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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the establishment of a Mayoral Development Corporation requires her consent.

The Localism Act 2011 first introduced provisions permitting the Mayor of London to designate Mayoral Development Areas (MDAs) and Mayoral Development Corporations (MDCs). These powers can now be conferred on elected mayors of Combined Authorities and Combined County Authorities.

Mayors can designate MDAs, subject to the provisions in section 197 of the Localism Act 2011. If the Secretary of State receives a notification per section 197(6) of the 2011 Act, in accordance with section 198(2), she must by order establish an MDC for the area designated by the Mayor. In such cases, the Secretary of State has no discretion as to the establishment of the MDC and therefore her consent is not required.