HL Deb 26 July 1999 vol 604 cc141-2WA
Lord Roberts of Conwy

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Treasury has agreed to consider, as part of the comprehensive spending review, representations from the National Assembly of Wales about the public spending implications of objective 1 status for a substantial part of Wales. [HL3741]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

Yes. I can confirm that the Treasury will consider on their merits representations from the National Assembly for Wales about the public spending implications arising from objective 1 status as part of the next spending review.

Labour market status for people of working age1, by Government Office Region, spring 1996 and spring 1999, not seasonally adjusted
Thousands
Economically active Economically inactive
Wants a job
Wants a job and seeking but not available to start2 Wants job but not seeking in last 4 weeks
Total Total In employment ILO unemployed Total Does not want a job Total Total Available to start Not available to start2
Spring 1996
United Kingdom 35,535 27,764 25,450 2,314 7,770 5,435 2,335 227 2,108 863 1,245
Great Britain 34,566 27,075 24,829 2,246 7,491 5,212 2,279 224 2,055 844 1,212
England 29,695 23,392 21,468 1.924 6,303 4,407 1,896 190 1,706 709 996
North East 1,571 1,163 1,035 128 408 285 122 14 108 36 72
North West 4,158 3,152 2,883 269 1,005 759 246 23 224 88 135

Lord Roberts of Conwy

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Barnett formula is applicable to the allocation of funds to Wales to support expenditure under objective 1 status; and, if so, how it will be applied. [HL3744]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

The next spending review will be the process for considering Wales' overall spending plans.

Under the Barnett formula, Wales receives a population-based proportion of changes in planned spending on comparable United Kingdom government expenditure in England.

The Treasury has said that it will consider representations from the National Assembly of Wales about the implications for Wales of objective 1 status as part of the next spending review.