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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of local government restructuring on the Local Government Pension Scheme.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Local government reorganisation will have impacts on the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) and may require the transfer of various functions, including the responsibility for administering an LGPS fund to a different authority. We would expect councils to work with relevant administering authorities on any implications of restructuring on the LGPS.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much has been spent on (a) refurbishment and (b) fixtures and fittings for the Deputy Prime Minister’s flat in Admiralty House since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The maintenance of Admiralty House is managed by the Government Property Agency with costs accrued in the usual way, as has been the case for successive governments and Ministers.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many bedrooms the Deputy Prime Minister's residence in Admiralty House has.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

For security and operational reasons we do not disclose the layout of individual residences.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any services are provided to the Deputy Prime Minister’s residence in Admiralty House; and who is responsible for paying for those services.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The maintenance of Admiralty House is managed by the Government Property Agency with costs accrued in the usual way, as has been the case for successive governments and Ministers.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an estimate of the (a) capital and (b) notional market rent of the Deputy Prime Minister's residence in Admiralty House.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Admiralty House is managed by the Government Property Agency for commercial and residential use. There is not an up-to-date assessment of market rent for residential space within this.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for how long each of the unoccupied dwellings in Admiralty House has been empty.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

For security and operational reasons we do not disclose occupancy timings of individual residences.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the publication Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published on 12 May 2025, CP1326, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of restricting access to local authority housing for (a) current and (b) former overseas nationals based on their English language proficiency.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government has no plans to make such an assessment.

Eligibility for social housing is tightly controlled. If a person’s visa means that they cannot access state benefits or local authority housing assistance, they are not eligible for an allocation of social housing. Only eligible individuals can join waiting lists and be given a social housing tenancy.

Where foreign nationals are eligible, they will have their housing needs considered on the same basis as other eligible applicants in accordance with the local authority’s housing allocation scheme. People who are homeless, in overcrowded housing or who need to move for medical reasons are prioritised.

The previous government consulted on changes to social housing allocation tests. This government’s response was published on 2 September and can be found on gov.uk here.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has issued guidance to local billing authorities on whether a second homes council tax premium can be applied where a person claims a job-related second homes council tax discount.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government has published guidance on the implementation of council tax premiums and exceptions. This guidance sets out there is a mandatory exception from the second home premium for dwellings which are job-related, or where the person concerned is living in another dwelling with is job-related. Where a discount applies due to a dwelling’s job-related status, the premium also would not apply.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to ensure consistency of approach in its engagement policy.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

We take engagement seriously and adopt best practice as outlined by the Government's principles of engagement.

These principles of engagement are published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what county flags have been flown from her Department's headquarters in Marsham Street since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

No historic county flags have been flown over the Department’s headquarters in Marsham Street since 4 July 2024.

The decision was taken to give English counties more prominence and status by moving from the department offices to the Houses of Parliament, where they will be seen by more people, and closer to MPs, Lords, and visitors wishing to celebrate their own specific county day.

We are pleased to say that individual historic county days are now managed by the Speaker's Office, with flags flown in New Palace Yard. It is expected that the flying of flags in New Palace Yard will increase visibility and engagement, and reflects the importance the government places on historic county days.

We will continue the celebration of Historic County Flag Day around the 23 July this year by the flying of all registered historic county flags and the Union flag in Parliament Square, and encourage all MPs to celebrate the rich history of our counties.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if there will be a mayoral election for Lancashire County Combined Authority in May 2026.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

We are continuing to work with Lancashire Combined County Authority to deepen their existing devolution agreement and, dependent on their ongoing governance review, we will explore a path towards mayoral devolution for the region.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the accredited official statistics entitled Local authority green belt statistics for England: 2023 to 2024, published on 5 December 2024, whether these statistics include metropolitan open land.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The local authority green belt statistics publication issued by my Department does not include figures for metropolitan open land.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has considered providing Income Tax relief for party political donations.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is not considering an income tax relief for party political donations.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance she has provided to local authorities on grooming gang inquiries.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Government continues work to deliver meaningful change for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation, including group-based child sexual exploitation or grooming gangs.

The Home Secretary wrote to all local authorities on 12 March 2025 to inform them of our plans, including our investment of £10 million, which will support the Child Sexual Exploitation Police Taskforce in working with police forces to re-examine investigations and pursue new lines of inquiry where appropriate to deliver justice for more victims, alongside expanding the Child Sexual Abuse Review Panel so victims can have their cases reviewed even if it happened after 2013. This also includes a new national fund to support independent local inquiries and help strengthen local responses to child sexual exploitation.

We are currently awaiting Baroness Louise Casey's report following her national audit into the nature, scale and characteristics of grooming gangs offending, and we will publish more detail and next steps on this work, alongside Baroness Casey's report, in the coming weeks.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 12 May 2025 to Question 48445 on Picketing, whether there is a statutory basis for the six person limit in the Code of Practice on Picketing, published in March 2024.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

There is no statutory limit on the number of people attending a picket. The Code of Practice on Picketing, which is issued by the Secretary of State under section 203 Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, recommends a 6 person limit as a way of enabling unions to ensure they can adhere to the legal requirement that the picket be peaceful and therefore does not intimidate others, including workers who may seek to cross it to go to work.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether interested parties will be able to submit written representations on the proposed Chinese Embassy to the Secretary of State after the planning inspector’s report has been finalised.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 51399 on 19 May 2025.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many hectares of metropolitan open land there are in each local authority in Greater London; and whether there is an (a) electronic and (b) hard copy map of metropolitan open land.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Metropolitan Open Land is a local designation used by the Mayor of London in his London Plan.

Policy relating to the designation, as well as the current extent of Metropolitan Open Land, is entirely a matter for the Mayor.

The Department does not hold data or produce maps on the amount of Metropolitan Open Land in London.

Figures for the amount of Green Belt in Greater London as at 31 March 2024 are published within the ‘Area by LA’ accompanying table here. The Department does not hold figures broken down by electoral ward or division.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what data her Department holds on the amount of (a) Metropolitan Open Land and (b) Green Belt land in Greater London, broken down by (i) electoral ward and (ii) division.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Metropolitan Open Land is a local designation used by the Mayor of London in his London Plan.

Policy relating to the designation, as well as the current extent of Metropolitan Open Land, is entirely a matter for the Mayor.

The Department does not hold data or produce maps on the amount of Metropolitan Open Land in London.

Figures for the amount of Green Belt in Greater London as at 31 March 2024 are published within the ‘Area by LA’ accompanying table here. The Department does not hold figures broken down by electoral ward or division.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will publish a copy of the Section 106 agreement that was submitted to the planning inquiry for the proposed Chinese Embassy in London.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 45663 on 29 April 2025.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the scheduled local council elections in Essex in 2026 will be (a) postponed and (b) cancelled.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

There are no plans to postpone local elections in 2026. The government’s starting point is for all elections to go ahead unless there is strong justification.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 May 2025 to Question 49921 on Elections: Surrey, whether the scheduled local council elections in (a) Norfolk and (b) Suffolk in 2026 will be (i) postponed and (ii) cancelled.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

There are no plans to postpone local elections in 2026. The government’s starting point is for all elections to go ahead unless there is strong justification.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 May 2025 to Question 49921 on Elections: Surrey, whether the scheduled local council elections in Hampshire in 2026 will be (a) postponed and (b) cancelled.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

There are no plans to postpone local elections in 2026. The government’s starting point is for all elections to go ahead unless there is strong justification.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 May 2025 to Question 49921 on Elections: Surrey, whether the scheduled local council elections in Sussex in 2026 will be (a) postponed and (b) cancelled.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

There are no plans to postpone local elections in 2026. The government’s starting point is for all elections to go ahead unless there is strong justification.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's correspondence on the appointment of the Oxford Growth Commission Chair, published on 12 May 2025, whether the Chair is remunerated; and if she will require him to publish a declaration of (a) interests and (b) political activity.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I can confirm that the Chair of the newly formed Oxford Growth Commission (OGC) has been appointed as a direct ministerial appointment and will be remunerated.

Direct ministerial appointments such as the Chair of the OGC are not regulated public appointments and do not fall within the remit of the Governance Code on Public Appointments. However, the usual public law principles applicable to all ministerial decision-making still apply. The Department has carried out appropriate due diligence checks and is satisfied these principles are met.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her planned timetable is for the publication of the Community Cohesion strategy.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is leading cross-Government efforts to develop a longer-term, more strategic approach to social cohesion - working in partnership with communities and local stakeholders to rebuild, renew and address deep-seated issues.

This is a priority for the Deputy Prime Minister, who has stood up a cross-government ‘Communities & Recovery Steering Group’ to oversee this work. One of its first acts was to launch a new Community Recovery Fund, providing £15 million for places most impacted by last summer’s disorder.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2025 to Question 51394, on Ministers Private Offices, on how many days she has used her office in 70 Whitehall since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Deputy Prime Minister regularly works from 70 Whitehall, information on the precise number of days is not held by the department.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has met with the Night Time Industry Association since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Details of external ministerial meetings, including their date, attendees, and purpose, are declared and published on gov.uk on a quarterly basis.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 45683 on Waste Management: Birmingham, if he will publish the (a) advice and (b) assessments provided by the Environment Agency as part of the multi-agency response.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Environment Agency (EA) has been a core member of the multi-agency response from the outset. This has not required the production of any risk assessments or written advice in connection with the ongoing incident. The EA is committed to the ongoing support to our partners and has confirmed support for the risk assessments and plans produced by Birmingham City Council as part of the multiagency response.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to make a submission to the Women and Equalities Committee's inquiry on gendered Islamophobia.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

We welcome the Committee's inquiry on this topic and ministers will take a keen interest in its findings.

The Government recognises that religious hatred is not specific to one place and can manifest in varying areas, such as online spaces and in public and educational settings. Certain characteristics, for example gender, sexuality and race, can often compound individual’s experiences of religious hatred.

British Muslim women are pivotal to our wider communities. They are often the driving force behind interfaith and community initiatives, yet they face specific challenges, with discrimination and intolerance often directed at them.

The Government has established a new working group to provide government with a definition of Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia. This work will consider views from a cross-section of society, including those of Muslim women, to improve understanding of unacceptable treatment and prejudice against Muslim communities, supporting wider and ongoing government-led efforts to tackle religiously motivated hate crime and foster cohesion.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she intends to lay regulations to commence the substantive provisions in section 113 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 on Power to decline to determine applications in cases of earlier non-implementation etc.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

On 25 May, the government launched a technical consultation on implementing measures to improve the transparency of build rates from new residential development, which includes proposals to implement provisions in section 113 of the LURA on the power to decline to determine applications. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here.

Subject to the outcome of the consultation, the government intends bring forward the regulations to implement these measures at the earliest practical opportunity with the new build out reporting framework coming into force from 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the number of social housing tenants in (a) England, (b) London and (c) each local authority in England who were born outside the United Kingdom.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

People are generally eligible for social housing if they have leave to remain in the UK and have recourse to public funds. The Home Office decides whether persons from abroad have leave to remain in the UK and whether they have recourse to public funds.

Only individuals that are eligible can join housing registers and be given a social housing tenancy. For those who are eligible, housing needs will be considered on an equal basis in accordance with the relevant local authority’s housing allocation scheme.

According to the relevant 2021 Census extract, there were 796,000 households living in the social rented sector in England in March 2021 that were headed by someone who was not born in the UK. It is important to note that such households may contain UK nationals as well as non-UK national lead tenants.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he plans to de-designate the Swanscombe Peninsula Site of Special Scientific Interest to allow housebuilding previously planned for the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Section 28D of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 provides the legal framework for denotification of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). If Natural England’s opinion is that an SSSI (or part of an SSSI) is no longer of special interest e.g. because of natural changes, they can denotify it. The Secretary of State has no role in the de-notification of terrestrial SSSIs.

Natural England has no plans to de-notify the site. They report that all but 1 of the 12 special features of Swanscombe Peninsula are in favourable condition.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department has issued on whether incumbent Police and Crime Commissioners can stand for election to be (a) combined authority and (b) county combined authority mayors where those mayors do not have policing powers; and vice versa.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

As set out in the English Devolution White Paper, the government’s ambition is that where mayoral geographies align with police force geographies, Mayors will be, by default, responsible for exercising Police and Crime Commissioner functions. This will include where new Mayoral Combined Authorities are created.

We will explore, in time for the English Devolution Bill, the possibility of a single Mayor taking on Police and Crime Commissioner responsibilities across two or more Police Force boundaries where boundaries align, as would be the case in Suffolk and Norfolk.

Legislation currently allows for an incumbent Police and Crime Commissioner to stand for Mayor where they do not hold Police and Crime functions, provided the elections do not run concurrently. We will issue guidance on future mayoral eligibility criteria in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether proposed (a) combined authority and (b) county combined authority mayors will take on the roles and duties of Police and Crime Commissioners where the boundaries of those police forces align with those of the combined authority.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

As set out in the English Devolution White Paper, the government’s ambition is that where mayoral geographies align with police force geographies, Mayors will be, by default, responsible for exercising Police and Crime Commissioner functions. This will include where new Mayoral Combined Authorities are created.

We will explore, in time for the English Devolution Bill, the possibility of a single Mayor taking on Police and Crime Commissioner responsibilities across two or more Police Force boundaries where boundaries align, as would be the case in Suffolk and Norfolk.

Legislation currently allows for an incumbent Police and Crime Commissioner to stand for Mayor where they do not hold Police and Crime functions, provided the elections do not run concurrently. We will issue guidance on future mayoral eligibility criteria in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the proposed combined authority mayor for Suffolk and Norfolk will have policing powers.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

As set out in the English Devolution White Paper, the government’s ambition is that where mayoral geographies align with police force geographies, Mayors will be, by default, responsible for exercising Police and Crime Commissioner functions. This will include where new Mayoral Combined Authorities are created.

We will explore, in time for the English Devolution Bill, the possibility of a single Mayor taking on Police and Crime Commissioner responsibilities across two or more Police Force boundaries where boundaries align, as would be the case in Suffolk and Norfolk.

Legislation currently allows for an incumbent Police and Crime Commissioner to stand for Mayor where they do not hold Police and Crime functions, provided the elections do not run concurrently. We will issue guidance on future mayoral eligibility criteria in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for her policies of the Office for Environmental Protection publication entitled OEP gives advice to Government on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, published on 1 May 2025.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government welcomes that the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) share our view that the Nature Restoration Fund has the potential to secure better outcomes for nature whilst also unlocking and accelerating necessary development.

We are giving careful consideration to the advice the OEP have provided on proposed changes to environmental law contained in Part 3 of the Bill.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on whether changes to minimum energy performance standards for the private rented sector will apply to fixed-term accommodation for irregular migrants procured by the Home Office.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government recently consulted on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector. The consultation closed on 2nd May and we are currently reviewing responses and the evidence submitted. Whether accommodation falls within scope of new standards will depend on the type of tenancy. Currently, if a property is let on an assured tenancy, regulated tenancy, or domestic agricultural tenancy, and is legally required to have an EPC, then it will need to meet the minimum energy efficiency standard, unless a valid exemption applies.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what work Innovate UK has undertaken in relation to (a) cyber-security and (b) cyber-physical infrastructure in the last five years.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Innovate UK have delivered a number of programmes and grants relating to cyber security and cyber-physical infrastructure over the past five years. A comprehensive list can be found below. These initiatives represent a significant investment in the cyber sector.

Cyber Security Initiatives

• CyberASAP – Supports commercialisation of academic cyber research.
• Cyber Local – Builds local cyber ecosystems and skills.
• Digital Security by Design – Develops secure hardware/software foundations.
• Cyber AI Hub (Belfast) – Advances AI-driven cyber security in NI.
• SDTaP – Demonstrates IoT cyber security solutions.
• Smart Grants – Funds high-impact innovations, including cyber security.

Cyber-Physical Infrastructure Projects

• Digital Twin Energy Grids – Enhances energy grid resilience via digital twins.
• Cyber-RIAST – Develops a cyber risk awareness tool.
• Grid-Enigma – Enables secure, low-cost energy data transmission.
• REDGE – Secures energy systems using digital twins and cyber tech.
• TwinEDGE – Detects intrusions via edge-based digital twins.
• EV Grid Cybersecurity – Secures EV charging infrastructure with digital twins.
• SPACES – Tests safe autonomous vehicle control systems.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her comments to the Convention of the North in Preston on 28 February 2025, on what evidential basis she said that the whole of the North will have elected mayors by May 2026.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Earlier this month, inaugural mayoral elections were held in Greater Lincolnshire and Hull & East Yorkshire. They now join the rest of Yorkshire, the North East, Tees Valley, Liverpool City and Greater Manchester as mayoral combined authorities.

Continuing our ambition to see the benefits of devolution extended across the North, the Deputy Prime Minister announced six places on the Devolution Priority Programme with a fast-track ticket to drive real change in their area – including Cumbria, and Cheshire and Warrington – which are receiving the full backing of government.

Finally, we are continuing to work with Lancashire Combined County Authority to deepen their existing devolution agreement and, dependant on their ongoing governance review, we will explore a path towards mayoral devolution for the region.

Clearly it is for local leaders to organise and secure consensus in each of these areas, but as has always been the case, the government stands ready to work as partners in achieving this.

Mauritius Treaty

Found: PQ HC 43098 2024-25, 3 Apr 2025 Kevin Hollinrake: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the