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 6 December 2024 to Question 16746 on Devolution: East of England, if she will make it her policy to ensure that the Devolution White Paper follows the principles of (a) subsidiarity and (b) double devolution when determining which level to devolve power and responsibility.

We are committed to putting the right powers at the right levels, in line with the principle of subsidiarity, and this has informed development of the devolution framework.

That is why Strategic Authorities (SAs) will focus on issues like strategic planning, adult education and local growth plans which require strategic oversight of the entire region.

Local authorities will continue to shape their places and deliver the critical local public services residents rely on, and we are ending the destructive Whitehall knows best mindset that drives micromanagement by working to remove the need for Secretaries of State to sign-off on councils’ use of their powers.

We will also empower communities with new rights and levers to influence their neighbourhoods, while protecting cherished community assets and high streets.