GOVERNMENT SHOULD FOLLOW OWN BARNETT LOGIC - WILLIAMS

9.22.07am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 7th Oct 2008

Speaking ahead of the Second Reading of the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill, which will apportion money to Wales on the basis of the Big Lottery Fund Formula instead of the Barnett Formula, Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Wales Roger Williams MP has called on the Government to review the Barnett Formula.

The Bill would allow for money from dormant bank and building society accounts to be distributed to charitable causes.

Under the Barnett Formula, Wales would get 5.84% of this money, but the Government have decided to use the formula used by the Big Lottery Fund, which takes Wales's greater need into account, set at 6.5%.

Commenting, Roger Williams said:

"By using the Big Lottery Fund formula, the Government are basically acknowledging what we have been saying for years - the Barnett Formula is not fair on the people of Wales.

"The Big Lottery Fund acknowledges that Wales has a greater need, we have greater levels of deprivation and face unique challenges in delivering public services.

"The Government now need to follow the logic of their own decisions and review the workings of the Barnett Formula. We need fair funding for the people of Wales to end our historic disadvantages."