Oral Answers to Questions

Peter Bone Excerpts

Wednesday 12th October 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough) (Con)]

8. What progress has been made on establishing a commission on devolution and funding in Wales; and if she will make a statement.

[Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Dwyfor Meirionnydd) (PC)]

10. What recent representations she has received on the proposed Calman-style commission for Wales; and if she will make a statement.

[The Secretary of State for Wales (Mrs Cheryl Gillan)]

Yesterday I announced in a written ministerial statement to the House the terms of reference and membership of the commission on devolution in Wales, the Silk commission. The commission will review the present financial and constitutional arrangements in Wales. It will look first at the financial accountability of the National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Government and will aim to report in the autumn of next year. Following that, the commission will examine the current constitutional arrangements and will report in 2013.

[Mr Bone]

In Wales public expenditure is more than £9,000 per person. In my constituency it is £2,000 less. Yet again, Labour has left Wales in a mess, and Mrs Bone wants to know what the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State are going to do about it.

[Mrs Gillan]

Mrs Bone, I am sure, is absolutely right when she says that the economy of this country was left in a complete mess by that lot over there on the Opposition Benches—but my hon. Friend has asked a fairly complex question about the Barnett formula. The Barnett formula is not being examined by the Silk commission; it is the subject of bilateral communications involving the Treasury and the devolved Administration Governments, because it is a matter that concerns the whole of the UK. The Silk commission is focused on matters affecting Wales directly.