Prime Minister: Meetings with First Ministers of the Devolved Governments

Lord Hamilton of Epsom Excerpts

Monday 10th January 2022 Lords Chamber

[Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con)]

The noble Lord is right to say that this has been an evolving process. There are no plans to take it further. Obviously, the whole process of devolution and the matters arising from it, and the links and co-operation between the four devolved nations, will continue to be discussed. The idea with the IGR is that all four will be treated equally, there will be transparency, and there will be reviews.

[Lord Hamilton of Epsom (Con)]

Following up on the question asked by the noble Lord, Lord Anderson, do the Government agree with the previous Labour Government, who said that devolution for Scotland would strengthen the union?

[Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con)]

I can only repeat that devolution for Scotland has, of course, been rolled out in the same way as devolution for Northern Ireland and Wales. We believe that it works well, but, as I said earlier, we continue to monitor it and to make sure that the effective co-operation and links between the four nations continue as they are.