CALMAN MUST BE BOLD ON BARNETT - WILLIAMS

3.16.24pm GMT Tue 2nd Dec 2008

Commenting on the Calman Commission's first interim report on Scottish devolution, which includes discussion of the fairness of the Barnett Formula, Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Wales Roger Williams MP said:

"It would be difficult to make any conclusions on what the Calman Commission might suggest on Barnett from this report, but it is reassuring that it has accepted the need for an equitable funding system for the whole of the UK.

"In the final report they must put their backing behind a needs-based formula, which would clearly be the fairest way of distributing funds.

"The Calman Commission can not look at the appropriateness of the Barnett Formula through the prism of Scotland in isolation. Barnett has a big effect on the decisions that can be made by the Welsh Assembly Government, and in Northern Ireland too, and I have written to the Calman Commission to make sure they consider Wales and Northern Ireland when they make their recommendations.

"There is a growing consensus that Barnett is bad for Wales, and I hope that the opportunity of the Holtham Commission in Wales and the Calman Commission in Scotland will allow us to finally dispense with a funding system that is holding Wales back."