The English Devolution Bill is a proposed

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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

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Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...

and

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label=Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. North ...

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's Labour government in the late 1990s through the establishment of the

Scottish Parliament The Scottish Parliament ( gd, Pàrlamaid na h-Alba ; sco, Scots Pairlament) is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Scotland. Located in the Holyrood area of the capital city, Edinburgh, it is frequently referred to by the metonym Holy ...

, the

Welsh Parliament The Senedd (; ), officially known as the Welsh Parliament in English and () in Welsh, is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Wales. A democratically elected body, it makes laws for Wales, agrees certain taxes and scrutinises the Welsh Gov ...

and the

Northern Ireland Assembly sco-ulster, Norlin Airlan Assemblie , legislature = Seventh Assembly , coa_pic = File:NI_Assembly.svg , coa_res = 250px , house_type = Unicameral , house1 = , leader1_type = ...

. 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

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, known as the

Greater London Authority The Greater London Authority (GLA), colloquially known by the metonym "City Hall", is the devolved regional governance body of Greater London. It consists of two political branches: the executive Mayoralty (currently led by Sadiq Khan) and th ...

(GLA), was established in 2000. Plans for elected regional assemblies in the eight English regions outside Greater London were abandoned following an unsuccessful

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held in the

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region in 2004. Instead, sub-regional

combined authorities A combined authority is a type of local government institution introduced in England outside Greater London by the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009. Combined authorities are created voluntarily and allow a group ...

were gradually established, starting in 2011, under the terms of the

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The legislation places a duty on local authorities to promote understanding of the functions and democratic arrangements of th ...

and

Localism Act 2011 The Localism Act 2011 (c. 20) is an Act of Parliament that changes the powers of local government in England. The aim of the act is to facilitate the devolution of decision-making powers from central government control to individuals and communi ...

. Initially, combined authorities were led by boards of local authority leaders. The

Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 The Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 (c. 1) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom designed to introduce directly elected mayors to combined local authorities in England and Wales and to devolve housing, transport, pla ...

allowed for the creation of

directly elected mayors Directly elected Mayors or Leaders in England, informally known as Metro Mayors or Leaders, are local government executive leaders who are directly elected by the residents of a local authority area (typically, but not always, a metropolitan are ...

to lead combined authorities. Further competencies were granted to combined authorities by the

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. 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 UK government ministers through the

Mayoral Council for England The Mayoral Council for England is a political body in England that brings together ministers from the UK Government, the Mayor of London, and combined authority mayors. History Background David Cameron's proposed English Cabinet of Mayors UK ...

and the

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, which were established in October 2024. Plans by the incoming

Labour government Labour government or Labor government may refer to: Australia In Australian politics, a Labor government may refer to the following governments administered by the Australian Labor Party: * Watson Government, one Australian ministry under Chris ...

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 A white paper is a report or guide that informs readers concisely about a complex issue and presents the issuing body's philosophy on the matter. It is meant to help readers understand an issue, solve a problem, or make a decision. A white pape ...

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

Proposals

*Designation of the

combined authorities and combined county authorities Combined authorities and combined county authorities are a type of local government institution in England. A combined authority (CA) is a type of local government institution introduced in England outside Greater London by the Local Democrac ...

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; and public safety. * Police and fire commissioner powers to be granted to mayors where police and fire boundaries align with strategic authority boundaries. * Structural changes to

local government in England Local government in England broadly consists of three layers: regional authorities, local authorities and parish councils. Legislation concerning English local government is passed by Parliament, as England does not have a devolved parliament. T ...

to move two-tier areas to a unitary structure.

Combined areas

Devolution is expanding to newly created combined authorities. * Devon and Torbay * Greater Lincolnshire * Hampshire and the Solent *

Heart of Wessex The Heart of Wessex Line, also known as the Bristol to Weymouth Line, is a railway line that runs from to and Weymouth in England. It shares the Wessex Main Line as far as Westbury and then follows the course of the Reading to Taunton Line ...

* Hull and East Yorkshire *

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a Historic counties of England, historic county, Ceremonial County, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significa ...

References

External links

English Devolution White Paper: Power and partnership: Foundations for growth
{{Combined authorities Proposed laws of the United Kingdom