Jonathan Shaw, Labour, Chatham & Aylesford

Thank you for your letter dated 14th June to Jonathan Shaw MP about his role as Minister for the South East, regional accountability and the Barnett Formula. He has asked me to reply on his behalf, as the Government Office for the South East (GOSE) supports him in his role. I am sorry for the delay in replying.

The Government has a long standing commitment to devolved decision making. Regional Ministers were appointed as part of a package of measures aimed at improving public services through taking decisions at the right spatial level.

Plans are currently being developed for the introduction of regional accountability arrangements that will give Members of Parliament the opportunity to scrutinise Regional Ministers and the Government’s regional policy, including the work of regional bodies. The House of Commons Modernisation Select Committee is currently considering how best to take this forward and a decision is expected soon.

The role of Regional Ministers is to demonstrate leadership and influence as advocates for the region and as representative of central government in the regions. This complements the executive responsibilities of Departmental Ministers by focusing on joined up local delivery.

The work of Regional Ministers is already making a difference. For example, Jonathan Shaw has played an important role in leading the implementation of the Sub-National Review of Economic Development and Regeneration and in hosting regional consultations on the Government’s Draft Legislative Programme. He is also taking a particular interest in issues relating to skills and employability and to housing. More information about Jonathan Shaw’s role as Minister for the South East is available on our website:

http://www.gos.gov.uk/gose/ourRegion/584390/?a=42496

You also mentioned the allocation of government funding to different parts of the UK. Under the Barnett Formula, revenues are pooled centrally and funding is allocated to UK Government departments according to the Government’s judgement of relative needs and priorities. The Government is investing in the South East; in 2007-08, total identifiable expenditure on services in the South East was £53,999,000,000. On transport, the Government is continuing to invest in the South East. The transport contribution to the Regional Funding Allocations for the South East (£141 million in 2007-08) is the largest of any region, and the South East will benefit from investment in Crossrail and the Olympics. The Barnett Formula us a long standing and stable basis for allocating changes in spending to the devolved administrations and the Government has no plans to change the formula.

Yours sincerely,

Lucy Westcott
Head of Strategy

July 2008

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