Welsh Liberal Democrat MPs Mark Williams and Roger Williams have today highlighted the need for fair funding for Wales in Treasury Questions, citing the Holtham Commission which found that Wales is underfunded by £300 million every year.
In his question, Mark Williams asked whether the Government accepted the conclusions of Holtham that Wales is underfunded, and asked the Government to commit to fair funding across the UK.
Responding on behalf of the Government, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander acknowledged the concerns raised by the Holtham Commission, but reiterated that dealing with the deficit is the Treasury’s priority. He confirmed that a full review would take place after the referendum on further powers.
In response to a question by Mr Williams’s Welsh Liberal Democrat colleague Roger Williams MP, Mr Alexander said that he would look into suggestions that the Barnett Formula could be reformed to provide a reduction in the deficit.
Commenting, Ceredigion MP Mark Williams said:
“I remain clear that we need reform of Barnett, and the new Government’s recognition of Holtham is welcome as is their promise of a full review on Welsh funding.
“We obviously need to tackle the deficit and that is rightly the priority of the Treasury, but at a time when there are going to be cuts, it is even more important that those cuts fall fairly.”
“I do maintain that we can tackle the deficit and put in place a need-based formula to address this issue, and I welcome Danny Alexander’s commitment to look at this possibility.”
Brecon and Radnorshire MP Roger Williams added:
“A debate in the House of Lords on Monday showed that there was cross-party support for reform of the Barnett formula, including from Lord Barnett, the report’s author.
“It is clear that public finances need to be stabilised given the huge deficit, but it is also possible to reform the Barnett Formula at the same time.
“Reform would not mean providing additional funding but would require funding to be shifted from regions that are receiving more than their fair share to those that are not.”
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you do know your in government right?
which does not mean that everything they do is right, or that we lose our critical facilities or that we stop fighting for our constituents’ best interests.
agreed. Then again Roger Williams and Mark Williams voted against reviewing trident yesterday as they went with the whip. I don’t doubt that both would like to see it happen so this is no doubt the start of Lib Dem MPs supporting things they dont believe in. Much the same as they are calling for a review of Barnett here yet sit in a government that has senior Tories saying it works well for Wales and will not be changed
Mark and Roger can speak for themselves but I suspect that they voted in accordance with the coalition agreement. You should be aware of course that the Liberal Democrat manifesto argued for a review of Trident not its abolition and the coalition document allows for that position.
As for Barnett there is a clear commitment in the coalition document that we will conduct a review led by the Treasury and which goes further than in looking at fiscal responsibilities as well. That is in line with Liberal Democrat’s position and contrasts with 13 years of Labour inaction which culminated in Liam Byrne saying in February 2010 that the then government had no plans to review the formula.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/02/03/no-plans-to-reform-barnett-formula-91466-25748858/
“You should be aware of course that the Liberal Democrat manifesto argued for a review of Trident not its abolition and the coalition document allows for that position.”
Correct me if I am wrong but what it is that Mark and Roger voted against in the Queens Speech was for Trident to be included in the defence review?