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

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress they have made on devolution deals for non-metropolitan areas.

The Government is determined to rebalance the economy and empower local government through the devolution of powers away from Whitehall. We have already agreed seven ground-breaking devolution deals with areas ranging from Liverpool to Cornwall.

The Government is progressing devolution discussions with non-metropolitan areas that submitted devolution proposals in September 2015. We are at an advanced stage in negotiations with a number of non-metropolitan areas and expect to be able to announce further deals in the near future.