The new powers and funding agreed through this devolution deal will give the region greater say on how it is run as well as the ability to seize opportunities to innovate and grow. The Health and Life Sciences sector is one of many assets in the North East to be proud of and this deal will bring opportunity to build on that existing sector strength and the excellent work already being done by the likes of the region’s universities, the National Innovation Centre for Ageing and many others, to ensure growth of the sector for the future.

I refer the Hon. Member to the departmental organogram published here.

The breadth of the policy areas delivered through devolution means it is not possible to specify the number of officials supporting devolution and the important work of empowering local leaders and communities.

Our Devolution Framework sets out a clear menu of options for places in England that wish to unlock the benefits of devolution.

The devolution framework is designed to let areas deepen their devolution arrangements over time and at their own pace, recognising that, as institutions mature, they can gain greater responsibility.

My office will be in touch to arrange a meeting.

The Government is committed to extending devolution across England and seeing more empowered and accountable local leaders who can drive growth, innovate, and respond to the specific challenges and needs of their areas. I met with local leaders from across Cheshire and Warrington to discuss their devolution ambitions for the region. Details of ministerial meetings are published on gov.uk.

The Government is committed to extending devolution across England and seeing more empowered and accountable local leaders who can drive growth, innovate, and respond to the specific challenges and needs of their areas. I met with local leaders from across Cheshire and Warrington to discuss their devolution ambitions for the region. Details of ministerial meetings are published on gov.uk.

We are already extending devolution across England.

Through the announcement of six new devolution deals last year and most recently ground-breaking trailblazer devolution deals with Greater Manchester and West Midlands Combined Authorities, as well as the publication of the English Devolution Accountability Framework, the Government is empowering local leaders by ensuring they have more control and influence over the decisions that affect their communities. We will continue to work with local government in England to establish and grow new mayoral combined authorities, combined county authorities, and county deals. Our existing mayors are already playing a powerful role in driving economic growth, improving public services and giving local areas a voice on the national stage. The Government recognises the importance of fiscal devolution in England.

The Government remains committed to further extending devolution across England. We will continue to work with local government in England to roll out new mayoral combined authorities, combined county authorities, and county deals. Discussions with places to identify potential candidates for the next set of devolution deals are already underway.

The Government is particularly interested in exploring opportunities for devolution deals that will empower local leaders and communities where places want a directly elected leader or mayor, in line with the devolution framework published in the Levelling Up White Paper. Our existing mayors are already driving economic growth, improving public services and giving local areas a real voice on the national stage.

The Secretary of State set out in his Convention of the North speech his ambitions for Cheshire and Warrington. I have agreed to meet with council leaders to discuss their devolution ambitions in the coming weeks, following recent local elections.

Devolved Administrations will play an equal role in co-design, decision-making and overseeing the delivery of Investment Zones. Officials are jointly developing proposals for Ministers to agree in due course.

The Secretary of State continues to engage regularly with DA Ministers through the Inter-ministerial Standing Committee, which last met on 14 May.

The Government remains committed to extending and deepening devolution further across England. We will continue to work with local government in England to establish and grow new mayoral combined authorities, combined county authorities, and county deals. Discussions with places to identify potential candidates for the next set of devolution deals are underway.

The Government is particularly interested in exploring opportunities for devolution deals that will empower local leaders and communities where places want a directly elected leader or mayor, in line with the devolution framework published in the Levelling Up White Paper. Our existing mayors are already playing a powerful role in driving economic growth, improving public services and giving local areas a voice on the national stage.

The Secretary of State set out in his Convention of the North speech that Cheshire and Warrington are among areas in which we are keen to see devolution, as the Minister for Levelling Up, I have agreed to meet with council leaders to discuss their devolution ambitions in the coming weeks, following the local elections.

The Government remains committed to extending and deepening devolution further across England. We will continue to work with local government in England to establish and grow new mayoral combined authorities, combined county authorities, and county deals. Discussions with places to identify potential candidates for the next set of devolution deals are underway.

The Government is particularly interested in exploring opportunities for devolution deals that will empower local leaders and communities where places want a directly elected leader or mayor, in line with the devolution framework published in the Levelling Up White Paper. Our existing mayors are already playing a powerful role in driving economic growth, improving public services and giving local areas a voice on the national stage.

The Secretary of State set out in his Convention of the North speech that Cheshire and Warrington are among areas in which we are keen to see devolution, as the Minister for Levelling Up, I have agreed to meet with council leaders to discuss their devolution ambitions in the coming weeks, following the local elections.

The Government remains committed to extending and deepening devolution further across England. We will continue to work with local government in England to establish and grow new mayoral combined authorities, combined county authorities, and county deals. Discussions with places to identify potential candidates for the next set of devolution deals are underway.

The Government is particularly interested in exploring opportunities for devolution deals that will empower local leaders and communities where places want a directly elected leader or mayor, in line with the devolution framework published in the Levelling Up White Paper. Our existing mayors are already playing a powerful role in driving economic growth, improving public services and giving local areas a voice on the national stage.

The Secretary of State set out in his Convention of the North speech that Cheshire and Warrington are among areas in which we are keen to see devolution, as the Minister for Levelling Up, I have agreed to meet with council leaders to discuss their devolution ambitions in the coming weeks, following the local elections.

The Government remains committed to extending and deepening devolution further across England. We will continue to work with local government in England to establish and grow new mayoral combined authorities, combined county authorities, and county deals. Discussions with places to identify potential candidates for the next set of devolution deals are underway.

The Government is particularly interested in exploring opportunities for devolution deals that will empower local leaders and communities where places want a directly elected leader or mayor, in line with the devolution framework published in the Levelling Up White Paper. Our existing mayors are already playing a powerful role in driving economic growth, improving public services and giving local areas a voice on the national stage.

The Secretary of State set out in his Convention of the North speech that Cheshire and Warrington are among areas in which we are keen to see devolution, as the Minister for Levelling Up, I have agreed to meet with council leaders to discuss their devolution ambitions in the coming weeks, following the local elections.

The Government remains committed to extending and deepening devolution further across England. We will continue to work with local government in England to establish and grow new mayoral combined authorities, combined county authorities, and county deals. Discussions with places to identify potential candidates for the next set of devolution deals are underway.

The Government is particularly interested in exploring opportunities for devolution deals that will empower local leaders and communities where places want a directly elected leader or mayor, in line with the devolution framework published in the Levelling Up White Paper. Our existing mayors are already playing a powerful role in driving economic growth, improving public services and giving local areas a voice on the national stage.

The Secretary of State set out in his Convention of the North speech that Cheshire and Warrington are among areas in which we are keen to see devolution, as the Minister for Levelling Up, I have agreed to meet with council leaders to discuss their devolution ambitions in the coming weeks, following the local elections.

Through the announcement of six new devolution deals last year and most recently ground-breaking trailblazer devolution deals with Greater Manchester and West Midlands Combined Authorities, as well as the publication of the English Devolution Accountability Framework, Government is empowering local leaders by ensuring they have more control and influence over the decisions that affect their communities.

The Levelling Up White Paper set out our plans to strengthen local institutions, support private sector partnerships, and build economic clusters to boost local investment, jobs and growth

Devolution deals equip local areas with powers and funding to plan and deliver local priorities for their local economies over the long-term. The York and North Yorkshire deal includes a Mayoral Investment Fund of £18 million per year for 30 years

In 2022 we signed six new devolution deals—with York and North Yorkshire, the east midlands, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cornwall, and the north-east—with £4 billion of long-term investment funding and key powers devolved to local leaders. When these deals are implemented, more than half of the English population will benefit from devolution.

What progress he has made on devolving power to local communities.

My constituents benefit from access to places such as Ruislip woods and the Pinner Memorial Park as a means of getting to green spaces in the local area. What measures does my hon. Friend have in mind to ensure that, through the access to nature target, more local authorities can use these devolution powers to create good-quality green spaces?

Can the Minister confirm whether there is levelling-up funding within the Department that has not been spent or allocated?