To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what support is available to local authorities in Leicester and Leicestershire to develop and publish a Local Growth Plan; and what timeline is expected for the publication of such a plan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what support is available to local authorities in Leicester and Leicestershire to develop and publish a Local Growth Plan; and what timeline is expected for the publication of such a plan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of using guidance for Local Growth Plans to encourage Mayoral Strategic Authorities and local authorities to map, protect and grow cultural infrastructure as part of place-based regeneration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of using guidance for Local Growth Plans to encourage Mayoral Strategic Authorities and local authorities to map, protect and grow cultural infrastructure as part of place-based regeneration.

I. Letter dated 25/03/2026 from Baroness Taylor of Stevenage to Lord Ravensdale regarding reflecting the intention of his amendment in guidance for Strategic Authorities. 2p. II. Letter dated 28/04/2026 from Baroness Taylor of Stevenage to the Deposited Papers Clerk regarding a document for deposit in the House libraries. 1p.

I. Letter dated 25/03/2026 from Baroness Taylor of Stevenage to Lord Ravensdale regarding reflecting the intention of his amendment in guidance for Strategic Authorities. 2p. II. Letter dated 28/04/2026 from Baroness Taylor of Stevenage to the Deposited Papers Clerk regarding a document for deposit in the House libraries. 1p.

I. Letter 26/03/2026 from Baroness Taylor of Stevenage to Lord Ravensdale regarding amendments 119 and 183 to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill and changes to guidance. 2p. II. Letter dated 28/04/2026 from Baroness Taylor of Stevenage to the Deposited Papers Clerk regarding a document for deposit in the House libraries. 1p.

I. Letter 26/03/2026 from Baroness Taylor of Stevenage to Lord Ravensdale regarding amendments 119 and 183 to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill and changes to guidance. 2p. II. Letter dated 28/04/2026 from Baroness Taylor of Stevenage to the Deposited Papers Clerk regarding a document for deposit in the...

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how combined authorities are being supported to develop world‑class industrial clusters as part of local growth plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how combined authorities are being supported to develop world‑class industrial clusters as part of local growth plans.

Moved by

Lord Freyberg

1: Clause 2, page 2, line 21, at end insert “, including through tourism”

Member’s explanatory statement

This probing amendment adds tourism to the “economic development and regeneration” area of competence for strategic authorities.

Moved by

Lord Freyberg

1: Clause 2, page 2, line 21, at end insert “, including through tourism”

Member’s explanatory statement

This probing amendment adds tourism to the “economic development and regeneration” area of competence for strategic authorities.

My Lords, I am pleased to be the opening speaker on the first day of Report on the English devolution Bill. I begin by acknowledging the Government’s significant new amendment, Amendment 2, which adds “culture” to the list of “areas of competence”. This is a hugely important and very welcome...

My Lords, I am pleased to be the opening speaker on the first day of Report on the English devolution Bill. I begin by acknowledging the Government’s significant new amendment, Amendment 2, which adds “culture” to the list of “areas of competence”. This is a hugely important and very welcome...

My Lords, I congratulate the Government on introducing their Amendment 2, adding culture to the list of areas of competence, and say at the outset that I have no intention of taking my own amendment to a vote. The Minister has listened to many of our arguments in Committee and...

My Lords, I congratulate the Government on introducing their Amendment 2, adding culture to the list of areas of competence, and say at the outset that I have no intention of taking my own amendment to a vote. The Minister has listened to many of our arguments in Committee and...

My Lords, I too am delighted that the Government have decided to bring forward this amendment to include culture as the eighth area of competence within the Bill. I hope that the term culture will encapsulate arts and heritage as well, as the noble Earl, Lord Clancarty, has argued. I...

My Lords, I too am delighted that the Government have decided to bring forward this amendment to include culture as the eighth area of competence within the Bill. I hope that the term culture will encapsulate arts and heritage as well, as the noble Earl, Lord Clancarty, has argued. I...

My Lords, like others, I commend the Government for their Amendment 2. We had a good debate about this in Committee, with significant support from across your Lordships’ House for the Government to expand the list of strategic competences in this way. As I hope the Minister can hear, we...

My Lords, like others, I commend the Government for their Amendment 2. We had a good debate about this in Committee, with significant support from across your Lordships’ House for the Government to expand the list of strategic competences in this way. As I hope the Minister can hear, we...

My Lords, I was happy to co-sign the government’s amendment, which adds “culture” to the Bill, for one very good reason: I have always thought of myself as a practical politician. I declare an interest that I chair Brighton & Hove’s Seafront Development Board. For our purposes, regenerating our seafront...

My Lords, I was happy to co-sign the government’s amendment, which adds “culture” to the Bill, for one very good reason: I have always thought of myself as a practical politician. I declare an interest that I chair Brighton & Hove’s Seafront Development Board. For our purposes, regenerating our seafront...

My Lords, now that we are starting Report, I remind the House that I am a vice-president of the Local Government Association.

I very much agree with what the noble Lord, Lord Bassam of Brighton, just said. To me, the word “culture” means a lot of things: tourism relates to...

My Lords, now that we are starting Report, I remind the House that I am a vice-president of the Local Government Association.

I very much agree with what the noble Lord, Lord Bassam of Brighton, just said. To me, the word “culture” means a lot of things: tourism relates to...

My Lords, I am grateful to all noble Lords who contributed to this opening group, and particularly to my noble friend Lord Parkinson for his amendment highlighting the importance of heritage. I also agree with my noble friend that the word “culture” can mean different things to different people, so...

My Lords, I am grateful to all noble Lords who contributed to this opening group, and particularly to my noble friend Lord Parkinson for his amendment highlighting the importance of heritage. I also agree with my noble friend that the word “culture” can mean different things to different people, so...

My Lords, I thank all noble Lords, particularly for such a positive response to the changes brought forward in this group. I hope we continue the evening as we have started; that would be wonderful. I thank noble Lords for their insightful and continued engagement on this Bill, both through...

My Lords, I thank all noble Lords, particularly for such a positive response to the changes brought forward in this group. I hope we continue the evening as we have started; that would be wonderful. I thank noble Lords for their insightful and continued engagement on this Bill, both through...

My Lords, I am grateful to all noble Lords who have contributed to this short but very important debate. In particular, I thank the noble Earl, Lord Clancarty, whose expertise in and commitment to this area continue to illuminate our discussions and have brought us to this point of having...

My Lords, I am grateful to all noble Lords who have contributed to this short but very important debate. In particular, I thank the noble Earl, Lord Clancarty, whose expertise in and commitment to this area continue to illuminate our discussions and have brought us to this point of having...

Moved by

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage

2: Clause 2, page 2, line 24, at end insert—

“(h) culture.”

Member’s explanatory statement

This would add culture to the list of “areas of competence” in the Bill.

Moved by

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage

2: Clause 2, page 2, line 24, at end insert—

“(h) culture.”

Member’s explanatory statement

This would add culture to the list of “areas of competence” in the Bill.

I beg to move.

I beg to move.

Lords report stage first day. Amendment 2 agreed to. Amendment 5 agreed to on division (285 to 156). Amendment 6 disagreed to on division (80 to 166). Amendment 8 agreed to on division (250 to 158). Amendments 9 to 14, 16 to 29, 32, 35, 37 and 42 agreed to. Amendment 45 agreed to on division (187 to 157). Amendment 46 agreed to. (Part 1 of 2).

Lords report stage first day. Amendment 2 agreed to. Amendment 5 agreed to on division (285 to 156). Amendment 6 disagreed to on division (80 to 166). Amendment 8 agreed to on division (250 to 158). Amendments 9 to 14, 16 to 29, 32, 35, 37 and 42 agreed to....

Moved by

Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville

5: Clause 2, page 2, line 24, at end insert—

“(h) rural affairs.”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment seeks to include rural affairs as an area of competence of strategic authorities.

Moved by

Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville

5: Clause 2, page 2, line 24, at end insert—

“(h) rural affairs.”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment seeks to include rural affairs as an area of competence of strategic authorities.

My Lords, Amendment 5 is in my name and that of the noble Baroness, Lady Bennett of Manor Castle. The Bill is extensive, covering many areas of local government, and aims for the improved delivery of services by local and strategic authorities. The areas of competence for strategic authorities covered...

My Lords, Amendment 5 is in my name and that of the noble Baroness, Lady Bennett of Manor Castle. The Bill is extensive, covering many areas of local government, and aims for the improved delivery of services by local and strategic authorities. The areas of competence for strategic authorities covered...