UK Inquiry Tracker

Progress on devolution in England

Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee Closed Inquiry

Opened: 9 Mar 2020 Closed: 2 Mar 2022 Parliament page

Relaunched inquiry: Progress of Devolution in England The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee has relaunched its inquiry into progress on devolution in England. The inquiry will scrutinise the impact of recently agreed devolution agreements and ask if the transfer of further powers to England’s regions can boost local economies … Read more Relaunched inquiry: Progress of Devolution in England The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee has relaunched its inquiry into progress on devolution in England. The inquiry will scrutinise the impact of recently agreed devolution agreements and ask if the transfer of further powers to England’s regions can boost local economies and provision of public services. Since 2014, cities and regions including Greater Manchester, the West Midlands and Cornwall have successfully negotiated bespoke devolution deals with the Governments. London gained greater devolved powers following the establishment of an assembly in 2000. Each devolution deal involves its own arrangements for funding and increased responsibilities, but can include greater powers over areas including business support, planning, transport and health. London, and eight of the ten areas with newly agreed devolution deals, established directly elected mayors to oversee the implementation of new powers. The inquiry will examine the impact of devolving increased powers in the cities and regions where deals have been agreed, and consider how any benefits can be realised in more areas of the country. It will investigate the effectiveness of the current strategy of developing bespoke deals region by region, and ask if increasing available powers without wider systemic changes would produce similar benefits. The Committee will investigate the roles of directly elected mayors, quality of scrutiny in decision making and public accountability. Chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, Clive Betts MP commented: “The approach the Government has taken is to develop bespoke arrangements for different areas, both in terms of the powers devolved to them and the administrative systems to execute them. We have launched this inquiry to understand the impact of the current approach. Has tailoring devolution to each locality improved decision making, the local economy and public services? “Most importantly, we want to discover what opportunities there are for improving outcomes across the country. Notably in areas such as transport and health where provision doesn’t match existing local government structures, but also in improving the local economy, environment and infrastructure. We will be looking to see how improved devolution can boost cities and regions, and how it can be implemented more quickly.” Evidence received for the inquiry in the previous Parliament can be found here . Show less

22 Recommendations

1 Conclusion

1 Report

5 Oral sessions

2 Letters

5 Events

Activity timeline 9 events

1 Mar
2022

Report published

Progress on Devolution in England: Government response to the Select Committee report

1 Mar
2022

Correspondence

Letter from the Minister for Levelling Up, the Union and Constitution to the Chair dated 24 February 2022 concerning the Government's respo…

1 Oct
2021

Report published

Fourth Report - Progress on devolution in England

29 Jan
2021

Correspondence

Letter from the Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government to the Chair dated 22 January 2021 providing an update on the Government'…

25 Jan
2021

Oral evidence

30 Nov
2020

Oral evidence

7 Sep
2020

Oral evidence

Evidence session; Oral evidence

22 Jun
2020

Oral evidence

Oral evidence; Oral Evidence

16 Mar
2020

Oral evidence

Progress on devolution in England

Oral evidence sessions 5 sessions

25 Jan 2021

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Oral evidence

Cllr James Jamieson · Local Government Association (LGA) Rt Hon Greg Clark The Lord Kerslake · UK2070 Commission

30 Nov 2020

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Oral evidence

Amy Harhoff · Durham County Council David Williams · Hertfordshire County Council James Palmer · Herbert Smith Freehills Jamie Driscoll · North of Tyne Combined Authority

7 Sep 2020

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Evidence session; Oral evidence

Andrew Carter · Centre for Cities Bill McCarthy · NHS England Guy Ware · London Councils Helen Charlesworth-May · Cornwall Council Kate Kennally · Cornwall Council Mr David Phillips · Institute for Fiscal Studies Sir Richard Leese CBE · Manchester City Council

22 Jun 2020

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Oral evidence; Oral Evidence

Abdool Kara · National Audit Office Andrew Walker · Local Government Information Unit Jim Hubbard · CBI Mike Short · UNISON Mr Ed Hammond · Centre for Public Scrutiny Simon Parkinson · Workers’ Education Association

16 Mar 2020

View on parliament.uk

Progress on devolution in England

Dr John Stanton · City, University of London Professor Colin Copus · De Montfort University Professor Francesca Gains · University of Manchester

Reports 1 report · click to expand

Title	HC No.	Published	Items	Response
Fourth Report - Progress on devolution in England	HC 36	1 Oct 2021	23	Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

8 results

1 Conclusion Accepted

Fourth Report - Progress on devolu…

There has been important progress with devolution in England since our predecessor committee’s report in...

There has been important progress with devolution in England since our predecessor committee’s report in 2016. But further progress can and should be made over the course of this Parliament. The remainder of this report sets out our recommended next … Read more

Government Response

The government acknowledges the progress made and commits to extending, deepening, and simplifying devolution, aiming for a deal in every part of England by 2030, listing specific areas invited for negotiations.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

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2 Recommendation Accepted

Fourth Report - Progress on devolu…

Devolution across the United Kingdom has been pursued for different purposes, and its scope, structure,...

Devolution across the United Kingdom has been pursued for different purposes, and its scope, structure, and geography reflect this. There needs to be clarity on the most important purposes of English devolution. This can then guide discussions on the appropriate … Read more

Government Response

The government outlines the purpose of devolution as critical to levelling up and strengthening local leadership, as detailed in the Levelling Up White Paper. It also specifies criteria for appropriate devolution deal geographies, including a minimum population of 500,000.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

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4 Recommendation Accepted

Fourth Report - Progress on devolu…

The lack of transparency and public engagement in the negotiation of devolution deals have not...

The lack of transparency and public engagement in the negotiation of devolution deals have not been addressed since our predecessor committee’s 2016 report. Both have remained minimal. We reiterate our predecessor committee’s recommendation that there should be greater efforts to … Read more

Government Response

The government has committed to extensive public engagement and informal consultation on its White Paper proposals and has published a devolution framework to clarify its offer. A new body will also be established to enhance data, transparency, and evidence for place-based leadership.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

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5 Recommendation Accepted

Fourth Report - Progress on devolu…

We approve of the principle of a devolution framework.

We approve of the principle of a devolution framework. It will provide clarity as to what is available for devolution. The Government should work with local government and other stakeholders to produce a devolution framework. To succeed, the framework must … Read more

Government Response

The government has introduced a devolution framework in the White Paper and committed to working with local government and civil society on community empowerment. It will launch a review of neighbourhood governance to support community leadership and explore ways to simplify the establishment of parish councils.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

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6 Recommendation Accepted

Fourth Report - Progress on devolu…

Instead of using Greater Manchester as a yardstick, all existing places with devolution deals should...

Instead of using Greater Manchester as a yardstick, all existing places with devolution deals should be offered the same powers as all others currently have. They may not choose to immediately take them up, but the option should be available. … Read more

Government Response

The government's devolution framework offers a wide range of powers to all existing and future devolution deal areas, explicitly stating it is not based on Greater Manchester as a yardstick. It allows areas to progress at their own pace, with future trailblazer deals for West Midlands and Greater Manchester providing a blueprint for others.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

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17 Recommendation Accepted

Fourth Report - Progress on devolu…

Devolution should not be restricted solely to urban areas.

Devolution should not be restricted solely to urban areas. The Government must strive to ensure devolution deals are reached with rural areas. The Government must make pursuing devolution deals with non-metropolitan areas a priority. It should write to us with … Read more

Government Response

The government accepts the recommendation, outlining its flexible approach to devolution, including 'County Deals' for rural and non-metropolitan areas, and stating that a mayor is not a prerequisite for all new devolution deals.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

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19 Recommendation Accepted

Fourth Report - Progress on devolu…

The devolution framework should clarify the relationship of local authorities with combined authorities.

The devolution framework should clarify the relationship of local authorities with combined authorities. As we have noted devolution is not just about increasing the powers of combined authorities, but enhancing the powers of local government as a whole. The Government … Read more

Government Response

The government commits to integrating Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) into Level 2 of its devolution framework, enabling their integration into mayoral combined authorities and county deals, and reiterates support for pan-regional partnerships.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

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23 Recommendation Accepted

Fourth Report - Progress on devolu…

There is a need for more data about combined authority and other sub-national areas.

There is a need for more data about combined authority and other sub-national areas. The Government, the Office for National Statistics, and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy should develop datasets to enable effective evaluation of combined authorities … Read more

Government Response

The government accepts the recommendation, committing to establish a new body focused on local government data and transparency, which will develop and publish datasets and tools to assist local leaders in evaluating their work.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

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Government Response AI assessment · 23 of 22 classified

Accepted 8

Accepted in Part 3

Deferred 2

Not Addressed 7

Rejected 3

Total 22 recs + 1 conclusion

Correspondence 2 letters

1 Mar 2022 To committee Letter from the Minister for Levelling Up, the Union and Constitution to the Chair dated 24 February 2022 concerning the Government's response to the Committee's report on Progress on Devolution in England

Parliament page

29 Jan 2021 To committee Letter from the Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government to the Chair dated 22 January 2021 providing an update on the Government's devolution programme

Parliament page