Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Devolution Across the UK

Monday 25 October 2021 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government plans to expand and increase devolution across the UK, including discussions with areas interested in county deals.
  • We never ride roughshod over the devolution settlement, according to the Secretary of State.
  • The Chancellor will share details of the next round of levelling-up bids with the House a little later.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Nigel Mills Con
Scotland Local Government
Context

The question arises from discussions about expanding devolution in different parts of the United Kingdom.

Question

What plans his Department has to increase devolution across the UK. I am concerned that neighbouring regions with elected mayors are attracting more investment compared to others, and urge for progress on an east midlands elected mayor or a county deal for Derbyshire as a pathfinder.

Answer from Michael Gove

This Government plan to expand, augment and increase devolution across the United Kingdom, including discussions with areas interested in county deals. We will be setting out next steps in the levelling up White Paper. My hon. Friend makes an important point about combined authority mayors and a greater level of devolution for local communities, especially in the economic sphere.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not provide specific plans or timelines for an east midlands elected mayor or a county deal for Derbyshire.

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Q2 Nigel Mills Con
Scotland Wales Democracy & Elections
Context

The question arises from criticism of the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020, which was rejected in Holyrood and Senedd.

Question

Can he explain how riding roughshod over democratically devolved Parliaments does that? I welcome the Secretary of State to his place. The UKIMA fundamentally undermined the devolution settlement and was explicitly rejected in Holyrood and the Senedd. He claimed again today that he seeks to augment devolution.

Answer from Michael Gove

We never ride roughshod over the devolution settlement. A number of SNP MPs and councils have backed bids to the levelling-up fund, which is great. Locally elected representatives on the ground support the financial assistance power of the Act and its importance in working together. We take a different approach from Scotland's current government by devolving more power to local government in England.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not directly address how actions under the UK Internal Market Act align with increasing devolution.

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Q3 Patricia Gibson SNP
Scotland Wales Local Government
Context

The question arises from criticism of the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020, which was rejected in Holyrood and Senedd.

Question

I welcome the Secretary of State to his place. The UKIMA fundamentally undermined the devolution settlement and was explicitly rejected in Holyrood and the Senedd. He claimed again today that he seeks to augment devolution, so can he explain how riding roughshod over democratically devolved Parliaments does that?

Answer from Michael Gove

We never ride roughshod over the devolution settlement. The Chancellor will shortly share news about allocations from the levelling-up fund, including support by SNP MPs and councils. We contrast our approach of devolving more power to local government in England with that of Scotland's current government which takes power away.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not directly address how actions under the UKIMA align with increasing devolution.

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Q4 Jake Berry Con
Economy Local Government
Context

The question arises from discussions about levelling-up bids in different parts of the UK, focusing on Lancashire.

Question

Across Lancashire, we are ambitious about having a county deal—with a mayor, I hope—but levelling-up bids must come first. Can the Secretary of State give some clarity about the timing of the second round of those bids? In Rossendale, where we are working with our levelling-up board on a plan, we need to know the timeframe.

Answer from Michael Gove

My right hon. Friend is right: east Lancashire will be a focus in coming months as much more needs to be done, with clear voice from north England heard. The Chancellor will share details of the next round with the House a little later.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not provide specific timing for the second round of levelling-up bids in Lancashire.

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