Devolving power in England

In 2024, the English Devolution White Paper was published. This stated that central government should stop micromanaging local leaders’ decisions and allow local bodies to operate with autonomy. The government ultimately wants every area of England to be covered by a Mayoral Strategic Authority (MSA), with the mayor responsible for making decisions on issues such as skills, transport and planning. Some areas will receive an Integrated Settlement – a single funding pot that can be allocated according to local priorities. Seven MSAs in the system have received multi-year settlements up to 2029-30, worth around £13.7bn. The PAC’s interest is in the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government’s (MHCLG) plans for holding MSAs to account locally, and how Parliament might exercise appropriate oversight. MHCLG wrote to the PAC on 18 March 2026 on progress in funding MSAs, as well as work to introduce Local Scrutiny Committees aimed at strengthening the quality, transparency and visibility of local scrutiny across MSAs. Separately, the PAC’s 2025 report on local government financial sustainability warned that government does not know if funding to local authorities is spent well, with signs that service quality is declining and an overly complex funding system making it harder for local authorities to improve outcomes for people. In summer 2026, the National Audit Office (NAO) publishes its report on devolution in England, examining how MHCLG is implementing its enhanced devolution framework. The PAC will take evidence from senior officials at MHCLG as it scrutinises topics including funding, governance and accountability arrangements for MSAs, and the impact of Integrated Settlements on the efficient delivery of services and programmes for local communities. If you have evidence on these issues, please submit using the link below by 23:59 on 17 August 2026. Please note that the Committee’s inquiry cannot assist with individual cases. If you need help with an individual problem you are having, you may wish to read the information on Parliament’s website about who you can contact with different issues.