Council of Nations and Regions 2024-10-30
2024-10-30
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
▸
Context
The first meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions was held, focusing on long-term inward investment and job creation.
What discussions were had with representatives of the devolved Administrations and regions at the first meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions?
I was delighted to join the Prime Minister as he hosted the inaugural meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions at Queen Elizabeth House in Edinburgh earlier this month. We discussed opportunities for attracting long-term inward investment, stabilising the UK economy and creating good jobs.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The South-west region, home to over 3 million people with an economy of £80 billion, is excluded from the council due to lack of metro mayors.
It is essential that all the UK's nations and regions have a seat at the council of nations and regions, alongside Scotland. Will the Secretary of State speak to colleagues in the Cabinet Office to ensure that, on the council, Scotland can work with all the non-mayoral regions of England?
On 16 July, the Deputy Prime Minister wrote to all areas that do not have a devolution deal to invite them to come forward with a proposal. New mayors established through that process would be eligible to sit on the Council of Nations and Regions.
▸
Assessment & feedback
The answer did not address whether Scotland can work specifically with all non-mayoral regions, only mentioned new proposals for areas without devolution deals.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
▸
Context
Following the first meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions, concerns about returning to a decade and a half of austerity imposed on constituents.
Are the Government committed to ending the decade and a half of austerity imposed on my constituents by the Conservative and SNP Governments?
I can assure my hon. Friend that our manifesto said “no return to austerity”, and that is what we are determined to deliver.
▸
Assessment & feedback
The answer only restates the government's commitment without providing specific details on how this will be achieved or a timeline.
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
▸
Context
Trade union Unite issued a joint letter from political leaders across the UK's nations and regions opposing Labour's cut to the winter fuel payment.
Was the winter fuel payment even discussed at the Council of Nations and Regions?
I thought that, with a full House, the shadow Secretary of State would have taken the opportunity to apologise for his Government not only crashing the economy, but leaving a £22 billion black hole. That is something this Government are determined to clean up.
▸
Assessment & feedback
The answer did not address whether the winter fuel payment was discussed at all and instead criticized the previous government's economic policy.
Response accuracy