will review the Civil Contingencies Act (CCA) and its supporting regulations through the next Post-Implementation Review, with a report due to be laid in Parliament by March 2027. This review will consider the impact of wider reforms on English devolution and will look to clarify and strengthen the role of Strategic Authorities and Mayors in local resilience.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what his planned timetable is for determining the (a) principal and (b) geography of a combined authority for Surrey.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
On 28 October 2025 the government set out its position that simplifying local government in Surrey also provides a strong foundation for devolution. We have begun working with partners across Surrey, including new unitary authorities once established, to put in place a strategic authority for the area. The legislation to establish the new authorities is currently before the House and they would be the constituent authorities of a Surrey Strategic Authority. This will help ensure that relevant functions held at the county level, such as transport and adult skills, can continue to be delivered on that geographic footprint where possible. The establishment of a strategic authority would be subject to the relevant statutory tests being met and local consent.
Asked by: Lord Cameron of Lochiel (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on communities that previously benefited from funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, but which will no longer receive funding following the decision to end that fund and replace it with the Local Growth Fund.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
At the Spending Review in 2025, the Government confirmed that we would protect funding for interventions that drive growth and strengthen communities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for the next three years, keeping it at the same overall level in cash terms as under the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) in the current year.
As part of this approach MHCLG is working with the Scotland Office to design a new £140m Local Growth Fund for Scotland, delivering a significant step change in UK investment strategy, supporting each nation and region to deliver long-term infrastructure for sustained economic growth.
The Local Growth Fund forms part of a broader suite of interventions and was never designed to replicate UKSPF on a like‑for‑like basis. It sits alongside other investments such as the Growth Mission Fund, the Pride in Place Impact Fund and the Pride in Place Programme which is helping build strong, resilient and integrated communities in areas that experience the most entrenched social and economic challenges.
In addition to this package of funding announced at the Spending Review, Scotland will also benefit from around £700m of other local and regional project funding over the next three years through: the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund, Pride in Place Programme Phase 1, Green Freeports, Investment Zones, Community Regeneration Partnerships, the Local Regeneration Fund and City Region and Growth Deals.
Alongside this, the UK Government has provided the Scottish Government with the largest Block Grant in the history of devolution which can be used flexibly for devolved governments’ priorities.
Asked by: Adam Dance (Liberal Democrat - Yeovil)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the discontinuation of the Skills Bootcamps programme on (a) upskilling and (b) retraining individuals in Somerset for 2026-27 financial year.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Skills Bootcamp programme has not been discontinued.
We continue to support the delivery of Skills Bootcamps, in order to benefit more adults, employers, and the economy, and funding remains available for Skills Bootcamps in Somerset in the 2026-27 financial year.
We are giving local areas greater control of the delivery of Skills Bootcamps in line with our commitment to devolution, supporting areas to use Skills Bootcamps to more closely meet the needs of their local employers and economy.
A new funding model for local areas from 2026-27 will ensure the distribution of funding remains fit for purpose and sustainable as the programme matures.
Asked by: Adam Dance (Liberal Democrat - Yeovil)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the discontinuation of the Skills Bootcamps programme on (a) AI and (b) automation training in Somerset for 2026-27 financial year.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Skills Bootcamp programme has not been discontinued.
We continue to support the delivery of Skills Bootcamps, in order to benefit more adults, employers, and the economy, and funding remains available for Skills Bootcamps in Somerset in the 2026-27 financial year.
We are giving local areas greater control of the delivery of Skills Bootcamps in line with our commitment to devolution, supporting areas to use Skills Bootcamps to more closely meet the needs of their local employers and economy.
A new funding model for local areas from 2026-27 will ensure the distribution of funding remains fit for purpose and sustainable as the programme matures.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have received from the Welsh Government about the devolution of responsibility for the police service in Wales to Senedd Cymru; and on what dates they received those representations.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Secretary of State for Wales and her Cabinet colleagues engage with Welsh Ministers frequently on a wide range of issues, including the future of devolution in key policy areas. Established intergovernmental mechanisms also provide ongoing opportunities for the UK and Welsh Governments to engage on matters relating to policing, and to ensure that Welsh priorities are fully considered within the existing devolution settlement.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the speech by the First Minister of Wales on 22 January about devolution, what consideration they have given to introducing a constitutional reform bill to define the responsibilities of the Welsh Government in law.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK Government has regular discussions with the Welsh Government on a range of issues, including the Welsh devolution settlement. It is in our shared interests that the settlement clearly defines the responsibilities of our respective governments and that it delivers for the people of Wales.
Asked by: Shaun Davies (Labour - Telford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what resources i) his department and ii) the NHS is providing to support those wards within the government Pride in Place program in a) Telford, b) West Midlands and c) England.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Pride in Place is funded and led by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). Neither the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) nor NHS England holds the information requested. However, our 10-Year Health Plan sets out our vision for a Neighbourhood Health Service, delivering truly integrated, proactive and personalised care closer to where people live and work.
We have launched wave 1 of the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (NNHIP) in 43 places across England, including in the West Midlands. The NNHIP supports systems across the country in driving innovation and integration at a local level to improve the care they provide to their communities.
As announced at Autumn Budget 2025, the NHS Neighbourhood Rebuild programme will deliver 250 Neighbourhood Health Centres, with 120 delivered in 2030. Rollout will be progressive over this Parliament, with early sites focused on areas of greatest need.
Neighbourhood Health Centres will bring together National Health Service, local authority and voluntary sector services in one building to help create a holistic offer that meets the needs of local populations.
DHSC continues to work closely with MHCLG on relevant policies and programmes including Pride in Place. I recently met with the Minister for Devolution, Faith and Communities on this topic to discuss synergies between Neighbourhood Health and Pride in Place.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Warm Homes Plan will generate Barnett consequentials for Northern Ireland.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The funding allocations for the Warm Homes Plan do include Barnett consequentials, however the Treasury has not yet confirmed the specific appointments for the Devolved Governments.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have unique devolution settlements. The age, tenure, type and size of building stock varies across different parts of the UK. Therefore, some aspects of the Warm Homes Plan will apply equally in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland while other parts will not be relevant in all nations of the UK.
The UK Government will continue to work closely with the Devolved Governments in delivering the Warm Homes Plan.
Asked by: Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2026 to Question 107737 on Devolution: Wales, the future devolution of which specific key policy areas have been discussed; when each of those discussions took place with Welsh Government Ministers since July 2024
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
I have regular discussions with Welsh Government Ministers on a wide range of policy issues, including on the devolution settlement. Unlike Plaid Cymru, who wish to force their costly, separatist ideology on the people of Wales, Labour is the party of devolution. We created devolution, we defend devolution from parties who wish to destroy it, and we will always update the devolution settlement to ensure it delivers the best outcomes for people and communities across Wales.