This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-31682424
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Devolution settlements 'chaotic', says Gerry Holtham | Devolution settlements 'chaotic', says Gerry Holtham |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Devolution deals across the UK are chaotic, contradictory and lack logic, a leading economist claims. | |
Gerry Holtham wrote a report in 2009 saying Wales was underfunded by around £300m a year by the UK Treasury. | Gerry Holtham wrote a report in 2009 saying Wales was underfunded by around £300m a year by the UK Treasury. |
He told BBC Wales the UK government's promise of a funding floor could be worth £2bn to Wales over 10 years. | He told BBC Wales the UK government's promise of a funding floor could be worth £2bn to Wales over 10 years. |
But he said the "ad-hockery" of devolution "beggars belief", accusing ministers of "just cutting deals left, right and centre". | |
On Friday, Prime Minister David Cameron and Nick Clegg promised to set a guaranteed minimum funding floor for Wales in the expectation that the Welsh government would agree to hold a referendum on devolving some powers over income tax. | |
But First Minister Carwyn Jones has dismissed the offer as a "vague promise" which should not be linked to a referendum. | But First Minister Carwyn Jones has dismissed the offer as a "vague promise" which should not be linked to a referendum. |
Mr Holtham told BBC Radio Wales' Sunday Supplement programme underfunding could now be around £150m a year, half the level he first estimated. | Mr Holtham told BBC Radio Wales' Sunday Supplement programme underfunding could now be around £150m a year, half the level he first estimated. |
However, he criticised the UK government's devolution plans as "completely without any underlying logic and quite hard to keep track of". | However, he criticised the UK government's devolution plans as "completely without any underlying logic and quite hard to keep track of". |
"Frankly, the appetite for autonomy is different in different parts of the Untied Kingdom, so I wouldn't expect a rigidly symmetrical settlement. But it is very chaotic at the moment," he said. |
Previous version
1
Next version