Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to (1) review, and (2) lift, restrictions on the Welsh Government’s ability to borrow (a) during, and (b) after, the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist
The Devolved Administrations are working closely with the UK Government to chart jointly the way through this crisis and beyond. We greatly appreciate this collaborative approach.
Through the Barnett formula the Welsh Government receives a share of funding from UK government borrowing, including during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The UK Government therefore has no plans to review the Welsh Government’s ability to borrow.
Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government on how many occasions since the National Assembly for Wales acquired full legislative powers (1) the Welsh Government has sought permission under Minister of the Crown functions for proposals within Welsh bills, and (2) such permission was refused.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
Secretary of State consent to amend Minister of the Crown functions has been sought in relation to seven of the Acts passed by the Assembly since 2011. The Government has refused such consent once, in relation to the Local Government Byelaws (Wales) Act 2012, having suggested an amendment to the drafting which would have enabled the UK Government to give consent but was rejected by the Welsh Government.