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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department undertook a public sector equality duty assessment on the decision to cancel the mayoral elections.

The Government intends to establish Mayoral Strategic Authorities via secondary legislation for all the Devolution Priority Programme areas as soon as possible, subject to the councils’ consent. Devolution is strongest when it is built on strong foundations, and this extra time will allow these four areas to establish strong institutions ahead of their Mayors taking office in 2028. The decision to hold the mayoral elections at a later date does not necessitate a Public Sector Equality Duty assessment, as an assessment will be produced for the establishment legislation.