On local government reorganisation, I refer the Hon. Gentleman to the Secretary of State’s oral statement of 7 September.

On devolution, Ministers have written to local leaders to understand their preferences on future devolution. Officials have subsequently engaged local authorities across the country, including in Devon, and further conversations between Ministers, local leaders, and MPs will follow, with a view to Government confirming next steps on devolution shortly including the nature of and timeline for any changes to existing devolution arrangements in Devon.

The government has no plans to create further delineated funding mechanisms for different tiers of local government in the proposed English Devolution Bill.

The English Devolution White Paper set out that where a Strategic Authority takes on powers which are currently funded outside the Local Government Finance Settlement or the Integrated Settlements, such as Mayoral Capacity Funding, MHCLG will work with the relevant department or organisation to explore funding this through one of these routes.

Further detail on the interactions between Local Authority and Mayoral Strategic Authority funding will be set out in the upcoming consultation on Local Authority funding reform.

Parish and town councils are not in scope for local government reorganisation and will continue to operate as they do now. As we implement our devolution and local government reorganisation programmes, we will ensure strong community involvement and deliver genuine benefits that can be seen by residents. Local stakeholders will have the opportunity to respond to government consultation on proposals.

The government values the contributions made by town and parish councils to the delivery of local services.

Local authorities may wish to collaborate with town and parish councils to determine how they can most effectively contribute to service delivery under future arrangements. In doing so, they should consider the financial and administrative support required by town and parish councils, as well as the potential impact of new responsibilities on local taxpayers through increases to parish precepts. Central government has no role in funding town and parish councils.

Town and parish councils are independent organisations local authorities should not rely on them as a substitute for their own meaningful community engagement and local area working. Local Government Reorganisation should facilitate better and sustained community engagement, and I welcome the steps areas are taking to consider how to maintain strong community voice.

The government values the contributions made by town and parish councils to the delivery of local services.

Local authorities may wish to collaborate with town and parish councils to determine how they can most effectively contribute to service delivery under future arrangements. In doing so, they should consider the financial and administrative support required by town and parish councils, as well as the potential impact of new responsibilities on local taxpayers through increases to parish precepts. Central government has no role in funding town and parish councils.

Town and parish councils are independent organisations local authorities should not rely on them as a substitute for their own meaningful community engagement and local area working. Local Government Reorganisation should facilitate better and sustained community engagement, and I welcome the steps areas are taking to consider how to maintain strong community voice.

In December 2024, the government launched a consultation seeking views on proposed measures to strengthen the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England, including the introduction of the sanction of suspension, to empower local authorities of all types and tiers to deal appropriately with member misconduct where it arises. The government response will be issued in due course. After its release, we will continue to work actively with local government on developing the detailed policies for implementation.

In December 2024, the government launched a consultation seeking views on proposed measures to strengthen the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England, including the introduction of the sanction of suspension, to empower local authorities of all types and tiers to deal appropriately with member misconduct where it arises. The government response will be issued in due course. After its release, we will continue to work actively with local government on developing the detailed policies for implementation.

Parish and town councils are not in scope for local government reorganisation and will continue to operate as they do now. As we implement our devolution and local government reorganisation programmes, we will ensure strong community involvement and deliver genuine benefits that can be seen by residents. Local stakeholders will have the opportunity to respond to government consultation on proposals.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 32529 on 3 March 2025.

I meet with members routinely, and am pleased to do so. My office have contacted the hon. Member.

The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has not met with any National Park Authorities in relation to the English Devolution White Paper. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will continue to work with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, other Government Departments and local government as we take forward the commitments in the English Devolution White Paper.

The government’s starting point is for all elections to go ahead in May 2025, unless there is strong justification for postponement. It is a matter for councils themselves to work together to develop plans and reach agreements that are in the interests of their communities.

On 16 December, I wrote to leaders of all councils in two-tier areas and neighbouring small unitary authorities to set out further detail on our plans for a joint programme of devolution and local government reorganisation. I acknowledged that for some areas, the timing of elections affects their planning for devolution, particularly alongside reorganisation, and to help manage these demands, we will consider requests to postpone local elections. I will only consider these requests where it is clear that postponement will help the area to deliver both reorganisation and devolution to the most ambitious timeframe. I am currently considering such a request from Devon County Council and a decision will be made in due course, recognising the need to give confirmation as soon as practically possible.

My 16 December letter is published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-government-reorganisation-letter-to-two-tier-areas.

In September last year, this Government confirmed the establishment of a non-mayoral Combined County Authority with Devon and Torbay, in line with the devolution deal agreed with that area under the previous government. This was an important first step as we continue to consider options to deepen and widen devolution in the area.

As set out in the White Paper, we want to see all areas, including Devon, access the strongest powers set out in new Devolution Framework.

We will work with local leaders, both before and after local elections, to deliver on these ambitions. This government would consider postponing elections only where the relevant local authorities explicitly request it, and where this will help the area to deliver both reorganisation and devolution to the most ambitious timeframe.

In September last year, this Government confirmed the establishment of a non-mayoral Combined County Authority with Devon and Torbay, in line with the devolution deal agreed with that area under the previous government. This was an important first step as we continue to consider options to deepen and widen devolution in the area.

As set out in the White Paper, we want to see all areas, including Devon, access the strongest powers set out in new Devolution Framework.

We will work with local leaders, both before and after local elections, to deliver on these ambitions. This government would consider postponing elections only where the relevant local authorities explicitly request it, and where this will help the area to deliver both reorganisation and devolution to the most ambitious timeframe.

In September last year, this Government confirmed the establishment of a non-mayoral Combined County Authority with Devon and Torbay, in line with the devolution deal agreed with that area under the previous government. This was an important first step as we continue to consider options to deepen and widen devolution in the area.

As set out in the White Paper, we want to see all areas, including Devon, access the strongest powers set out in new Devolution Framework.

We will work with local leaders, both before and after local elections, to deliver on these ambitions. This government would consider postponing elections only where the relevant local authorities explicitly request it, and where this will help the area to deliver both reorganisation and devolution to the most ambitious timeframe.

The population sizes outlined in the English Devolution White Paper for creating new unitary councils and new devolution geographies refer to total population.

It is usual for the government to take account of requests for reorganisation, and to decide on the appropriateness of elections taking place to local authorities which are planned to be replaced, usually postponing to allow elections to the new shadow authorities soon after.

I will consider any requests I receive to postpone the May 2025 local authority elections in Devon, Essex or elsewhere only where this will help the areas to deliver both reorganisation and devolution to the most ambitious timeframe – either through the Devolution Priority Programme or where reorganisation is necessary to unlock devolution or open up new devolution options. As I set out in my letter of 16 December to those councils, I will need a clear commitment to these aims, including a request from the council(s) whose election is to be postponed, on or before Friday 10 January.

The Government has not published a map of England showing potential future devolution geographies.

The Government has emphasised its commitment to transferring power out of Westminster and into local communities, handing power to those with local knowledge and who are incentivised to drive progress forward. The devolution agreement for Devon and Torbay represents an important first step for this area to see initial benefits from devolution in the short term as part of our drive to shift power away from Westminster.

These benefits include funding to drive place-based economic regeneration, increased local control over transport functions and devolution of the adult education budget. We encourage the authorities to continue working together and with their neighbours to explore the next steps towards deeper and wider devolution for their area, and stand ready to work with the area and consider any proposals they want to put forward.