Devolved Authorities: Use of Resources

Lord Foulkes of Cumnock Excerpts

Wednesday 23rd April 2025 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock]

To ask His Majesty’s Government whether they are considering ways to ensure that resources allocated to the devolved authorities are used for the specified purposes.

[Lord in Waiting/Government Whip (Lord Wilson of Sedgefield) (Lab)]

The UK Government primarily use the Barnett formula to calculate the devolved Governments’ block grant funding. This funding is not ring-fenced, given the devolved Governments’ full flexibility to allocate it across devolved areas according to their own priorities and local circumstances. The devolved Governments are accountable to their parliamentary legislatures and, ultimately, their voters for their decisions. The recent settlement is 20% more funding than equivalent UK government spending in other areas of the UK. These settlements are the largest in real terms since devolution, totalling £86 billion. This Government are securing Britain’s future through the plan for change, which is delivering security and renewal by kick-starting economic growth to put more money into working people’s pockets and the NHS and to secure our borders.

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Lab Co-op)]

I am grateful to the Minister for a helpful response, but is he aware that the Supreme Court case on the definition of gender is just the latest of 10 court cases which the SNP Scottish Government have taken there, costing over £7 billion? Surely something can be done to make sure that they spend UK taxpayers’ money on things such as the city growth deals and replacing the Grenfell-style cladding on the 5,000 premises in Scotland where people’s lives are still in danger.

[Lord Wilson of Sedgefield (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend for that question. I want to focus on the big issue that is confronting this country—whether it is Ireland, Scotland, Wales or England—which is growth. My noble friend pointed out that the city region and growth deals are funded by the UK Government. The Scottish Government are receiving £119 million in 2025-26 for city and growth deals. The Government confirmed at the Autumn Budget that investment in the Argyll and Bute growth deal will continue to be available and will be supported by a rigorous value-for-money assessment as part of the review. The £25 million Argyll and Bute growth deal was signed in March 2025. There are other elements to growth in Scotland: one of the main ones is that GB Energy will be based in Aberdeen.

Covid-19 Inquiry

Lord Foulkes of Cumnock Excerpts

Thursday 23rd January 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

The inquiry regularly publishes details of the money that has been spent. The figures I have relate to the inquiry costs. The noble Baroness is correct that the organisations involved, particularly those with core participant status, are also likely to be putting in additional resources. I will try to establish whether we have an estimate of that.

From its establishment up to September 2024, the inquiry spent £124.2 million. As I noted in my initial response to these questions, the inquiry chair is delivering on the terms of reference agreed with the previous Government. She is under a statutory obligation to avoid unnecessary costs in the inquiry’s work and has been clear that she intends to complete her work as quickly and efficiently as possible. The Government also regularly publish their costs in relation to the inquiry response, and I will write to the noble Baroness on that.

Today’s debate has shown how it is hard to constrain costs when you have demands for the inquiry to look at every single aspect. This was a whole-society crisis—a whole-society emergency. It touched every aspect of society. That is not to downplay the cost of the inquiry. I note that the House of Lords report that was referenced earlier highlighted costs as one of its concerns.

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Lab Co-op)]

My Lords, does the Minister share my disappointment that the eloquent contribution from the Front Bench opposite by the noble Baroness, Lady Finn, for whom I have the greatest respect, did not include any apologies, not so much for Ministers partying while others suffered but for the fact that some people made millions—well, billions—supplying materials and equipment that subsequently turned out to be unusable? Will the Minister give me an absolute assurance that she and all her colleagues will co-operate fully with the Covid corruption commissioner to make sure that all those who wrongly profited from the Covid pandemic are brought to book?

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I am sure that all those who are asked will co-operate fully with the Covid corruption commissioner. I do not entirely share my noble friend’s view. I felt that the noble Baroness, Lady Finn, did acknowledge that there had been issues that led to some of the problems the UK faced during the Covid pandemic. My view is that all political parties have a role to work together to ensure that our resilience is as strong as it can be for the future. I hope that we continue to work on a cross-party basis to improve this country’s resilience, and that all noble Lords feed into the wider review on the UK’s resilience, which the Government are undertaking at the moment.

Procurement Act 2023

Lord Foulkes of Cumnock Excerpts

Tuesday 15th October 2024 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I absolutely and wholeheartedly refute the noble Baroness’s suggestion. I would also note that, last week, I was criticised for continuing with measures announced by the previous Government and this week I am being criticised for their delay. I hope that noble Lords from across the House agree that we should look at such matters on a case-by-case basis to ensure that this country gets back on the stable footing it needs and deserves.

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Lab Co-op)]

My Lords, will the Minister give a complete assurance that this Government will not introduce a VIP lane which gives preference to Conservatives and their colleagues? Will she also give an assurance that the Government will appoint a Covid corruption commissioner as soon as possible?

Horseracing and Bloodstock Industries

Lord Foulkes of Cumnock Excerpts

Monday 29th July 2024 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

Most people gamble without issue, but we recognise the huge impact that harmful gambling can have on individuals and their families. As the noble Lord states, however, there is a difference between those who can gamble without issue and those who come to serious harms, both in their lives and those of their families. As stated in the Government’s manifesto, we are absolutely committed to strengthening protections for those at risk. The Gambling Commission’s new survey which came out last week really helps to show the wider picture of gambling behaviour across Great Britain, and we will consider its findings very carefully.

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Lab Co-op)]

My Lords, I am mystified again. With all the knowledge on that side, with the former Member for the South Downs and the noble Baroness, Lady Harding, who is—what is she in the Jockey Club?

[Noble Lords]

Chief steward.

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Lab Co-op)]

Chief steward! She knows a thing or two about Covid as well. With all the knowledge on that side, why has nothing been done in the last 14 years to deal with this matter?