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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 24 January 2024 to Question 25392 on Local Government: Devolution, whether her Department plans to undertake a Regulatory Impact Assessment in relation to its proposals on local government reorganisation.

The potential impact of local government reorganisation on individual areas will be a matter for local councils to consider as they develop their proposals for reorganisation. As set out in the published criteria for proposals, unitary structures must prioritise the delivery of high quality and sustainable public services to citizens; proposals should show how new structures will improve local government and service delivery and should avoid unnecessary fragmentation of services.

Following submission, I will consider any and all proposals carefully before taking decisions on how to proceed.