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
7 results
10
Recommendation
Not Addressed
Para 82
The Committee has persistently sought clarity from the Government about how the UK Shared Prosperity...
Recommendation
The Committee has persistently sought clarity from the Government about how the UK Shared Prosperity Fund will work. The Government has had over four years to design and bring forward a coherent alternative to the European Development Funds that will …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response is an exact repetition of the recommendation text, providing no substantive reply to the committee's proposals regarding the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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11
Recommendation
Not Addressed
A sustainable approach to local government funding requires longer term budgetary arrangements and discretion for...
Recommendation
A sustainable approach to local government funding requires longer term budgetary arrangements and discretion for local authorities and combined authorities over how to spend. We therefore welcome that the 2021 spending review will be multi- year. This reflects the wider …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response is an exact repetition of the recommendation text, providing no substantive reply to the committee's proposal for block grants and an end to ringfencing and competitive bidding.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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12
Recommendation
Not Addressed
Para 102
We retain our predecessor committee’s scepticism about whether health devolution accurately describes the current arrangements...
Recommendation
We retain our predecessor committee’s scepticism about whether health devolution accurately describes the current arrangements in Greater Manchester. It clearly does not in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We support the recommendations of the Health Devolution Commission on the …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response discusses the devolution of the adult education budget and the Department for Education's functions, completely failing to address the original recommendation regarding health devolution and a London Health Commissioner.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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13
Recommendation
Not Addressed
The devolution of the adult education budget should be part of the devolution framework, accompanied...
Recommendation
The devolution of the adult education budget should be part of the devolution framework, accompanied by transitional support and measures to mitigate differences in course options between areas. The same powers over adult education should be available to all areas …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response discusses housing and planning powers, Mayoral Development Corporations, and streamlining funding, completely failing to address the recommendation regarding the devolution of the adult education budget, FE colleges, or strengthening local authority oversight of schools.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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14
Recommendation
Not Addressed
Para 113
The devolution framework should provide for the devolution to combined and local authorities of the...
Recommendation
The devolution framework should provide for the devolution to combined and local authorities of the spatial planning powers, call-in powers for planning applications, the powers to establish development corporations, compulsory purchase orders, consultation on strategic planning applications, and strategic infrastructure …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response focuses entirely on transport systems, bus services, Network Rail, and the new Great British Railways, failing to address the recommendation for devolving spatial planning powers, housing powers, development corporations, or strategic infrastructure levies.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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15
Recommendation
Not Addressed
Para 118
The Government should consider the case for extending powers for Transport for London-style oversight of...
Recommendation
The Government should consider the case for extending powers for Transport for London-style oversight of local buses to all transport authorities, whether combined or local authorities. Where transport services cross local authority boundaries, joint working relationships should be encouraged between …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response focuses on local authorities' role in net zero, climate action plans, Local Nature Recovery Strategies, and public asset takeovers, completely failing to address the recommendation regarding Transport for London-style oversight for buses, joint working arrangements for transport services, or scrutiny of transport.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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16
Recommendation
Not Addressed
We have heard, both in this inquiry and our inquiry into local government and the...
Recommendation
We have heard, both in this inquiry and our inquiry into local government and the path to net-zero, that local government can play an important role in policies relating to energy efficiency. The Government should strongly consider the case for …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response discusses the flexible approach to devolution through County Deals and the role of directly elected leaders or alternative governance models, but it does not address the specific recommendation to consider devolving powers related to energy efficiency, the environment, farming and forestry policies, or the takeover of public assets.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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