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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will provide guidance for combined county authorities on the next steps to transition to mayoral authorities.

The Government remains firmly committed to mayoral devolution and is forging ahead with it, including through the Devolution Priority Programme, but we have been clear that this model works best when built on firm foundations. That is why we have issued an invitation to all areas in England that do not have devolution to bring forward, with their neighbours, a proposal for a (non-mayoral) Foundation Strategic Authority. Existing non-mayoral Combined County Authorities will automatically be classed as Foundation Strategic Authorities on Royal Assent of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.

Foundation Strategic Authorities will have a strong remit for driving growth, as well as key tools to do so in areas such as skills and transport. They will also help build institutional capability and partnerships at the regional level, as a stepping stone towards mayoral devolution in the future.

The process for an area moving from a Foundation Strategic Authority to a Mayoral Strategic Authority is being amended through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, subject to Royal Assent, and requires a proposal, a consultation, a decision on whether the necessary statutory tests have been met, and consent from the relevant authorities. Government will continue to work closely with areas as part of our ambition to widen and deepen devolution in England.