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 10 Downing Street press release entitled PM hands mayors share of income tax to make lives better in every postcode, published on 30 July 2026, whether Cornwall be will be eligible for retained income tax revenue if it chooses not to enter a mayoral combined authority with Devon.

In the Cabinet Statement of 31 July, we set out our intention that mayors will keep a share of local income tax, replacing central government grants, beginning in 2028. For areas to benefit from this, they will therefore need to be part of a Mayoral Strategic Authority. We will not impose mayors on areas that do not want one, so local leaders would need to agree to a Mayoral Strategic Authority for their area, including the footprint of that Authority.

Cornwall Council is a unitary local authority that benefits from some devolved powers under arrangements agreed in 2023. We want all areas in England to have, or be in the process of establishing, a Strategic Authority by the end of 2027, with Strategic Authorities in place everywhere by the end of 2028. We are therefore in discussions with local leaders across the country, including in Cornwall, to agree plans for new Strategic Authorities.