Alongside the post-Budget furore, the progress in Greater Manchester on devolution has kept pace with expectations. We were pleased to have secured our fourth devolution deal, announced as part of the Budget package earlier this month.

This contained some exciting new announcements – particularly the Life Chances Investment Fund focusing on early help. It will devolve the Troubled Families programme, the Working Well pilot supporting disabled people into employment and the Cabinet Office Life Chances Fund. It will help us to support a new co-ordinated approach across the 10 Greater Manchester authorities to these critical investments to avoid duplication and support early intervention helping families that need them most.