Public Accounts Committee — hearing of 7 September 2026: transcript & video · Polyfact

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Public Accounts Committee

7 September 2026

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Contents updated on 7 Sept 2026

The committee opens its evidence session with metro mayors, clarifying institutional roles, devolution constraints and aspirations, then examines Liverpool’s experience on integrated settlements, transport, and fiscal powers including funding certainty, borrowing and growth incentives.

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Metro mayors — inquiry context and fiscal devolution

17:09

Inquiry framing and integrated settlements context

17:09

Hearing opening and witness introductions

17:09

Chair opening — Rewiring the State and MSAs

17:09

Metro mayors and chief executives introduce their roles

18:45

Integrated settlements — implementation and devolved powers

20:31

Q — Betts: practical impact of integrated settlements

20:31

Q — Betts: constraints on devolution and skills funding rigidity

22:48

Q — Betts: additional freedoms sought for growth and investment

24:36

Integrated settlements — limits beyond transport, skills, housing

25:52

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough — route to integrated settlement and capacity

28:08

Established status — new devolved levers and funding envelope

29:37

Devolution priorities, funding models and Liverpool case

32:34

Mayors’ priorities — transport and fiscal devolution

32:34

Mayor Bristow — place-based priorities and mass transit

32:34

Rewiring the State — Rotheram on ending competitive bidding

34:35

Rewiring the State — fiscal devolution and self-financed infrastructure

37:02

Funding certainty, borrowing capacity and fiscal tools

39:08

Funding horizons and planning constraints

39:08

Q — Matt: opportunities from fiscal devolution

42:37

Evidence from Liverpool — growth outcomes and governance

44:32

Liverpool experience — strategic plans and growth outcomes

44:32

Systems, governance and accountability for fiscal powers

47:58

Local collaboration, outcomes frameworks and accountability

52:41

Devolution models, outcomes frameworks and local collaboration

52:41

Inter-mayoral collaboration and devolved governance models

52:41

Inter-mayoral learning and institutional capacity building

52:41

Inter-mayoral learning and devolved models across UK

55:13

Vertical relationships and local government reform concerns

59:41

Outcomes frameworks, devolution powers and local collaboration

01:02:36

Chair clarification on NAO and move to outcomes frameworks

01:02:36

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough — constraints and risks in outcomes frameworks

01:04:11

Are outcomes frameworks too input-driven? Powers, levers and accountability

01:07:26

Outcome frameworks — local partners and system design

01:09:53

Governance, accountability and parliamentary oversight of devolution

01:12:36

Programme governance, Whitehall relations and local accounting officers

01:12:36

Programme board oversight and central department relations

01:12:36

Local accounting officers — chief executives and parliamentary link

01:15:47

Parliamentary scrutiny models and resourcing

01:22:37

Scrutiny scope, Australian model and major project constraints

01:22:37

Committee expectations for resourced, independent scrutiny

01:25:17

Devolution, taxpayer protection and accountability mechanisms

01:27:52

Q — Lowe: public understanding of metro mayors and taxpayer risk

01:27:52

Devolution explained — assurance frameworks, growth and local investment

01:30:06

Distinguishing accountability from scrutiny and role of local politics

01:35:01

Panel transition — local democracy issues and new witnesses

01:37:15

First panel conclusion — local media and civic understanding

01:37:15

Local media, civic understanding and visibility of mayors

01:37:15

Chair closes first mayoral panel

01:39:32

Second panel opening — Capita pensions and reorganisation update

01:45:38

Second panel opening and Capita rectification update

01:45:38

MHCLG — impact of local government reorganisation statement

01:50:57

Second panel — devolution blueprint, tax and local oversight

01:53:05

Devolution model and fiscal powers

01:53:05

Devolution blueprint and mayoral authority models

01:53:05

Rewiring the State — delivery plans and effect on devolution

01:53:05

Gloucestershire reorganisation — unitary step vs mayoral authority

01:56:33

Foundation vs mayoral strategic authorities and perceived inequality

02:03:37

Treasury — integrated settlements and fiscal tools

02:08:28

Funding flexibilities in integrated settlements and risk controls

02:08:28

Treasury — clarity on multi-year settlements

02:13:27

Fiscal devolution — assigned taxes and available instruments

02:17:38

Fiscal devolution — tax assignment and central control shift

02:19:14

Redistribution, growth incentives and avoiding mere delegation

02:19:14

Departmental control, ring-fencing and cultural buy-in

02:23:45

Outcomes frameworks — control concerns and streamlining plans

02:28:08

Local accountability, audit and scrutiny

02:33:35

New local accountability model and reorganisation

02:33:35

Local accounting officers — CEOs confirmed and timelines

02:33:35

Audit arrangements, local scrutiny committees and performance targets

02:35:10

LGA criticism of LGR pause and legislative implications

02:39:03

MPs’ role, local scrutiny and devolution risks

02:41:39

Role of MPs in local accountability framework

02:41:39

Local scrutiny committees, L-PAC models and support bodies

02:43:12

Scaling up the Local Audit Office and capacity shift

02:46:14

Risk of ‘regional blobs’ and MPs’ role on devolved taxes

02:50:05

Local Audit Office timetable and scrutiny effectiveness

02:57:27

Timeline and remit of the Local Audit Office

02:57:27

Concerns over effectiveness of local scrutiny committees

03:01:49

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Public Accounts Committee

7 September 2026

Public Accounts Committee Mon, 7 Sept 2026 Actual start 15:15 House of Commons

17:09 - 18:45

Speaker 1

Welcome to the Public Accounts Committee on Monday the 7th of September 2026.

The government's Rewiring the State policy paper published in July of this year sets out its aim for every area in England to be covered by a strategic authority by the end of 2028. Strategic authorities allow combined authorities to be classified as foundation strategic authorities or mayoral strategic authorities, hereinafter as MSAs. Eligible MSAs can receive central government funding through a single integrated settlement, bringing together funding from multiple government departments and providing a greater local flexibility over spending. Greater Manchester and West Midlands were the first MSAs to receive an integrated settlement last year, and in April of this year, a further five MSAs began to receive multi-year integrated settlements, which will total 14.8 billion.

However, many questions remain about how the government's ambitious plans for devolution will turn into reality. And today, we are very grateful to be joined by local authority leaders who we hope can share their thoughts with us of the insights of working in this area ahead of questioning government officials later this afternoon. If you haven't already heard, it's strongly rumored that the government is going to delay local government reorganization. And obviously that may or may not have a knock-on on strategic authorities, particularly new ones being formed. So anyway, you're very welcome all of you.

Perhaps I could ask you, and I'm going to use Christian names if I may, Steve, perhaps to start by introducing yourself, please.

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