Local Government: Reform

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government written question – answered at on 7 January 2025.

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Photo of Neil O'Brien Neil O'Brien Shadow Minister (Education)

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the evidential basis is for the expectation that reformed local authorities should generally have a population of 500,000 or more.

Photo of Jim McMahon Jim McMahon Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The overall case for local government reorganisation is set out the English Devolution White Paper. New unitary councils must be the right size to achieve efficiencies, improve capacity and withstand financial shocks. For most areas this will mean creating councils with a population of 500,000 or more, but there may be exceptions to ensure new structures make sense for an area, including for devolution, and decisions will be on a case-by-case basis.

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