Devolved Public Services: Funding
Debate between Baroness Finn and Lord Katz
Lord Katz (Lab)
We continue to work in close partnership with the devolved Governments and with the English regions through agreed structures. The Prime Minister and the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, who is also Minister for Intergovernmental Relations, regularly engage with the heads of devolved Governments and their deputies through the top-tier intergovernmental relations meeting and the Interministerial Standing Committee. They will now also regularly attend the mayoral council. As I said in my initial Answer to the noble Lord, Lord Wigley, the Prime Minister is undertaking to meet the First Minister of Wales, the First Minister of Scotland and the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland in the very near future.
Baroness Finn (Con)
My Lords, the outcome of the recent Welsh elections should worry unionists across this House, but the Government’s much-vaunted Council of the Nations and Regions last met over a year ago, despite a commitment to meet twice a year. What role will the council play in strengthening the union, if indeed it ever meets again? Can the Minister rule out any real-terms cuts in funding for Wales?
Lord Katz (Lab)
As I just said in answer to the noble and learned Lord, Lord Thomas, we are absolutely committed to talking to the devolved Governments and we will convene the Council of the Nations and Regions on a case-by-case basis as needed. To be clear, this Government were elected on a mandate to protect the union, as previous UK Governments were, so we will refuse any request to go down any path that would break it up. We are clear about this and want to work with all types of structures to strengthen the union. On the second question that the noble Baroness got in at the end, I will not be tempted into talking about future funding promises without Treasury approval.