Examination of Witnesses (Questions 78
- 79)
WEDNESDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2009
Professor Iain McLean
Q78 Chairman:
Thank you very much for coming; we are very grateful to you. You
know broadly what the scope of this inquiry is. We have been asked
to look at the Barnett Formula to see how it is working and to
see whether there should be a different type of formula, both
in terms of what the basis of the formula is about and the way
in which it is done. I do not know whether you would like to make
an opening statement or whether you would like us to launch questions
at you.
Professor McLean: The only opening statement
I would like to make is that, as you and your colleagues will
know, I have written quite a lot about this subject, alone and
with colleagues, so most of what I have to say is summarised in
various publications which I believe you have had: most recently
a pamphlet which I published with Guy Lodge and Katie Schmuecker
of IPPR; before that a book, The Fiscal Crisis of the United
Kingdom I would be astonished if it sold more than a handful
of copies but gives my views and researches up to the date of
publication: Thirdly, let me mention, as your clerks may already
have told you, I am a member of the Independent Expert Group on
Finance which is reporting to the Calman Commission and an exchange
of emails among the members of that expert committee seems to
be heading towards the view that the simplest thing is for the
entire interim report or first evidence from that Committee to
be submitted to you. That is not in my hands but in the hands
of Anton Muscatelli, the chair.
Q79 Chairman:
We have had that.
Professor McLean: In that case, because I have
written so much, I do not want to make an opening statement but
am happy to go straight to questions.
| 
