Fourth Report - Progress on devolution in England
Select Committee
Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
HC 36
1 October 2021
Government response
Progress on Devolution in England: Government response to the Select Committee report · published 1 Mar 2022
Recommendations & Conclusions
8 results
1
Conclusion
Accepted
There has been important progress with devolution in England since our predecessor committee’s report in...
Conclusion
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 …
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Government Response Summary
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
Para 24
Devolution across the United Kingdom has been pursued for different purposes, and its scope, structure,...
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response Summary
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
Para 41
The lack of transparency and public engagement in the negotiation of devolution deals have not...
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response Summary
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
Para 48
We approve of the principle of a devolution framework.
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response Summary
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
Instead of using Greater Manchester as a yardstick, all existing places with devolution deals should...
Recommendation
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. …
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Government Response Summary
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
Devolution should not be restricted solely to urban areas.
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response Summary
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
The devolution framework should clarify the relationship of local authorities with combined authorities.
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response Summary
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
There is a need for more data about combined authority and other sub-national areas.
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response Summary
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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