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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether a new (a) memorandum of understanding and (b) facility agreement is being agreed between her Department and its agencies with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority in relation to the (i) Affordable Housing Programme and (ii) National Housing Bank.

As committed to in the English Devolution White Paper, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority will have the ability to set the strategic direction of the new £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme in their area. Memorandums of Understanding and commissioning letters will be agreed with the Greater London Authority and Homes England as the organisations delivering the programme for MHCLG.

As per the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 18 June (HCWS712), MHCLG and the National Housing Bank, when established, will work with Mayors and local leaders to develop integrated packages of financial support to deliver on the housing and regeneration priorities of local areas. MHCLG and Homes England are engaging with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to agree an approach that works best for the needs of each place. We will announce further details in the coming months.