The Queen's Speech: devolution to England's cities, Scotland and Wales

The first Conservative Queen's Speech in nearly 20 years today sets out plans to devolve powers to England's cities, in order to "bring the whole country together".

David Cameron commits his Government to being "one-nation" and devolving "wide-ranging powers" to Scotland and Wales. He also uses the Queen's Speech to signal he will "bring about a balanced economic recovery" by allowing elected metropolitan mayors to "build a Northern powerhouse" in northern England with a - now re-named to include counties and towns - Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill.

The SNP, now the third biggest party in the Commons, wants additional powers on top of those set out in the Smith Commission on devolution to bring full fiscal autonomy. Local government leaders in England want devolution to be offered to the whole country, not only the conurbations in northern England like Greater Manchester.

The powers on offer in England, however spelt out in briefing notes on the speech, include bus franchising powers - in a complementary Buses Bill - were seen as "genuinely radical" for those areas opting to have an elected mayor. They include a general power of competence for the mayors and will also allow local authority governance to be "streamlined" - if agreed by councils.

The Government insisted that the Bill would allow it to also "empower towns and counties," building on the programme of Growth Deals agreed by the coalition. The Local Government Association said the push to de-centralise power should reach all corners of England given non-metropolitan England is responsible for 56% of economic output.

The Government will continue to bring the HS2 legislation through Parliament to build "high speed links between the different parts of the country".