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Written question asked by Blake Stephenson (Conservative) on Monday, 1 September 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 3 September 2025. It was answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh (Labour) on Friday, 12 September 2025 on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Local Government: Reorganisation

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 February 2025 to Question 26699 on Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to allow Ministers to change the boundaries of existing strategic authorities.

Answer

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, introduced to the House of Commons on 10 July 2025, amends provisions in the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 and the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 concerning the establishment and expansion of combined authorities (CAs) and combined county authorities (CCAs), respectively.

These provisions allow for existing CAs or CCAs to be changed through ‘locally-led’, ‘Secretary of State-led’ and ‘Secretary of State-directed’ routes.

The locally-led and Secretary of State-led routes will require local consent. However, where no relevant, viable proposals have been submitted, the Secretary of State may decide to direct the addition of a local government area to an existing CA or CCA.

The Government believes that devolution should be locally-led wherever possible and will work with local leaders to agree proposals that have broad support.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
73784
Session
2024-26
Related items
Subjects
Local government Reorganisation
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk