How devolution affects England

Over recent weeks the so-called ‘West Lothian’ question has been receiving increased attention. The question revolves around whether MPs from Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales should be able to vote on matters that only affect England. This includes a number of important policy areas, such as health and education, over which the Welsh and Northern Ireland Assemblies and the Scottish Parliament have control in their respective countries.

Indeed, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) reported on Monday that 40% of English people surveyed thought that, out of the four countries of the United Kingdom, England got less funding than it deserved. An IPPR proposal to alter procedures at Westminster such that only English MPs vote on matters affecting England was backed by 79% of people.

Furthermore, the ‘West Lothian’ question is particularly relevant for us in the Forest of Dean, where the short distance over the border sees schools and hospitals run from Cardiff, rather than London. It is an issue often raised with me by my constituents in the Forest. Clearly the time has come to address the significant constitutional questions that are being asked, and I am pleased to say that the Coalition Government is committed to doing so.

First, the Government has already taken the important step of equalising the sizes of MP’s seats, so each individual’s vote carries more equal weight. This process has also addressed the balance of power so that the four countries of the United Kingdom are fairly represented at Westminster.

Second, the Government also recognises that there are concerns about fairness in the allocation of devolution funding. The Coalition Government has committed to look at this issue, though at this time, our priority must be to reduce the deficit rather than readjust funding formulae. Due to this, any change to the system must wait until the public finances have been stabilised.

Finally, a key announcement on this topic occurred last week. In my capacity as Minister for Political and Constitutional Reform, I announced to Parliament a Commission to report on how the House of Commons deals with laws that affect only part of the UK – the very heart of the ‘West Lothian’ question. The Commission is made up of independent experts in parliamentary procedure and constitutional matters, and contains at least one person from each country of the UK. I look forward to reviewing the Commission’s findings in 2013.

Contact me: Mark Harper MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA, mark.harper.mp@parliament.uk or www.markharper.org.

ENDS