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English Devolution Bill

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Other legislation
Relates to	Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 Localism Act 2011 Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023

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The English Devolution Bill is a proposed UK Government bill which will establish a new framework for devolution of powers to local government and combined authorities in England.

Background

Powers were devolved to varying degrees to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland by Tony Blair's Labour government in the late 1990s through the establishment of the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly. A devolved legislature and government was not created for England, which remained under the full jurisdiction of the United Kingdom parliament and government based in Westminster.

A strategic local authority for Greater London, known as the Greater London Authority (GLA) was established in 2000. Plans for elected regional assemblies in the eight English regions outside Greater London were abandoned following an unsuccessful referendum held in the North East region in 2004. Instead sub-regional combined authorities were gradually established, starting in 2011, under the terms of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 and Localism Act 2011. Initially combined authorities were led by boards of local authority leaders. The Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016, allowed for the creation of directly elected mayors to lead combined authorities. Further competencies were granted to combined authorities by the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023. By May 2024, eleven combined authorities had been established in England, with additional proposals in development. Combined authority leaders and the mayor of London regularly meet with UK government ministers through the Mayoral Council for England and Council of Nations and Regions, which were established in October 2024.

Plans for an English Devolution Bill were outlined in the King's Speech at the State Opening of Parliament in July 2024.

White Paper

An English Devolution White Paper was published on 16 December 2024, outlining key provisions expected in the English Devolution Bill.

Proposals

• Designation of the Greater London Authority, combined authorities and combined county authorities as "Strategic Authorities".
• Strategic authorities to be given competencies over transport and local infrastructure; skills and employment support; housing and strategic planning; economic development and regeneration; environment and climate change; health, wellbeing and public service reform; public safety.
• Grant police and fire commissioner powers to mayors where police and fire boundaries align with strategic authority boundaries.
• Structural changes to local government in England to move two-tier areas to a unitary structure.

References

1. "King's Speech 2024 – English Devolution Bill". PolicyMogul. 17 July 2024.
2. Seddon, Paul (15 July 2024). "Key points in King's Speech at a glance". BBC News. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
3. "The King's Speech 2024". GOV.UK. July 17, 2024.
4. "Deputy Prime Minister launches first-ever Mayoral Council". GOV.UK (Press release). 10 October 2024.
5. Carey, Adam (October 30, 2024). "English Devolution White Paper to set out how councils will "move to simpler structures", Autumn Budget reveals". Local Government Lawyer.
6. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/english-devolution-white-paper-power-and-partnership-foundations-for-growth
7. https://www.local.gov.uk/parliament/briefings-and-responses/devolution-white-paper-day-factual-briefing
8. "Host of councils reportedly set to be axed in local government restructure". Insider Media. November 25, 2024.
9. Moore, Henry (25 November 2024). "Labour to abolish 'dozens' of councils in biggest reform for a generation". LBC.
10. Williams, Jennifer (December 2, 2024). "Can England's new breed of mayors help fix its left-behind regions?". Financial Times.
11. Webb, Caitlin (December 3, 2024). "Devolution white paper 'by the end of the year'". Local Government Chronicle.

External links

• English Devolution White Paper: Power and partnership: Foundations for growth

• Proposed laws of the United Kingdom