WIREDGOV

The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Reform, Decentralisation and Devolution in the UK is calling for evidence after launching a far-reaching inquiry on devolution and constitutional reform.

The inquiry, to be chaired by LGA President Lord Kerslake, opens today (July 21) with a final report and recommendations to be submitted to the Communities Secretary Greg Clark MP, Minister for Constitutional Reform Oliver Letwin MP, the First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon MSP, the First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones AM, and the First Minister of Northern Ireland Peter Robinson MLA, in March 2016.                           

A panel, appointed by the qualifying officers of the APPG, will consider written evidence in October and oversee oral evidence sessions in the autumn.

The panel will be cross-party and drawn from both Houses of Parliament, together with external experts, and the four nations of the UK. It will seek evidence on the following areas:

Devolved nations

• Devolution of legislative and fiscal competence to and within England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, including in the Scotland Bill and the Wales Bill.
• Federalism in the UK.
• English Votes for English Laws.

Local government

• Devolution of legislative and fiscal competence to local authorities within the United Kingdom, including in the Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill.
• Governance arrangements for decentralisation.
• Sustainable funding system for local government.

Central powers in the UK and intra-UK relations

• Implications for the role of Whitehall
• Implications for the role of the Houses of Parliament

Wider constitutional reform

• The reform of the electoral system
• The reform of the House of Lords
• Procedures to govern the consideration and implementation of any future constitutional reforms.

Lord Kerslake said:

"Constitutional reform and devolution present the most significant challenge and opportunity for the Government over this parliament. That is why I am looking forward to chairing this wide-ranging inquiry.

"I am passionate about the role devolution can play in promoting economic growth and improving public services. We need to ensure that it is not confined to just cities or cities regions with an elected mayor but all parts of the country. Many questions have been left unanswered on devolution and I hope my panel will be able to provide a road map for the future."

Lord Foulkes of Cumnock said:

"We are delighted Lord Kerslake, with all his experience and expertise, has agreed to chair this panel as part of our APPG inquiry. It is important that we hear from as many businesses and voluntary organisations and their representative bodies as possible as well as academics, and local government."

Lord Purvis of Tweed added:

"By collating the views of government, civil society and businesses we hope to provide long-term recommendations around how the UK constitution can be renewed and strengthened for generations to come."

1. The deadline for receiving written evidence is Thursday October 1, 2015. Oral evidence sessions will be held between October 2015 and January 2016 in the Houses of Parliament. Minutes of the oral evidence sessions will be made available online. For more details or to submit evidence email publicaffairs.team@local.gov.uk. Please indicate in your written submission whether you or your organisation is willing to give oral evidence to the inquiry.
2. The APPG for Reform, Decentralisation and Devolution in the UK was established in 2014 to provide cross-party parliamentary space for an open discussion on the need for a UK-wide settlement.
3. Its qualifying officers are Lord Foulkes of Cumnock, Lord Purvis of Tweed, Andrew Rosindell MP and Catherine West MP. The Local Government Association provides the secretariat.
4. In March 2015 the Reform, Decentralisation and Devolution APPG published A Parliament for Reform 2015-20, a legacy paper setting out the constitutional issues which need to be addressed in the new Parliament. This inquiry builds on the framework set out in the legacy paper.