Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Metro Mayors: Local Economies

Monday 22 April 2024 · 7 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Secretary of State acknowledges the significant economic contributions of Andy Street in the West Midlands since 2017.
  • The Secretary of State expressed readiness to work with Karl McCartney on progressing the Greater Lincolnshire devolution deal after local council elections.
  • The Secretary of State defended Andy Street's performance as Mayor, highlighting his effectiveness compared to other Mayors in meeting housing targets.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Dan Jarvis Lab Barnsley North
Local Government
Context

The question arises from the increasing role of Mayors in driving economic growth and improving public services. The MP is seeking to understand how the Department plans to engage more effectively with these leaders.

Question

What steps he is taking to increase engagement between his Department and elected Mayors?

Answer from Michael Gove

Our Mayors play a powerful role in driving economic growth, improving public services and giving local areas a powerful voice on the national stage. I met all the Mayors as a group before Christmas, as well as Mayor Brabin, as chair of UK Mayors this year, and a number of Mayors on an individual basis. I look forward to meeting and working closely with all the Mayors, collectively and individually, after the May elections, including the three new Mayors who will be elected for the East Midlands, the North-East Combined Authority, and York and North Yorkshire.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not specify concrete steps being taken to increase engagement; it only mentions meetings have been held and future intentions.

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Q2 James Morris Con
Economy Housing Local Government
Context

Andy Street has delivered significant investment to the West Midlands since his election, with more housing and transport infrastructure improvements. The question aims to highlight these achievements and seek support for him.

Question

Since he was first elected in 2017, Andy Street has delivered £10 billion of new investment to the west midlands region, more housing—particularly on brownfield land—and much-needed investment in transport infrastructure across the region. Does the Secretary of State agree that, when voters go to the polls next week, they should support Andy Street to continue that track record of delivery for the west midlands?

Answer from Michael Gove

I agree with my hon. Friend. Andy Street has been outstanding at delivering jobs and more homes in the west midlands than in any other region, according to housing targets. He has done so despite the failure of Birmingham City Council, which was driven into bankruptcy by Labour.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer agrees with supporting Andy Street but shifts focus onto criticizing Birmingham City Council and Labour's performance.

How: Criticizing Opposition

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Q3 Karl McCartney Con
Local Government
Context

There is a devolution deal in progress for Greater Lincolnshire, and the MP seeks updates on its progress.

Question

Can my right hon. Friend further update colleagues and my constituents on the progress of the Greater Lincolnshire devolution deal, following the deals approved at upper tier council level earlier this year?

Answer from Michael Gove

We have been consulting and we have listened, and we will have to wait until after 2 May to say more. I am looking forward to working with my hon. Friend to make Lincolnshire great again.

Not addressed: The answer does not provide any specific updates on the deal's progress but instead shifts focus to future plans and rhetoric.

How: Future Intentions

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Q4 Dan Jarvis Lab Barnsley North
Local Government
Context

There are now 12 metro mayors representing a significant number of people in England, and the MP is questioning whether there should be a dedicated formal structure to facilitate better working between them and the government.

Question

Given that after 2 May there will be 12 metro Mayors directly representing 27 million people in England, does the Secretary of State think that there should be a dedicated formal structure that will enable the metro Mayors to work more effectively with Whitehall Government, rather than the somewhat ad hoc structures that are currently in place?

Answer from Michael Gove

That is a fair point. The ad hoc structures that the hon. Gentleman described work well. All the existing Mayors work well together, and all party politics aside, it has been instructive to see the kind words that Andy Burnham has directed towards Andy Street and vice versa. Now that the mayoral model, which has worked overall with one or two slight bumps in the road, has reached a level of maturity, his point is very fair.

Not addressed: The answer does not commit to any specific action or formal structure but comments on existing structures working well and mayoral cooperation.

How: General Principles

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Q5 Keir Mather Lab Selby
Economy Democracy & Elections
Context

Voters in the upcoming North Yorkshire mayoral election are facing significant economic hardship, and there is concern over one candidate's £300 million of unfunded spending commitments. The MP asks if the Secretary of State shares this concern and seeks an assessment of the economic impact.

Question

Voters in the upcoming North Yorkshire mayoral election are facing significant economic hardship and deserve to know that their money is being spent responsibly. Does the Secretary of State share my concern that one candidate in the North Yorkshire mayoral race has made over £300 million of unfunded spending commitments for the county? Could central Government perhaps provide an assessment of the economic impact of such spending commitments?

Answer from Michael Gove

It is striking that the Conservative candidate in North Yorkshire is the only one who has a plan for growth, and a long-term plan for York and North Yorkshire's economy. When it comes to value for money for our Mayors, I should point out that the Conservative Mayors for Tees Valley and for the West Midlands, Ben Houchen and Andy Street, levy not a penny in extra mayoral taxation, unlike the Labour Mayor in London, whose spendthrift ways will see him thrown out on 2 May.

Not addressed: The answer does not directly address concerns about unfunded spending but shifts focus to criticism of other candidates and Mayors.

How: Criticizing Opposition

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Q6 Angela Rayner Lab Ashton-under-Lyne
Housing Local Government
Context

Andy Street, the Mayor of West Midlands, has over-promised and under-delivered according to Labour. The MP highlights unspent devolved housing funds and lack of action on rogue landlords as issues. She seeks confirmation if these matters were raised in meetings.

Question

Despite that love-in, as the Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street has over-promised and under-delivered. Almost 70% of devolved housing funds have not been used, and he has done nothing to tackle rogue landlords. The mayoral model can work, and Sadiq Khan's affordable housebuilding in London is evidence of that. When did the Secretary of State last meet Andy Street, and did he raise those failures with him?

Answer from Michael Gove

I talk to Andy Street constantly because he is a model of what a strong Mayor should be. The right hon. Lady talks about housing. There are housing targets set at a regional level—which Mayor missed them by most? Sadiq Khan in London. Which Mayor has exceeded those targets? Andy Street in the west midlands. Sadiq Khan has failed on housing, failed on crime and failed on transport, and he will be kicked out on 2 May.

Not addressed: The answer does not confirm whether issues were raised but shifts focus to criticism of Sadiq Khan.

How: Criticizing Opposition

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Q7 Angela Rayner Lab Ashton-under-Lyne
Transport Local Government
Context

There is a review of Lord Houchen's mishandling of Teesworks that found the principles of spending public money are not being consistently observed. The MP seeks to understand why an investigation by the National Audit Office was not given.

Question

Roll on a general election. Sadiq Khan has been building a better London for everyone. If the right hon. Gentleman wants more evidence of Mayors working, he should look up north: Tracy Brabin, Steve Rotheram and Andy Burnham have been bringing transport services back under public control, giving better value for money. In the Tees Valley, we see the opposite. The review into Lord Houchen's mishandling of Teesworks found “the principles of spending public money are not being consistently observed.” So why will the Secretary of State not give the National Audit Office the chance to investigate?

Answer from Michael Gove

I am sure the right hon. Lady is very, very keen that all sorts of matters are investigated properly by independent figures who can be trusted, but in the Tees Valley Ben Houchen has done more than any other Metro Mayor to bring jobs and investment into his region. The thousands of jobs created in Teesworks stand in stark contrast to Labour's failure, from London to Liverpool, to bring in the jobs required. Andy Street, I should reinforce, is the single most successful Mayor in the country. That is why both Andy and Ben will be re-elected on 2 May, alongside Conservative Mayors in York and North Yorkshire, the East Midlands and, of course, London.

Not addressed: The answer does not address why an investigation was not given but shifts focus to praise for Andy Street and Ben Houchen's achievements.

How: Future Intentions

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