Government’s English devolution agenda: Mayors give evidence to PAC
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will question local authority leaders and Government representatives, including Cat Little CB, in what will be the first opportunity to scrutinise the potential impact of the government’s approach to English devolution on Monday 7 September, at 3.30pm.
Under current Government plans, every area of England will be covered by a Strategic Authority by the end of 2028. In July 2026, a statement from the Cabinet Office, Rewiring the State, described a need for “a radical shift in where powers and resources lie”.
As part of efforts to provide greater local flexibility over spending, from 2026, combined local authorities, known as Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSAs), were able to access central government funding through a single ‘Integrated Settlement’.
In April 2026, five MSAs began receiving multi-year Integrated Settlements totalling £14.8bn.
Meeting details
The PAC will hear from local leaders on the impact of introducing Integrated Settlements and ask what further action they would like the government to take on devolution. MPs are also likely to examine the accountability, capability and capacity challenges that Mayoral Strategic Authorities could face as their responsibilities grow.
Representatives from the Cabinet Office, HM Treasury and the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government will then give evidence. Questions are likely to focus on the concrete steps government will need to take to ensure value for money, accountability and scrutiny on behalf of taxpayers.