Member

The noble Baronesses, Lady Scott and Lady Pinnock, asked why the public were not asked. As they both stated, however, this was a manifesto commitment, so they were consulted in the general election about the fact that we need a reorganisation of local government and a devolution agenda. The English Devolution White Paper set out the scale of our ambition for a programme of local government reform and a mayoral devolution on such a scale that we believe this is a once in a generation reform. We will not miss the opportunity to deliver these benefits to people as quickly as possible. So, we have taken this step to help those areas which have expressed their firm commitment to deliver to the most ambitious timeframe.