UK Inquiry Tracker

Devolving power in England

Public Accounts Committee Open Inquiry

Opened: 3 Jul 2026 Parliament page

In 2024, the English Devolution White Paper was published. This stated that central government should stop micromanaging local leaders’ decisions and allow local bodies to operate with autonomy. The government ultimately wants every area of England to be covered by a Mayoral Strategic Authority (MSA), with the mayor responsible for … Read more In 2024, the English Devolution White Paper was published. This stated that central government should stop micromanaging local leaders’ decisions and allow local bodies to operate with autonomy. The government ultimately wants every area of England to be covered by a Mayoral Strategic Authority (MSA), with the mayor responsible for making decisions on issues such as skills, transport and planning. Some areas will receive an Integrated Settlement – a single funding pot that can be allocated according to local priorities. Seven MSAs in the system have received multi-year settlements up to 2029-30, worth around £13.7bn. The PAC’s interest is in the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government’s (MHCLG) plans for holding MSAs to account locally, and how Parliament might exercise appropriate oversight. MHCLG wrote to the PAC on 18 March 2026 on progress in funding MSAs, as well as work to introduce Local Scrutiny Committees aimed at strengthening the quality, transparency and visibility of local scrutiny across MSAs. Separately, the PAC’s 2025 report on local government financial sustainability warned that government does not know if funding to local authorities is spent well, with signs that service quality is declining and an overly complex funding system making it harder for local authorities to improve outcomes for people. In summer 2026, the National Audit Office (NAO) publishes its report on devolution in England, examining how MHCLG is implementing its enhanced devolution framework. The PAC will take evidence from senior officials at MHCLG as it scrutinises topics including funding, governance and accountability arrangements for MSAs, and the impact of Integrated Settlements on the efficient delivery of services and programmes for local communities. If you have evidence on these issues, please submit using the link below by 23:59 on 17 August 2026. Please note that the Committee’s inquiry cannot assist with individual cases. If you need help with an individual problem you are having, you may wish to read the information on Parliament’s website about who you can contact with different issues. Show less

12 Written submissions

1 Oral session

1 Event

Activity timeline 13 events

7 Sep
2026

Oral evidence

Oral evidence session

3 Sep
2026

Written evidence · DPE0015

National Association of Local Councils

3 Sep
2026

Written evidence · DPE0014

Social Mobility Commission

3 Sep
2026

Written evidence · DPE0013

Future Energy Networks

3 Sep
2026

Written evidence · DPE0012

Dr Sara Closs-Davies, University of Manchester

3 Sep
2026

Written evidence · DPE0010

Dr Paul Anderson, Liverpool John Moores University

3 Sep
2026

Written evidence · DPE0008

Muslim Charities Forum

3 Sep
2026

Written evidence · DPE0007

Nottingham Business School

3 Sep
2026

Written evidence · DPE0006

Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman

3 Sep
2026

Written evidence · DPE0005

MR ISHTIAQ HUSSAIN, Solent University

3 Sep
2026

Written evidence · DPE0001

Mrs ANGELA MORETON, The Full Impact

3 Sep
2026

Written evidence · DPE0018

Mencap

Oral evidence sessions 1 session

7 Sep 2026

View on parliament.uk

Cat Little CB · Cabinet Office James Bowler CB · HM Treasury Jerome Glass CB · Home Office Katherine Fairclough · Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Melissa Brown · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Paul Bristow · Cambridgeshire and Peterborough LA Rob Bridge · Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Steve Rotheram · Liverpool City Region Will Burgon · HM Treasury Will Davis · Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government Will Garton · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Written evidence 12 submissions recorded

Submission metadata is shown here; use the source links to read the evidence on Parliament’s website.

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Reference	Date	Submitter
DPE0015 Full text not held	3 Sep 2026	National Association of Local Councils
DPE0014 Full text not held	3 Sep 2026	Social Mobility Commission
DPE0013 Full text not held	3 Sep 2026	Future Energy Networks
DPE0012 Full text not held	3 Sep 2026	Dr Sara Closs-Davies, University of Manchester
DPE0010 Full text not held	3 Sep 2026	Dr Paul Anderson, Liverpool John Moores University
DPE0008 Full text not held	3 Sep 2026	Muslim Charities Forum
DPE0007 Full text not held	3 Sep 2026	Nottingham Business School
DPE0006 Full text not held	3 Sep 2026	Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman
DPE0005 Full text not held	3 Sep 2026	MR ISHTIAQ HUSSAIN, Solent University
DPE0001 Full text not held	3 Sep 2026	Mrs ANGELA MORETON, The Full Impact
DPE0018 Full text not held	3 Sep 2026	Mencap
DPE0016 Full text not held	3 Sep 2026	The NHS Alliance