Devolved Public Services: Funding

Lord Anderson of Swansea Excerpts

Monday 1st June 2026 Lords Chamber

[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.

[Lord Anderson of Swansea (Lab)]

My Lords, we may receive more per head of population, but do the Government recognise that Wales is at or near the bottom of all the indices of deprivation in the UK? So what direct benefit, if any, will we receive from HS2?

[Lord Katz (Lab)]

I repeat what I said to the noble Lord, Lord Wigley: we are investing a huge amount of money—£14 billion—in the future of Welsh rail. Also, creating more capacity on the west coast main line will in the long term provide great benefits to north Wales through the extension of the main line that already goes up through the west coast main line and serves north Wales.