Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Metcalfe and Jonathan Lord

Tuesday 4th June 2013 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Metcalfe (South Basildon and East Thurrock) (Con)]

3. What recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on devolving power from Westminster and Whitehall.

[Jonathan Lord (Woking) (Con)]

5. What recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on devolving power from Westminster and Whitehall.

[The Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Nick Clegg)]

I regularly meet ministerial colleagues to discuss the Government’s work to devolve power to the most appropriate level, and we are achieving that through local enterprise partnerships, local government finance reforms, giving local authorities a general power of competence, and city deals. We have also accepted in full or in part 81 of Lord Heseltine’s 89 recommendations, which build on that work to decentralise power and drive growth. We have delivered a referendum in Wales, which resulted in the Assembly assuming primary law-making powers, and we established the Silk commission. In addition, the UK and Scottish Governments are working together to ensure the smooth implementation of the Scotland Act 2012, which represents the greatest devolution of fiscal powers from London in 300 years.