Examination of Witnesses (Questions 80-89)
RT HON
DES BROWNE
MP, DAVID CAIRNS
MP AND MR
DAVID MIDDLETON
24 JUNE 2008
Q80 Mr MacNeil: You may have answered
the point, but just to be certain, you are basically saying there
are no Barnett consequentials at all from the Olympics in London?
Des Browne: Yes, but that is because,
Mr MacNeil—and I know you may difficulty—the UK won
it. The Olympics are happening in London on behalf of the United
Kingdom.
Q81 Mr MacNeil: The regeneration
is happening in London.
Des Browne: Absolutely, but the
UK won the Olympics. We are doing this work because the UK won
the Olympics.
Q82 Mr MacNeil: Is not the idea of
Barnett consequentials that if there is money spent in a certain
part, there is consequential spending elsewhere?
Des Browne: In that event, then,
every time my department spends any money in defence in England
there would have to be Barnett consequentials in Scotland. It
does not make sense.
Q83 Mr MacNeil: In some areas there
are Barnett consequentials.
Des Browne: There are not Barnett
consequentials from my department in Scotland. That is UK spending,
and the reverse Barnett consequentials for England would be £2.13
billion that we spend in Scotland, all the 50,000 jobs.[13]
Q84 Mr MacNeil: As Scottish Secretary
you think it quite acceptable that work that would normally be
carried out at another time that would have Barnett consequentials,
but the work is carried out related to the Olympics, will not
have Barnett consequences but you are happy as a Scottish MP that
Scotland does not get a fair share that it would normally ...
.
Des Browne: I do not accept any
of these assertions. They are about as baseless, frankly, as the
assertions you made about jobs in relation to defence yesterday,
but we will see.
Q85 Mr MacNeil: Write me a letter!
Des Browne: The fact of the matter
is that this is the United Kingdom and there are settled ways
of resolving spending across the United Kingdom which have operated
substantially to the benefit of Scotland for a long period of
time. I cannot remember the name of it, but there is a financial
settlement in relation to devolution. There is a statement of
funding policy. We operate within the basis of that statement
of funding policy and we operate on the basis as a UK Government
and the basis of the devolution settlement. As long as we do that,
then I am content and pleased that devolution is working in the
way in which it ought to.
Q86 Mr MacNeil: Rather than be contented,
please should you not be fighting Scotland's corner on this and
prison funding and many other things?
Des Browne: With respect, Mr MacNeil,
I am getting slightly fed up telling you this in the context of
this particular—maybe I should not be entitled to be fed
up, but I do not need lessons from you as to fighting Scotland's
corner. Long before you became engaged in politics I was fighting
Scotland's corner and continue to. I am very proud of the work
that I, and my party, have done in fighting Scotland's corner,
you know!
Q87 Mr MacNeil: Scotland ... .
Des Browne: Because you say it
does not make it true. My record for supporting people in Scotland
and people in the United Kingdom is unimpeachable, in my view.
Because you assert in relation to any particular issue that you
choose to raise, this allegation, does not make it true. The fact
of the mater is that the United Kingdom won the Olympics. They
are coming to London for the United Kingdom. The people of the
United Kingdom will enjoy them and that spending will be spent
for the benefit of the people of the United Kingdom.
Q88 Mr MacNeil: I am pleased you
have written such a glowing report out for yourself!
Des Browne: I have heard you explain
on behalf of yourself your position on a number of occasions and
I think we are all entitled to do that occasionally.
Q89 Chairman: I thank the witnesses
for their attendance. Before I declare the meeting closed, would
you like to say anything in conclusion?
Des Browne: Thank you very much!
13 Correction by witness: £2.31 billion Back
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