Oral Answers to Questions

Sally Jameson Excerpts

Monday 2nd November 2026 Commons Chamber

[Callum Anderson (Buckingham and Bletchley) (Lab)]

Does the Minister share my disappointment that, because of political game playing by the leader of Central Bedfordshire council, Milton Keynes and Bedfordshire will have to wait to enjoy the benefits of devolution? Will she set out how this Government will work to ensure that constituencies such as mine will not miss out on the investment and opportunities that it promises?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Sally Jameson)]

The Government are determined to ensure that we have strategic authorities everywhere by the end of 2028, and I and other Ministers in the Department will work with my hon. Friend and council leaders from across the region to ensure that they also get a strategic authority in that time.

[Lincoln Jopp (Spelthorne) (Con)]

West Surrey unitary authority wrote to the Secretary of State asking her to change the name of that authority to West Surrey and South Middlesex—a move that I thoroughly support. The local government Minister wrote back to them and said, “It’s nothing to do with me; just change your name yourself.” Will the Minister confirm what his spokesman said to the BBC, which was that,

“West Surrey Council has the power to change its own name to include Middlesex if it chooses to do so, and we’ve set this out in a letter to them”?

--- Later in debate ---

[Perran Moon (Camborne and Redruth) (Ind)]

Meur ras, Mr Speaker. The Budget brought welcome news for Cornwall last week by recognising our national minority status through a Cornwall-only single foundation strategic status without a mayor. I understand the principle of a mayoral combined authority with a single figurehead sitting above several authorities, but does the Minister agree that it would be a pointless waste of taxpayers’ money to establish a mayor in parallel with one single strategic authority?

[Sally Jameson]

We had an excellent meeting with Cornwall leaders and MPs in No. 10 North not long before that decision was taken. I thank my hon. Friend for his contribution to that, and I understand the distinct status that Cornwall has. We will continue to work with him to ensure that Cornwall can make the most of its foundation strategic authority in the future.

[Ayoub Khan (Birmingham Perry Barr) (Ind)]

Birmingham city council is now officially out of bankruptcy, so will the Government remove the Government-appointed commissioners, who are costing taxpayers millions of pounds—money that could be better used elsewhere?