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

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their devolution framework will seek to empower local government with the powers and funding necessary to boost local economies and create excellent places to live and work.

Enterprise Zones (are at the heart of the government’s support for local economic growth, supporting businesses to expand as part of our wider Industrial Strategy. 48 Enterprise Zones have been established since 2012 across England with sites from Berwick-upon-Tweed in Northumberland to Falmouth in Cornwall.

Enterprise Zones are established and operated by Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). As of December 2016, published data shows they have attracted 877 businesses, £3.5 billion of private sector investment and over 38,000 jobs. *All business rates growth generated by the Enterprise Zone is kept by the relevant LEP and local authorities in the areas for 25 years to reinvest in local economic growth.

The Government’s manifesto committed to "providing clarity across England on what devolution means for different administrations so all authorities operate in a common framework". We aim to be able to provide local areas with this clarity on how best to take forward their devolution and local growth ambitions as soon as practicable.

* This is based upon EZ monitoring data as self-reported by LEPs.