§ 4. Mike Gapes (Ilford, South)If he will make a statement on the future co-ordination between his Department and the devolved institutions of the UK and the English regions. [49346]
§ The Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State (Mr. John Prescott)Relationships between the Government and the devolved Administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are governed by the principles set out in the memorandum of understanding, signed in October 1999. I have the lead ministerial responsibility for the memorandum of understanding within the Government and am happy to say that all parties think that the arrangements are working well and that they provide a useful mechanism for handling difficult relations between the Administrations.
§ Mike GapesI am grateful for that reply. Does my right hon. Friend agree that one way of bringing about even greater co-operation between the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Assembly, the Northern Ireland Assembly and the English counties and regions would be for them each to send representatives to a reformed second Chamber? That could bring together all parts of the country, thereby acting as the cement that holds the United Kingdom together.
§ The Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of StateThat is an interesting question. The House has 319 many views on the reform of the House of Lords, and I certainly do not belong to the school of thought that believes that the majority of its Members should be elected. However, that will be debated in the House. I note that the consultation document—the consultations have now finished—and the White Paper included ideas on regional representation in the House. That is an interesting idea and we hope to publish a White Paper on regional governance shortly, but as for the reorganisation of the House of Lords, we shall see what we see.
§ Mr. A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed)Is the Deputy Prime Minister now confident that, subject to a yes vote in a referendum, at least one English regional assembly will be functioning by the next general election? Assuming that that happens, would it not be appropriate for his Department to relate to all the Assemblies and Parliaments of the United Kingdom, instead of to a series of expensive Scotland Offices, Wales Offices and whatever else might emerge from the process?
§ The Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of StateThe devolution proposals are quite clear. Indeed, we shall make it clear in the White Paper on regional governance that there will be regional government offices, as that is right for administration. There will be a need to ensure co-ordination across Departments. I have told the House that I, with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, will produce that White Paper when it is ready. I can now say that it will be ready shortly. To that extent, we shall explain some of those issues in the White Paper.
§ Tony Wright (Cannock Chase)May I put it to my right hon. Friend that, although the Government have introduced a very bold and ambitious programme of constitutional reform, they have not yet quite established the implications on the way that we organise Departments? The best way to achieve better co-ordination across Government would be to make one Department responsible for local government, regional government, the devolved institutions and constitutional affairs. Would that not solve all the co-ordination problems that keep cropping up at the moment?
§ The Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of StateThat is an interesting point, but I do not think that it would be the solution. Co-ordination would remain an issue, whether inside Departments or between Departments.
§ Mr. Peter Duncan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale)Does the Deputy Prime Minister stand by his remarks that the Government should "bite the bullet" and revise the Barnett formula to finance regional government in England? Can he tell us what his proposals to replace that formula will he and whether Wales and Scotland will be worse off or better off as a result?
§ The Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of StateThe quote to which the hon. Gentleman refers was entirely about local government finance and nothing to do with the Barnett formula. Indeed, there are as many concerns about local government finance as about the Barnett formula, and we have clearly made the decision 320 that we have no intention to change it. To that extent, those matters will be reviewed by the Treasury from time to time, as with all public expenditure.
§ Joyce Quin (Gateshead, East and Washington, West)I welcome the fact that the White Paper on regional governance is due to be published shortly and recognise my right hon. Friend's long-standing, unswerving commitment to regional devolution, which is very much appreciated in regions such as mine. I hope that he will agree that it will be important to have wide consultations and discussions on the White Paper throughout the regions, but may I urge him—if he were tempted to do so—to ignore any advice from Conservative spokesmen who opposed the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Assembly, regional development agencies, regional chambers and, in fact, all measures to promote democracy and economic success in our regions?
§ The Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of StateI well understand what my right hon. Friend says, but she could also have mentioned the Greater London Authority, which the Conservatives opposed and then changed their mind. In all such areas, we just carry on with the programme of decentralisation, of which regional governance will be one of the last changes to be made, because it is essential to give the English regions the opportunities, equipment and resources to get on with developing their regions. We strongly believe in that and, very shortly, we shall produce the White Paper to show it.
§ Mr. Tim Collins (Westmorland and Lonsdale)May I press the Deputy Prime Minister on the timing? He says that the regional government White Paper will be published shortly—I think that that was the word he used. Can we assume that it will be published before the House rises for the summer recess? Can we anticipate that the legislation may be forthcoming as early this autumn so that the referendums—if they are to take place—will be held no later than next year?
§ The Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of StateThe hon. Gentleman can assume that it will be shortly. I will say no more than that. We want a referendum to take place in any area that wishes to pursue both that and the principles laid out in the White Paper. We hope that that will be possible before the next general election, bearing in mind the timetable in the White Paper.