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Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill [HL]

It was suggested that population played an important part and, indeed, it does, but I have emphasised also that we do not want that written into the Bill because of the rigidities that that would imply. The noble Lord, Lord Skelmersdale, pressed me on that point, but the Government have a more sophisticated means than just using population in relation to the devolved countries—we operate the Barnett formula. I am merely indicating that the Government seek some degree of flexibility beyond just the precise form of population, important though that is, although I emphasise that Government have never accepted that the Barnett formula should be enshrined in legislation.