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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of moving (a) further powers and (b) responsibilities for (i) taxi licensing and (ii) youth services from constituent unitary councils to Mayoral Combined Authorities.

The Government remains committed to consulting on whether to make all Local Transport Authorities (including Mayoral Combined Authorities) responsible for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing. Administering the regime across this larger footprint would increase the consistency of standards; create greater economies of scale; and enable more effective use of enforcement powers across a whole functional economic area.

The new National Youth Strategy highlights the leadership of local authorities in the youth sector and the importance of taking a place-based approach to funding to empower local communities in delivering their local youth offers. This function will remain with local authorities as they deliver local services aligned with local needs. However, we recognise the role of Strategic Authorities in setting strategic direction and supporting youth provision and encourage their work to collaborate and take collective decisions on youth priorities.