Key information
Request reference number: MGLA030124-3471
Date of response:
Summary of request
Your request
Please can you outline what meetings have taken place and when, in each of the last four years where Metro Mayors have discussed plans for a Devolution Bill to be presented to Parliament.
Our response
The Mayor of London works closely with regional mayors on a whole range of issues, including on the key issue of devolution. M10 mayors and their representatives meet regularly, and given devolution is a key priority for mayors, it is a frequent topic of discussion at M10 meetings.
As you may be aware, since the publication of the Levelling Up White Paper in February 2022, the Government has been proactively working to deepen devolution to local leaders. The Government, including the Secretary of State for Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations, Michael Gove MP, has therefore been engaging with the M10 Mayors to develop these proposals.
These discussions resulted in an outline agreement for two trailblazer devolution deals with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and West Midlands Combined Authority at the Spring Budget in 2023, which proposed transferring some key powers away from Whitehall to both combined authorities. More information can be found at Greater Manchester Combined Authority: “Trailblazer” deeper devolution deal - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and West Midlands Combined Authority: “Trailblazer” deeper devolution deal - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). These agreements were confirmed at the Autumn Statement in November.
In parallel, ongoing discussion were taking place between the rest of the M10 and Government on proposals for further devolution to the other regions. Consequently, the Government published a new ‘Level 4’ devolution framework at the Autumn Statement. This enables devolved institutions with a directly elected leader to draw down a number of powers, subject to eligibility. More information can be found at: Technical paper on Level 4 devolution framework - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
It is worth adding that the Mayor remains committed to deepening devolution in London and continues to make the case to Government that the capital needs more autonomy and the security of longer-term funding to promote economic growth and deliver lasting social change for Londoners.
Finally, please note that the as the GLA is not the secretariat for the M10, we would not be able to respond to your request in full. I would advise that you contact the West of England Combined Authority who provide the secretariat support for the M10. They can be contacted at: Contact us - West of England Combined Authority (westofengland-ca.gov.uk)