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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to extend devolution to areas outside of established mayoral combined authorities; and to what extent their devolution framework will provide local government in all areas with the opportunity to secure devolution.

Across Government we are making huge strides towards rebalancing the economy and empowering local government. Devolution deals have supported this work by enabling the Government to strengthen local leadership and institutions, and devolving powers and funding away from Whitehall, so that they are exercised at the right spatial geography.

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.