Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of expanding local business rates retention flexibilities for non-devolved local authorities.

The Government’s vision for devolution in England was set out in the joint cabinet statement, ‘Rewiring the state’ published in July. This committed to greater retention of business rates revenue for both strategic authorities and local councils. The long-term certainty of funding via taxation will provide more flexibility and enable greater investment to fund interventions that will deliver a return. The Government will consider how these growth incentives can be balanced with the need for fairness between places, recognising that there will be different starting points across the country.