Friday, July 11, 2008
And then there were two
So we now have two inquiries into the Barnett formula.
Earlier this week the Welsh Government announced that their investigation will be chaired by the former head of the IPPR, Gerald Holtham. Today, the Western Mail reveals that Lord Barnett, who initiated the controversial formula on a temporary basis, has persuaded the House of Lords to hold its own inquiry.
A report by the IPPR think-tank published this week suggested the Assembly Government could be getting as much as £2bn a year less than it needs to invest in public services under the current arrangements.
The question now is whether the two new inquiries will come to the same conclusion, and what if they take a different view to each other? Will the Welsh and Westminster Governments pick and choose the outcome they want leaving us no further forward? We will see.
Earlier this week the Welsh Government announced that their investigation will be chaired by the former head of the IPPR, Gerald Holtham. Today, the Western Mail reveals that Lord Barnett, who initiated the controversial formula on a temporary basis, has persuaded the House of Lords to hold its own inquiry.
A report by the IPPR think-tank published this week suggested the Assembly Government could be getting as much as £2bn a year less than it needs to invest in public services under the current arrangements.
The question now is whether the two new inquiries will come to the same conclusion, and what if they take a different view to each other? Will the Welsh and Westminster Governments pick and choose the outcome they want leaving us no further forward? We will see.
Comments:
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I do not see how Labour can keep ducking this one. The disparity between need and reality is too great. What was interesting about this report was that it was clearly comissioned to have a dig at funding to Scotland, yet the most shocking conclusion was the underfunding of Wales. This may not have been the Tories aim, but the conclusions are hard to argue with.
Can you imagine what £2 billion extra could do for Wales?
Can you imagine what £2 billion extra could do for Wales?
# posted by 
: 12:21 PM
: 12:21 PM
Whenever inequality is perceived there will be always be disquiet or dissatisfaction, what I think would be fair is a level playing field per head of population which could be added to when needed, needs change, the top-up reasons could be published, I find people are understanding.
It might be naïve, but I would like pork barrel politics to end in the UK, it is immoral, unethical, it is cheating people.
It might be naïve, but I would like pork barrel politics to end in the UK, it is immoral, unethical, it is cheating people.
# posted by : 3:49 PM
: 3:49 PM
"Can you imagine what £2 billion extra could do for Wales?" ... yeah, make Wales even more dependent on hand-outs. Wales is not better for handouts. 10 years of WAG and Wales is arguing for more handouts. Time to call time on this ... Wales wants its own government and deserves its own government, but can't be independent if it is overly reliant on handouts.
# posted by : 5:42 PM
: 5:42 PM
"Wales wants its own government and deserves its own government, but can't be independent if it is overly reliant on handouts." - No shit Sherlock!
Wales is a dependency culture, how many of the 10,000 jobs that were due to be created in the Baglan Energy Park have been created?
With the downturn in the economy worse it's going to get!
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Wales is a dependency culture, how many of the 10,000 jobs that were due to be created in the Baglan Energy Park have been created?
With the downturn in the economy worse it's going to get!
# posted by : 4:55 PM
: 4:55 PM<< Home
