Combined Authorities: Powers

Department for Communities and Local Government written question – answered at on 14 July 2015.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Jim Cunningham Jim Cunningham Labour, Coventry South

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to establish a team within his Department dedicated to facilitating combined authority devolution negotiations; and if he will make a statement.

Photo of Jim Cunningham Jim Cunningham Labour, Coventry South

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what resources his Department plans to make available to facilitate combined authority devolution negotiations; and if he will make a statement.

Photo of Jim Cunningham Jim Cunningham Labour, Coventry South

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the total cost to the public purse of holding devolution negotiations for combined authorities in the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Photo of Mark Francois Mark Francois Minister of State (Communities and Local Government)

Devolution is one of the Government’s top priorities and will therefore be prioritised within departmental resourcing. To meet this commitment, the Government will prioritise the resources necessary to facilitate negotiations with areas and to deliver on any statutory elements of deals, such as the establishment of combined authorities. The deployment of resources will need to be flexible to accommodate the nature and number of negotiations happening at any one time, which will vary as will the total cost of the negotiation process.

The Government is committed to devolving far-reaching powers within England as part of a power shift away from central government, enabling places to drive their own economic growth and take decisions over public services.

In devolving powers the Government is committed to a 'bottom up' approach and is asking local areas to come forward with proposals on the form of devolution that would work best for them. This approach builds on the devolution deal the government struck with Greater Manchester in the last Parliament that will see the devolution of significant powers and budgets and the establishment of a directly elected mayor.

Does this answer the above question?

Yes0 people think so

No1 person thinks not

Would you like to ask a question like this yourself? Use our Freedom of Information site.