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 Written Statement of 16 December 2024, Official Report, HCWS316, on the Devolution White Paper, whether devolution by default will include the devolution of local taxation powers by default.

We have published a new, enhanced devolution framework, expanding and deepening the powers available to Mayors and Strategic Authorities. Mayors of Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities will, for the first time, have a right to request further devolution of specific functions and powers which the government will have to respond to. The government keeps all taxes under review and is focused on standardising existing tax powers which are currently uneven across Mayoral areas.