Select committee criticises government dismissal of call for cross-party commission on reforming governance in England

A parliamentary committee has accused the Government of a lack of attention and engagement with its recommendations after ministers rejected a proposal for a cross-party commission on England's governance arrangements.

The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) voiced its concern yesterday after receiving an official government response to a report it authored, which laid out a series of recommended governance reforms.

The committee has consequently called on the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Secretary, Michael Gove, to account for the response in a public evidence session before Parliament's east recess.

The PACAC recommendation in question encouraged the Government to bring forward a Bill to establish a cross-party commission on the governance of England.

But the Government snubbed the recommendation as it did not think it would be "proportionate or desirable" to create such a commission.

The full recommendation noted that the remit of the commission should be to draw up proposals for reforms to the governance arrangements for England and for addressing the questions of England's place in the Union.

It would also draft legislation to implement these proposals, to be presented to both houses of parliament for approval.

"It is imperative that this Commission has the support of all major parties, regardless of future General Election results, as given the significance of these reforms is it likely that the Commission may undertake its work over the course of one or more Parliaments," the committee noted.

However, the Government said that it believes the right course now is to focus on "levelling up opportunity and prosperity across the country, pursuing reforms that are locally led and centred on places and local communities".

It stated that it would continue to pursue devolution deals in line with its commitments in the Levelling Up White Paper as it wishes to be led "by the ambition of local areas".

It also added that it is strengthening the Local Government Accountability Framework through steps such as the establishment of Oflog and the development of the Devolution Accountability Framework for England.

In a statement on the response, PACAC reiterated the conclusion in its original report that the Government's plans for devolution deals in its Levelling Up White Paper are not sufficient to address the concerns with the governance arrangements in England.

PACAC has also written to the leaders of the Labour Party, SNP and Liberal Democrats urging them again to engage with the cross-party commission recommendation.

Adam Carey