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To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, what the evidential basis is that unitary councils save money.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, what the evidential basis is that unitary councils save money.
The Case For Local Government Reorganisation in the English Devolution White Paper, states “In 2020 a PwC report, “Evaluating the importance of scale in proposals for local government reorganisation”, for the County Councils Network, estimated that reorganisation of the then 25 two-tier areas to a single unitary structure would have a one-off cost of £400 million, with the potential to realise £2.9 billion over five years, with an annual post implementation net recurring saving of £700 million. The unitary proposals submitted in relation to the most recently established unitary councils identified a range of efficiencies that could be achieved where council services are brought together in one organisation. For North Yorkshire Council, established in April 2023, unitarisation has enabled the council to manage financial pressures through structural changes and service transformation which are expected to achieve more than £40 million in savings by March 2026.”
Has my right hon. Friend noted that the integrated review has been widely and rightly welcomed as a bold British vision for our role in the world, but not in Scotland, of course, where the nationalist Administration think that it is more important to put indyref2 on the ballot paper at the Scottish elections? Does he realise that they are rejecting the jobs and security that the review guarantees for Scotland, because they hate the UK more than they want jobs for their own people?
Has my right hon. Friend noted that the integrated review has been widely and rightly welcomed as a bold British vision for our role in the world, but not in Scotland, of course, where the nationalist Administration think that it is more important to put indyref2 on the ballot paper at the Scottish elections? Does he realise that they are rejecting the jobs and security that the review guarantees for Scotland, because they hate the UK more than they want jobs for their own people?
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his support for the integrated review. It is hard to know what motivates our friends in the Scottish national party, but I think that they are mistaken in their approach. We are better as one United Kingdom; we are stronger together as one United Kingdom; and the contribution of the people of Scotland to the defence of our United Kingdom is absolutely incredible, and has been for centuries. That is what I want to maintain—I think it is a fine thing, and they should champion it.
As my right hon. Friend knows, the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee has taken a close interest in this matter. Is he aware that we will be travelling to Edinburgh on Sunday, for hearings on Monday on the matter? I invite him to feel less disappointment and more hope, because the SNP Government have always insisted that their interests are aligned with those of the Welsh Government. Can we give the Scottish Government time to reflect on the fact that the Welsh Government now support the UK Government’s position, and that they might wish to do so in future?
As my right hon. Friend knows, the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee has taken a close interest in this matter. Is he aware that we will be travelling to Edinburgh on Sunday, for hearings on Monday on the matter? I invite him to feel less disappointment and more hope, because the SNP Government have always insisted that their interests are aligned with those of the Welsh Government. Can we give the Scottish Government time to reflect on the fact that the Welsh Government now support the UK Government’s position, and that they might wish to do so in future?
I am sure that the Committee will be made very welcome in Edinburgh. Anything that it can do to focus Nicola Sturgeon’s mind on what has been offered, and what the Welsh Government have been able to sign up to, given that it protects the devolution settlement, will be very welcome. I hope that Nicola Sturgeon will think again.
May I commend to my right hon. Friend the most recent report of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, which was published last week, on inter-institutional relations in the UK? Will he accept that there is a strong consensus that devolution arrangements are not finished and we need far stronger institutional underpinning of the relations between the four parts of the UK, and that this is an opportunity to achieve that?
May I commend to my right hon. Friend the most recent report of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, which was published last week, on inter-institutional relations in the UK? Will he accept that there is a strong consensus that devolution arrangements are not finished and we need far stronger institutional underpinning of the relations between the four parts of the UK, and that this is an opportunity to achieve that?
Of course I have seen my hon. Friend’s excellent report, and the Government are continuing to consider it. Obviously I believe that intergovermental institutions and relations can be improved, and we must continue to work on that.
May I draw my right hon. Friend’s attention to the new inquiry on devolution and Brexit launched by the Select Committee on Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs? As well as promoting discussion among the governments of the United Kingdom, we want to promote discussion among the parliamentarians in the four parliaments of the United Kingdom in order to resolve these very difficult issues.
May I draw my right hon. Friend’s attention to the new inquiry on devolution and Brexit launched by the Select Committee on Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs? As well as promoting discussion among the governments of the United Kingdom, we want to promote discussion among the parliamentarians in the four parliaments of the United Kingdom in order to resolve these very difficult issues.
I very much welcome the contribution to the debate of my hon. Friend’s Committee. Of course, it is very important that there is engagement across Parliaments, and I will be appearing before both the Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Relations Committee and the Finance and Constitution Committee of the Scottish Parliament in the next couple of weeks.
Statement on the fifth report of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee.
Statement on the fifth report of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee.
That this House urges the Scottish people to vote to keep Scotland as a part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, because Scotland as part of the UK can provide far greater security and prosperity for its people than Scotland could on its own, by virtue of the global reach of the UK's influence as one of the richest and most powerful states in the world; notes that the great social, economic and political reforms, such as the NHS, the growth of free enterprise and free trade and the introduction of universal suffrage for men and women, were all brought about by the United Kingdom; considers that, far from stifling Scotland, Scotland's identity and character has flourished within the UK, and the influence of Scotland's industry, engineering, science, medicine, philosophy, literature, arts and sport has been incalculable; further considers that together these nations have fought and defeated tyranny and promoted freedom, democracy and the rule of law and that the Union does not fetter but empowers Scotland, helping to create and to sustain one of the most influential powers on earth; believes that only together can future generations of the four nations of the Union ensure greater freedom, prosperity and security in the century ahead for all; and fervently hopes the Scottish people will draw back from breaking this great marriage of nations which would result in decades of pain, blame and recrimination, and instead continue to evolve the Union of our great nations from within.
That this House urges the Scottish people to vote to keep Scotland as a part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, because Scotland as part of the UK can provide far greater security and prosperity for its people than Scotland could on its own, by virtue...
That this House believes that a referendum on regional government for the West Midlands would be a costly and unnecessary distraction from the real concerns of people throughout Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire, who want better public services and have no need for a costly reorganisation of local government or for a new tier of politicians and bureaucrats, which by removing powers from local government would make decisions more remote from the people, not closer to them.
That this House believes that a referendum on regional government for the West Midlands would be a costly and unnecessary distraction from the real concerns of people throughout Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire, who want better public services and have no need for a costly reorganisation of local government or for...
That this House notes that the Campaign for the English Regions has yet to find sufficient popular support for an East Midlands Constitutional Convention; believes that a referendum on regional government for the East Midlands would be a costly and unnecessary distraction from the real concerns of people throughout counties including Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire, who want better public services and have no need for a costly reorganisation of local government or for a new tier of politicians and bureaucrats, which by removing powers from local government would make decisions more remote from the people, not closer to them; and particularly decries the likely abolition of these ancient and universally popular counties.
That this House notes that the Campaign for the English Regions has yet to find sufficient popular support for an East Midlands Constitutional Convention; believes that a referendum on regional government for the East Midlands would be a costly and unnecessary distraction from the real concerns of people throughout counties...
That this House believes that a referendum on regional government for the North West is a costly and unnecessary distraction from the real concerns of people throughout Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire and Cumbria who want better public services and have no need for a costly reorganisation of local government or for a new tier of politicians and bureaucrats, which by removing powers from local government would make decisions more remote from the people, not closer to them.
That this House believes that a referendum on regional government for the North West is a costly and unnecessary distraction from the real concerns of people throughout Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire and Cumbria who want better public services and have no need for a costly reorganisation of local government...
That this House believes that a referendum on regional government for Yorkshire and the Humber is a costly and unnecessary distraction from the real concerns of people throughout Yorkshire who want better public services and have no need for a new tier of politicians and bureaucrats who would make decisions more remote from the people, not closer to them; and particularly decries the likely abolition of the North Yorkshire County Council which has an exemplary record of providing high quality services.
That this House believes that a referendum on regional government for Yorkshire and the Humber is a costly and unnecessary distraction from the real concerns of people throughout Yorkshire who want better public services and have no need for a new tier of politicians and bureaucrats who would make decisions...
That this House believes that a referendum on regional government for the South West would be a costly and unnecessary distraction from the real concerns of people throughout Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Dorset, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, who want better public services and have no need for a costly reorganisation of local government or for a new tier of politicians and bureaucrats, which by removing powers from local government would make decisions more remote from the people, not closer to them; and particularly decries the likely abolition of these ancient and universally popular counties.
That this House believes that a referendum on regional government for the South West would be a costly and unnecessary distraction from the real concerns of people throughout Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Dorset, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, who want better public services and have no need for a costly reorganisation of local...
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he or his Ministers authorised a written briefing for the Press on the subject of the debates on the Scotland Bill in Committee on 30th March that was issued prior to those debates; and if he will place a copy of...
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he or his Ministers authorised a written briefing for the Press on the subject of the debates on the Scotland Bill in Committee on 30th March that was issued prior to those debates; and if he will place a copy of...
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, for how long his Department proposes to retain the ballot papers relating to the Welsh referendum; and for what purpose.
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, for how long his Department proposes to retain the ballot papers relating to the Welsh referendum; and for what purpose.
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what advice his officials issued relating to the counting of spoilt ballot papers during the Welsh devolution referendum count.
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what advice his officials issued relating to the counting of spoilt ballot papers during the Welsh devolution referendum count.
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what representations he has received in relation to the count of the votes in the Welsh referendum in Caerphilly; and what reports he has received in relation to the counting of votes in the Welsh referendum in Caerphilly. - Ref to letter...
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what representations he has received in relation to the count of the votes in the Welsh referendum in Caerphilly; and what reports he has received in relation to the counting of votes in the Welsh referendum in Caerphilly. - Ref to letter...
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had in his official capacity with outside bodies relating to the Welsh referendum count at Caerphilly. - None.
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had in his official capacity with outside bodies relating to the Welsh referendum count at Caerphilly. - None.
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what verbal advice was given during the Welsh devolution referendum count to returning officers seeking clarification on the counting of spoilt ballot papers. - Ref to 304 c39-41W, 12 January 1997.
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what verbal advice was given during the Welsh devolution referendum count to returning officers seeking clarification on the counting of spoilt ballot papers. - Ref to 304 c39-41W, 12 January 1997.
When the Devolution White Paper will be published. - (Holding answer 14 July 1997).
When the Devolution White Paper will be published. - (Holding answer 14 July 1997).