Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Council of Nations and Regions

Wednesday 30 October 2024 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister joined the Prime Minister at the inaugural Council of Nations and Regions meeting in Edinburgh.
  • Discussions focused on attracting inward investment, stabilizing the UK economy, and job creation.
  • The Deputy Prime Minister invited non-devolved areas to propose joining the council process.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Richard Foord Lib Dem Honiton and Sidmouth
Economy Scotland Local Government
Context

The first meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions was held, focusing on long-term inward investment and job creation.

Question

What discussions were had with representatives of the devolved Administrations and regions at the first meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions?

Answer from Ian Murray

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.

Answered
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Q2 Richard Foord Lib Dem Honiton and Sidmouth
Scotland Local Government
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.

Question

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?

Answer from Ian Murray

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not address whether Scotland can work specifically with all non-mayoral regions, only mentioned new proposals for areas without devolution deals.

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Q3 Chris Murray Lab Edinburgh East and Musselburgh
Economy
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.

Question

Are the Government committed to ending the decade and a half of austerity imposed on my constituents by the Conservative and SNP Governments?

Answer from Ian Murray

I can assure my hon. Friend that our manifesto said “no return to austerity”, and that is what we are determined to deliver.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer only restates the government's commitment without providing specific details on how this will be achieved or a timeline.

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Q4 John Lamont Con Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
Economy Local Government
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.

Question

Was the winter fuel payment even discussed at the Council of Nations and Regions?

Answer from Ian Murray

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.

Not addressed: The answer did not address whether the winter fuel payment was discussed at all and instead criticized the previous government's economic policy.

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