Scottish Government: Devolved Competences Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Scottish Government: Devolved Competences

Lord Wallace of Saltaire Excerpts
Wednesday 13th March 2024

(8 months, 2 weeks ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Neville-Rolfe Portrait Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Con)
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I hear what the noble Lord says, but these are matters for the Scottish Government to answer. No doubt Scottish taxpayers will reflect on whether the donation to UNRWA was justified.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire Portrait Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD)
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My Lords, despite our having some years of experience now with the devolved settlements, we still have a separate Scottish Office and Welsh Office in London and seats in the Cabinet. The Minister will have seen the arguments made by a number of people on our need for a smaller Cabinet. Would not it be sensible now, in making sure that the devolved Administrations have a central link with central Government, to have one department for constitutional affairs, rather than a Welsh Office and a Scottish Office with very little to do?