With the Welsh Government continuing to advocate for the devolution of the Crown Estate, North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has challenged them over the statement by the Secretary of State for Wales in the UK Government that “it would not automatically lead to more money for the Welsh Government”.
In yesterday’s meeting of the Welsh Parliament, the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs gave a statement on ‘The Future of the Crown Estate in Wales’.
He started by stating:
“Today, I wish to provide Members with an update on our proposed approach for the remainder of this parliamentary term for pressing the case for the devolution of the Crown Estate to Wales.
“We are clear that the Crown Estate should be the responsibility of the Devolved Government in Wales.”
Responding to the Statement, Mr Isherwood said:
“In June, the Labour MP for Cardiff East, Jo Stevens, who happens to be the Secretary of State for Wales, told the UK Parliament, and I quote, ‘Even if it’ - the devolution of the Crown Estate – ‘could be done without risking the revenues, that would not automatically lead to more money for the Welsh Government, because any revenues they retained would likely be offset through reductions to the block grant, as is the case in Scotland’. Was she right?”
The Cabinet Secretary responded: “This is exactly why we've set up the group, to work through the financial, the governance and all other practical considerations”.
Speaking afterwards, Mr Isherwood said:
“We are opposed to this further devolution of power to the Welsh Government. It is both unnecessary and unsafe!”
