Government Spending

Lord Anderson of Swansea Excerpts

Wednesday 26th May 2010 Lords Chamber

[A noble Lord]

It is your Government!

[Lord Anderson of Swansea]

My Lords—

[Lord Lea of Crondall]

My Lords—

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord De Mauley]

My Lords, I am most grateful to my noble friend Lord Onslow for his helpful words. I assure him that I will indeed exhort my colleagues as he requests.

[Lord Anderson of Swansea]

My Lords, any such cuts are likely to bear disproportionately on those who depend on public expenditure, notably the poorest people in the poorest regions of this country. What formula is being used? How does the noble Lord seek to protect vulnerable people and areas such as Wales which depend disproportionately on public expenditure?

[Lord De Mauley]

My Lords, I have just said that the Government agree that we must pay closest attention to the effect on the most disadvantaged in society. The noble Lord, Lord Anderson, specifically asked about the devolved Administrations. At this stage, all that I can say is that we acknowledge that these cuts must be fair. While savings are to be made as a top priority, they must be done sensitively.