Committees

The Evolution of Devolution: English Devolution

Inquiry

Devolution has become an established part of the UK constitutional architecture, but while legislative and executive devolution has been established and evolved in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, there has been no equivalent devolution in England, creating asymmetry in the UK governance arrangements.  Since 2014, there have been a number of initiatives to “devolve” power within England: ten combined authorities have now successfully negotiated bespoke “devolution” deals, but this has only added to the complexity of English local government. The Government has committed to publishing an English Devolution White Paper in 2020, setting out its “plans for full devolution across England”.

Read the call for evidence for more detail about the inquiry

Reports, special reports and government responses

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Fifth Report - Governing England: Follow up to the Government's response to the Committee’s Third Report of Session 2022-23
Inquiry The Evolution of Devolution: English Devolution
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HC 1139
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Third Report - Governing England
Inquiry The Evolution of Devolution: English Devolution
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HC 463
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Correspondence

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Letter to Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on the PACAC Report - Governing England, dated 23.2.23
Inquiry The Evolution of Devolution: English Devolution
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Correspondence
Letter to Rt Hon Ed Davey MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Party on the PACAC Report - Governing England, dated 23.2.23
Inquiry The Evolution of Devolution: English Devolution
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Correspondence
Letter to Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KC MP, Leader of His Majesty's Official Opposition and Leader of the Labour Party on the PACAC Report - Governing England, dated 23.2.23
Inquiry The Evolution of Devolution: English Devolution
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Correspondence

Oral evidence transcripts

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15 July 2021
Inquiry The Evolution of Devolution: English Devolution
Witnesses Ben Houchen (Mayor at Tees Valley Combined Authority), and Tracy Brabin (Mayor at West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
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Oral Evidence
6 July 2021
Inquiry The Evolution of Devolution: English Devolution
Witnesses Alderman Roy Perry (Chair at South East Councils (SEC)), Councillor John Fuller OBE (Chair at District Councils’ Network), Councillor Martin Tett (Leader at Buckinghamshire Council), Andy Burnham (Mayor at Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA)), and Jamie Driscoll (Mayor at North of Tyne Combined Authority)
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Oral Evidence
2 February 2021
Inquiry The Evolution of Devolution: English Devolution
Witnesses Cllr Sir Richard Leese (Chair of the Local Government Association’s City Regions Board and Leader of Manchester City Council), Cllr David Williams (County Councils Network Chairman and Leader of Hertfordshire County Council), Cllr Julian German (Britain’s Leading Edge and Leader of Cornwall Council), The Rt Hon the Lord Heseltine CH, and Professor John Denham (Director, Centre for English Identity and Politics, University of Southampton)
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Oral Evidence

Written evidence

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Josephine Manning McCanley (EDE0048)
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South East England Councils (EDE0046)
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Christine Taylor (EDE0047)
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Other publications

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Contact us

  • Email: pacac@parliament.uk
  • Phone: 020 7219 3268 (general enquiries) | 020 7219 8335 (media enquiries)
  • Address: Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA