Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 1 July 2020, Revitalising high streets and town centres, HCWS145, if he will make an assessment of the extent to which his policies on the use of Article 4 directions set out in that Written Statement are compatible with the Government's Levelling up agenda and its policies on the devolution of powers.

By strengthening our policy on Article 4 directions we are allowing all local authorities to use Article 4 directions in a measured and targeted way. This will help to safeguard against the loss of retail premises in thriving high streets and core shopping areas.