Wales: Additional Financial Resources Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Wales: Additional Financial Resources

Baroness Randerson Excerpts
Wednesday 18th January 2023

(1 year, 9 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Penn Portrait Baroness Penn (Con)
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My Lords, the fiscal framework between the UK and the Welsh Governments was agreed in 2016; that added a needs-based factor into the Barnett formula to ensure that Wales receives fair funding. It receives at least 15% more funding per person than the equivalent UK government spending in the rest of the UK. In fact, in the current spending review period, that additional amount is 20%.

Baroness Randerson Portrait Baroness Randerson (LD)
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My Lords, the lack of Barnett consequentials from the HS2 rail project—a railway not a foot of which will be built in Wales—is a glaring injustice. The recently confirmed extension of the project means that additional Barnett formula funding was confirmed for Scotland and Northern Ireland. Why not Wales?

Baroness Penn Portrait Baroness Penn (Con)
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As the noble Baroness will know, the Welsh Government do not receive Barnett on HS2 spending because rail infrastructure in Wales is a reserved matter and the UK Government continue to invest in rail infrastructure in both England and Wales.