Downing Street Says » Barnett Formula

Asked to make absolutely clear whether the Government was having a review of the Barnett Formula, and if not, why not, the Prime Minister’s Spokesman (PMS) replied that it was not the case that the Prime Minister had ordered a review of the Barnett Formula. What was happening, was that there was a debate and a review in Scotland that the Scottish Parliament had supported, looking at how the devolution settlement might be strengthened. As part of that, and as we announced in a Parliamentary Question on the 31st January, and as the Prime Minister had also said in his recent interview with BBC Scotland, the Chancellor would lay before Parliament a factual paper on the funding mechanisms for the devolved administrations.

Asked why then had the Telegraph reported that a review had started to inform the debate, the PMS replied that journalists would have to ask the Telegraph how they reached that conclusion. As he had said, there was a debate and a review taking place in Scotland, and we had said that in order to help inform this debate we would publish a factual paper on the funding mechanisms for the devolved administrations.

Asked when this would be published, the PMS replied that it would be some time this year.

Asked if the Scottish Parliament came back and said that they thought there needed to be changes to this, what would be the position, the PMS replied that this was getting into the realms of hypotheticals.

Asked if the Prime Minister thought that there should be a review at some point, the PMS replied that the Prime Minister was supportive of the review of the devolution settlement that was taking place in Scotland, as we made clear in the Lords Parliamentary Question that was answered on the 31st January, and again was made clear in his interview with BBC Scotland in February.

Asked that since there were no current plans for a review, was fair to say that the Government was open to the idea that a review might take place at some point in the future, the PMS replied that again this was getting into the realms of hypotheticals. Our position was that we had no current plans to reform the Barnett Formula.

Asked what the Government had against calling it a commission, the PMS replied that this was a debate that was taking place in Scotland, and we could have a big theological debate over what it was called, but the more interesting issue as far as the Prime Minister was concerned was what it actually did.

2 Comments »

I see there is no talk about England, just the usual Scotland, Scotland, Scotland.

Most of us in England know we would be far better off, democratically, economically, socially, culturally and in just about every way imaginable, without Scotland.
Comment by Stephen Gash — 6 Mar 2008 on 2:31 pm | Link
On the 27th of October 2007 on nationwide television (BBC) First Minister Alex Salmond offered the following:

Scotland will raise all it’s own revenue and be responsible for all it’s own spending, and that England raise all it’s own revenue and be responsible for all it’s own spending.

He repeated this offer no less than three times.

As yet a unionist politician or supporter has volunteerd to take up this offer.

Typically all trousers and no balls !
Comment by Wansanshoo — 8 Mar 2008 on 11:52 am | Link

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» Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Barnett Formula

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