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Economic Development

Labour and Tories are competing to show who offers the biggest boost in powers to local government

Councils could control an extra £30 billion under Labour plans while Conservative Chancellor George Osborne confirms Midlands is next in line for major devolution package

George Osborne: "Birmingham and the Black Country is really the next big place in our country where we can trust local people to make decisions."(Image: Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA Wire)

Both and the Conservatives have put promises to devolve power to regions such as the West Midlands at the heart of their election campaigns.

Labour leader even compared the level of autonomy that would be available to the extensive powers devolved to Scotland.

And George Osborne, the Chancellor, confirmed during a campaigning visit to that the region could be next in line for a major devolution package similar to the one already granted to Manchester.

Labour will give combined authorities, which involve neighbouring councils working together, control over bus and local rail services.

Councils would be allowed to dictate where buses should run and how often, with bus companies continuing to provide the service.

They would also control job programmes designed to get unemployed people into work and make decisions about training schemes in the region, to ensure young people were taught the skills employers needed, as well as having more control over where new houses were built.

A total of £30 billion currently spent by central government would be transferred to local councils.

Mr Miliband said: “Labour will create regional powerhouses in every corner of the country.