Barnett Formula

Lord Peston Excerpts

Monday 7th June 2010 Lords Chamber

[Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay]

My Lords—

[Lord Peston]

My Lords—

[Lord Strathclyde]

My Lords, this always works very well when we take it in turns. Could the noble Lord, Lord Peston, sit down?

[Lord Peston]

My Lords—

[Noble Lords]

Order!

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord De Mauley]

My Lords, I have just said that we recognise the concerns expressed by the Holtham commission, and the Government are listening to what noble Lords are saying.

[Lord Peston]

My Lords, I was under the impression that the Liberal Democrats were part of the Government. I know that we need to sort out the protocol, but they really have to get used to what they have sold their souls for. They really do.

May I ask the noble Lord, with all lack of respect to my noble friend Lord Barnett, whether it is not about time that the Barnett formula was simply allowed to die? Should we not let it rest happily in its grave until we can come back to invent a new formula?

[Lord De Mauley]

My Lords, the dulcet words of the noble Lord, Lord Davies, when he was a Minister answering almost an identical question, were along the lines that the Barnett formula is simple, robust, and it works. The coalition, on the other hand, and as the noble Lord, Lord Peston, implies, recognises that there are concerns over the allocation of funding. But, as I said, there are other priorities.