Wales: Further Devolution
Debate between Baroness Humphreys and Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent(6 days, 3 hours ago)
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Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)
My Lords, I used to represent Stoke-on-Trent. The noble Lord will find that the Barnett formula ensures that the people of Wales receive 20% per capita more than my former constituents. The Welsh Government received a record-breaking settlement of £21 billion this financial year, which, because of the Barnett formula, is £4 billion more than it would otherwise have been. The Government are delivering for the people of Wales, financially and by supporting them through devolution in action.
Baroness Humphreys (LD)
My Lords, one key area of potential devolution is youth justice, where the Welsh Government have already been implementing policies to tackle the root causes of crime and break intergenerational cycles of crime, through early intervention and a compassionate approach to justice. I welcome the announcement by the Welsh Government that officials would work together with UK counterparts to explore, among other items, options for governance arrangements and the funding of youth justice services. When will this work be completed and when will we see true devolution of these services to Wales?
Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)
As the noble Baroness outlined, the UK Government and the Welsh Government have agreed to work together to consider options for the governance and funding of youth justice services and for partnership arrangements on probation services. That work is currently under way, but I do not have a deadline for when they will come forward with their recommendations.
Prime Minister and First Minister of Wales Meetings
Debate between Baroness Humphreys and Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent
Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)
The noble Lord makes a very interesting point—I wonder whether he made it to his Conservative colleagues on Great Yarmouth Borough Council, who were the first to introduce a tourism tax. The tourism tax brings in £33 million a year. There are ongoing conversations, but this is devolution in action, and it is a matter for the Welsh Government.
Baroness Humphreys (LD)
My Lords:
“In this new generation, it must be the people and communities of Wales who profit from our energy gifts. We need a different approach to the one which just hands the power and resources to the Crown Estate over which we have no say”.
Those are not my words but those said yesterday by the Welsh Labour First Minister, echoing the sentiments of some in this House. Has she used similar words in the discussions with the Prime Minister, and was he listening—or are we seeing the building of a new red wall in the Bristol Channel, one dividing Welsh Labour from its UK Big Brother?
Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)
My Lords, anyone would think that there might be an election within the next 12 months.
Council of the Nations and Regions
Debate between Baroness Humphreys and Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent
Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)
My Lords, the Council of the Nations and Regions is one vehicle where the Heads of Government meet, but we have regular conversations with all First Ministers, especially the First Minister of Wales. That is why we announced the largest-ever Budget settlement for Wales under devolution, including a £1.4 billion increase because of the Barnett formula. How it is spent is now a matter for the Welsh Government.
Baroness Humphreys (LD)
My Lords, I welcome the formation of the Council of the Nations and Regions and, particularly, the forum it provides for the Prime Minister to meet the First Ministers of the devolved nations and the mayors of combined authorities. I was pleased to read the brief minutes of the first meeting on the government website. The Labour manifesto committed to set out a new memorandum of understanding outlining how the nations would work together to strengthen the Sewel convention. Has that been done? If not, what progress has been made on it?
Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)
I thank the noble Baroness for her question. Work is under way. This is about how devolution works, and therefore there will not be one person who announces that. We are working with each devolved authority to make sure that any changes and updates to the MoU on the Sewel convention work for all devolved Governments and will report in due course.
Wales
Debate between Baroness Humphreys and Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent
Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)
I thank my noble friend for all the work that she does in support of the blue light services, and as a commissioner. The reality is that last month’s Budget was an extraordinary settlement for the people of Wales—£21 billion, and £1.7 billion in additional funding as part of the Barnett formula. That shows the difference there can be when you have a Labour Government at the Senedd and a Labour Government here.
Baroness Humphreys (LD)
I too express my appreciation for the work of the emergency services, and the search and rescue and mountain rescue teams from other parts of Wales who helped in the Conwy valley over the weekend.
When the Welsh Government’s commission on the constitutional future of Wales reported in February, it concluded that each of the options—enhanced devolution, a federal structure, and independence—could be a valuable way forward. We on these Benches would argue that the federal structure, giving each of our four nations equal powers, would strengthen the position of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in the UK most effectively. Is it not time to deal with the English problem: devolve powers properly to the regions of England and create a sensible federal structure that benefits all four nations?
Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)
I thank the noble Baroness for her question regarding England—while we are talking about Wales. There is a Question tomorrow on the role of the Council of the Nations and Regions and how devolution in action can work across the country, and I look forward to discussing that in more detail with her then.