HC Deb 12 December 1975 vol 902 cc377-9W
Mr. Wigley

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he intends that local authority rates in Wales will be reduced by up to 10 per cent., if the Welsh National Assembly succeeds in achieving savings from its block grant allocation sufficient to fund such reductions.

Mr. Edward Short

The Government and Parliament will be responsible for settling the level of block grant needed for the Welsh devolved services. How that block grant should be allocated and how much should be devoted to rate support will be settled by the Welsh Assembly. Individual local authorities will continue to settle the level of their own rates, taking due account of the level of rate support received from the Welsh Assembly.

Mr. Sillars

asked the Lord President of the Council whether, in deciding the revenue-raising powers of the Scottish Assembly, the Government considered the possibility of the Assembly's having the right to levy a special charge on major oil operators in the North Sea activities; and whether they considered allowing the Assembly to levy a special industrial and environmental rehabilitation charge on the oil companies and operators.

Mr. Edward Short

The Government reviewed all available options for raising revenue. They decided that the system which would be fairest to all parts of the United Kingdom was a block grant for the devolved services financed from the pool of United Kingdom revenues, including taxation on all companies operating within the United Kingdom, whether concerned with oil operations or not.

Mr. Sillars

asked the Lord President of the Council what new representations he has received in favour of a referendum on the issue of the future of Scottish Government; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Edward Short

Since the publication of the White Paper I have received two letters about a referendum on the devolution proposals for Scotland, one in favour of it and one against. The Government have no plans for a referendum.

Mr. Sillars

asked the Lord President of the Council on what grounds the Government decided that it was impracticable for the Manpower Services Commission, the Training Services Agency and the Employment Service Agency to come under the control of the Scottish Assembly.

Mr. Edward Short

The Government believe that it would not be sensible to attempt to deal with the employment problems of any one part of Great Britain in isolation from the rest. The decentralisation of responsibility for the activities of these bodies in Scotland to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland will ensure that special Scottish problems are taken fully into account in the formulation and execution of policy.