Significant plans to make devolution the default setting across a
range of government policy areas, as part of the English
Devolution White Paper, will be announced today (16 December) by
the Deputy Prime Minister.
In a speech to an audience of regional mayors, local government
and business leaders, will say that the proposals
in the English Devolution White Paper will put England's regions
centre stage and deliver on the government's mission to grow the
economy and our milestone of building 1.5 million homes and will
boost opportunity across the country.
Measures expected to be announced later today include plans for
new powers for mayors across strategic planning – giving them the
ability to guide infrastructure and development projects across
areas, housing, transport and skills.
This is part of the government's longstanding commitment to
devolution – pushing more powers out of Westminster and into the
hands of people with skin in the game, who know their areas best.
At a launch event later today Deputy Prime Minister and
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
, is expected to
say:
“Our English Devolution White Paper will be a
turning point when we finally see communities, people and places
across England begin to take back control over the things that
matter to them.
“When our proud towns and cities are once again given the
powers they need to drive growth and raise living standards as
part of our Plan for
Change.
“It's a plan for putting more money in people's pockets,
putting politics back in the service of working people and a plan
for stability, investment and reform, not chaos, austerity and
decline, that will deliver a decade of national
renewal.
“Devolution will no longer be agreed at the whim of a
Minister in Whitehall, but embedded in the fabric of the country,
becoming the default position of government.”
The measures are expected to include proposals to create
‘strategic authorities' across England, bringing together
councils over areas that people live and work in, to avoid
duplication and give our cities and regions a bigger voice.
The English Devolution White Paper has been anticipated following
the government's clear intentions to transfer power out of
Whitehall. Since being in office, the government has already
approved devolution deals in Greater Lincolnshire, Hull &
East Yorkshire, Devon & Torbay, and Lancashire.
The full proposals will be set out in the white paper, due to be
published in Parliament today.
