Would my noble friend, who as ever makes passionate and eloquent interventions, first accept that point about the need for additional resources for palliative care across both England and Wales has been made repeatedly through these debates? I think the Committee does not need to hear more about the need...

Would my noble friend, who as ever makes passionate and eloquent interventions, first accept that point about the need for additional resources for palliative care across both England and Wales has been made repeatedly through these debates? I think the Committee does not need to hear more about the need...

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Lord Newby on 15 October (Official Report, col. 1251), whether they have now reached a decision on the devolution of responsibility for corporation tax in Northern Ireland to the Northern Ireland Executive.[HL3647]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Lord Newby on 15 October (Official Report, col. 1251), whether they have now reached a decision on the devolution of responsibility for corporation tax in Northern Ireland to the Northern Ireland Executive.[HL3647]

My right honourable friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Greg Clark) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

The Government are today announcing a second wave of city deals, inviting a further 20 cities and their wider areas to negotiate for the devolution of the specific powers, resources and...

My right honourable friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Greg Clark) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

The Government are today announcing a second wave of city deals, inviting a further 20 cities and their wider areas to negotiate for the devolution of the specific powers, resources and...

My right honourable friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Danny Alexander) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

The Secretary of State for Wales and I are pleased to publish the Statement on funding reform that has been agreed jointly with the Welsh Government, copies of which have been deposited...

My right honourable friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Danny Alexander) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

The Secretary of State for Wales and I are pleased to publish the Statement on funding reform that has been agreed jointly with the Welsh Government, copies of which have been deposited...

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by Lord McNally on 8 September 2011 (WS 34) on a Commission on the West Lothian Question, what progress Treasury Ministers have made on the issue of financing devolved Administrations.[HL1429]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by Lord McNally on 8 September 2011 (WS 34) on a Commission on the West Lothian Question, what progress Treasury Ministers have made on the issue of financing devolved Administrations.[HL1429]

My Lords, let me first thank the noble Lord, Lord Eatwell, for confirming what I and the Government strongly believe but clearly have not communicated to my noble friend Lord Forsyth—that the no-detriment principle simply does not have the sort of double-benefit effect to Scotland that he seeks to portray...

My Lords, let me first thank the noble Lord, Lord Eatwell, for confirming what I and the Government strongly believe but clearly have not communicated to my noble friend Lord Forsyth—that the no-detriment principle simply does not have the sort of double-benefit effect to Scotland that he seeks to portray...

My Lords, I hope I can reassure my noble friend that that is exactly what will happen under Amendment 29, because that will require both Governments to provide updates to their respective Parliaments on the implementation of the Bill. If we are not able to give a report that confirms...

My Lords, I hope I can reassure my noble friend that that is exactly what will happen under Amendment 29, because that will require both Governments to provide updates to their respective Parliaments on the implementation of the Bill. If we are not able to give a report that confirms...

I thank the noble Lord for that clarification. Amendment 16 inserts the conditions and procedures required prior to the devolution of further taxes. It would put the considerations required for the devolution of a new tax outlined in the Command Paper on a statutory basis. Of course I confirm at...

I thank the noble Lord for that clarification. Amendment 16 inserts the conditions and procedures required prior to the devolution of further taxes. It would put the considerations required for the devolution of a new tax outlined in the Command Paper on a statutory basis. Of course I confirm at...

I am sorry, but—

I am sorry, but—

I am sorry—I have been very patient with my noble friend—but we had a very short window. We were asked to set up a meeting and we did so as quickly as we could. I appreciate that not all noble Lords could come but we did respond to the request...

I am sorry—I have been very patient with my noble friend—but we had a very short window. We were asked to set up a meeting and we did so as quickly as we could. I appreciate that not all noble Lords could come but we did respond to the request...

I am sorry. I was merely trying to suggest that we have been as accommodating as possible in the very short time that we had available. I am not aware that there were any further requests for a detailed explanation of the complicated series of adjustments that would need to...

I am sorry. I was merely trying to suggest that we have been as accommodating as possible in the very short time that we had available. I am not aware that there were any further requests for a detailed explanation of the complicated series of adjustments that would need to...

I completely agree with my noble friend about his last statement: there is a clear link through the Barnett formula to spending decisions here. There is not the same hardwired link between tax decisions on, for example, income tax and personal allowances and the block grant. I completely agree with...

I completely agree with my noble friend about his last statement: there is a clear link through the Barnett formula to spending decisions here. There is not the same hardwired link between tax decisions on, for example, income tax and personal allowances and the block grant. I completely agree with...

My noble friend is positing a completely unrealistic situation. I do not see that that is ever going to happen.

My noble friend is positing a completely unrealistic situation. I do not see that that is ever going to happen.

My Lords, I do not want to prolong this but I resent the suggestion that we have not tried to be accommodating on this issue. We have all been considerably inconvenienced by the difficulties of the parliamentary timetable. I merely want to make the point that that timetable has been...

My Lords, I do not want to prolong this but I resent the suggestion that we have not tried to be accommodating on this issue. We have all been considerably inconvenienced by the difficulties of the parliamentary timetable. I merely want to make the point that that timetable has been...

I certainly agree with the noble Lord's analysis. However, if there were a significant reduction in the tax base as a result of a macroeconomic shock, the Holtham method of adjustment would take less out of Scotland's budget. So there would be a dampening effect, entirely properly, to reflect the...

I certainly agree with the noble Lord's analysis. However, if there were a significant reduction in the tax base as a result of a macroeconomic shock, the Holtham method of adjustment would take less out of Scotland's budget. So there would be a dampening effect, entirely properly, to reflect the...

My Lords—

My Lords—

My Lords, this has been an interesting debate as we draw towards the end of consideration of the Bill. I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Eatwell, whose analysis I very much agree with. It has been a fascinating debate that has taken almost an hour. Sadly, as it...

My Lords, this has been an interesting debate as we draw towards the end of consideration of the Bill. I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Eatwell, whose analysis I very much agree with. It has been a fascinating debate that has taken almost an hour. Sadly, as it...

My noble friend says no. Well, I will do so anyway—very briefly. I want to do full justice to the amendments of my noble friend and the noble Lord, Lord Barnett, even if they are so modest as to not want to go through the pain of my analysis. Very...

My noble friend says no. Well, I will do so anyway—very briefly. I want to do full justice to the amendments of my noble friend and the noble Lord, Lord Barnett, even if they are so modest as to not want to go through the pain of my analysis. Very...

Of course I am always happy to give way to my noble friend.

Of course I am always happy to give way to my noble friend.

This will not meet the stringent test that either my noble friend or the noble Lord, Lord Barnett, will set, but let me go as far as I can. The Government understand the concerns expressed in this House and in another place about the devolved funding arrangements. The Government's position...

This will not meet the stringent test that either my noble friend or the noble Lord, Lord Barnett, will set, but let me go as far as I can. The Government understand the concerns expressed in this House and in another place about the devolved funding arrangements. The Government's position...