Fair, robust, transparent and sustainable
On my way into work today I popped into the chemist and tried to pay for my repeat prescription for an asthma inhaler. I tried and failed.
"But it's free!" said the helpful pharmacist. "They all are now you know".
But what, I asked, if I wanted to pay because I can afford to, because I'm lucky that I don't need to pay for prescriptions that often, because I know that later today we're about to find out how the government intends to share out the little money there is in the national pot to pay for public services next year and because, frankly, I was just a bit curious.
It turns out that there was no way she could accept my money, "though d'you know what, lots of people say they wouldn't mind paying the £3 or so the charge had come down to".
She hadn't really thought about the practicalities of it before but there was simply no mechanism by which I could pay, nor was there an alternative drug that I could get over the counter that would do the same job.
So I tried and failed to take a little less out of what Andrew Davies, the Finance Minister, this morning described as the "quantum of resource to deliver public services". What he means, of course, is the pot of money we get from Westminster, the lump sum calculated by the much discussed, or should that be subbed to much dissed, Barnett Formula.
This morning the First Minister and his Deputy introduced the two members of the independent commission who, alongside Chairman Gerry Holtham, will consider the way funding and finance works for Wales. Professor David Miles is Chief UK Economist at Morgan Stanley and Visiting Professor at Imperial College in London. He's from Wales but has never worked as an economist here: he is honoured to be given the chance (just when things are getting rough in the day-job you imagine).
Professor Bernd Spahn is Professor Emeritus at Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main in Germany. In the past he's served as "Macro Fiscal Advisor to the Minister of Finance and Treasury of Bosnia and Herzegovina" but must now turn his considerable attention not only to the 29 year old Barnett Formula but to the implications of giving Wales tax varying and borrowing powers.
That's right: they're not talking potential tweaks to a formula that even its creator never expected to last this long. They intend to look at comprehensive reform, a Holtham Formula that will aim to be - and I quote - "fair, robust, transparent and sustainable".
But we know that up in Scotland, the Calman Commission are doing, if not the same job, one that goes over similar territory. We know too that the SNP government is having its National Conversation with the people of Scotland along, well, as Gerry Holtham put it this morning, "almost competing lines".
So does our Commission intend to reflect the positon taken in Scotland? Are we aiming for consistency and maximum impact when the reports are finally thumped on a desk in the Treasury? Or are we going it alone, heads down and coming to our own conclusions?
"It would be nice" if there was consistency admitted Gerry Holtham "but we must call it as we see it".
And here's the rub: the First Minister and his Deputy are acutely aware that so far, the issue of funding 'the devolved territories' fairly - and bear in mind that your percentage contribution from the Treasury could go down as well as up - has been defined solely in Scottish terms. The debate in Westminster happens in Scottish terms. Even a quick Google of 'Barnett Formula' and 'unfair' calls up a Telegraph article with the tag Scotland-funding-formula-unfair-says-Lord-Barnett along with a host of articles from Scottish newspapers. Wales barely gets a mention. Also-ran is a dangerous place to be in a debate like this, as the First Minister put it this morning.
And if it's not about Scotland, about oil revenue, it's about English voters asking 'why can't we have free prescriptions/free car parking in hospitals' like they do in Wales?
Those are strong voices that are getting stronger, which is why the Holtham Commission's real job will be making sure the Welsh voice is heard when the shouting really starts.
I'm Betsan Powys, BBC Wales' political editor. I'll be blogging the inside track on 
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~35~RS~)
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You must not worry about the cost of your asthma inhaler, I am sure you pay sufficient taxes to cover the costs.
In the event that your personal taxes do not seem to cover the annual costs, you are welcome to share my contributions to the Wales NHS.
The £20 - 30 million spent on free prescriptions, not free really, are a bagatelle when compared to the Political waste we hear about daily, and when we now consider the Banking shortfalls that taxpayers are readying themselves to cover in full, well, it's insignificant.
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"Wales barely gets a mention"
What a surprise!
So pleased to be a 'devolved territorial' too, rather than being a Welshman. I've never heard of Wales being referred to as a territory. I find it somewhat demeaning, insulting even. We can't be called a 'devolved nation' because it doesn't sound right. A real nation shouldn't need devolving. So we have to be reduced to a territory.
Does that make English people 'undevolved territorials'? I think not, because they wouldn't like it.
Who invents this Whitehall babble? My taxes are paying these people to insult me.
"...the implications of giving Wales tax varying and borrowing powers."
I must admit, this is new to me. It needs clarification. Is this a preliminary to a referendum on a legislative assembly (parliament) or part of an independent review of the Barnett Formula? Is the Assembly Government considering asking for these powers in conjunction with a review of Barnett?
Salmond has got the powers that be in Westminster and Whitehall by the short and curlies. Oh, how I wish we had his equal here. If only Plaid had had the sense to find a place for Wigley, instead of hoisting themselves on a politically correct petard, which they could ill afford to do. They could have had him and more female AMs elected at the same time. A strong and able leader is essential. Duh, for stupidity!
We can be sure that whatever comes out of any review, Wales will not be the better for it. It doesn't make any difference which unionist party is in power, we lose out. Ok, free hospital parking and prescriptions are minor benefits, but we also have much longer waiting lists and lower levels of investment in infrastructure, such as roads and railways, compared to England. Wales has only one stretch of motorway, and no electrified lines.
The Assembly isn't in a strong bargaining position. The Labour Party is badly split on devolution for Wales. Rhodri is a weak FM and is on his way out. Plaid hasn't got the clout, either in its leader or in Assembly seats. Anything positive will likely come on Scotland's coat tail.
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You have skewed the quote somewhat, it was "funding 'the devolved territories' fairly" rather than your "'devolved territorial'".
An expression that was used to include NI, Scotland and Wales, in the context written, no insult should be felt, as I am sure none was intended.
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If Wales is described as a 'devolved territory', does that not make its inhabitants 'devolved territorials'? For me, it carries shades of colonialism
Maybe no insult was intended, and I would even agree that whoever coined the term in this context didn't even think about it, but that doesn't mean that care should not be taken to avoid insult. Its the result of a typical Anglo-centrist view of the UK that produces descriptions such as this. Additionally the terms 'territory' and 'territories' have been used many times in a (British) imperialistic context for the last 200 years.
If we let things pass, and we allow people to treat us as second class, even unwittingly, then we will only have ourselves to blame for feeling second rate and being second rate.
Its why I made the comment that England would never be described as a territory, devolved or not.
It brings us to the term 'principality', which today is thankfully rarely used as an adjective for Wales. I also find it demeaning and insulting, bearing in mind the Windsor association.
The author of the document could have referred to Scotland, Wales and NI by name, and not have looked for a collective noun, which doesn't adequately or correctly describe any of the three, let alone all three.
To conclude, if we are offended by how other people treat us, we should tell them, even more, if they are as tactless as to be unaware that they are being offensive.
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As mentioned we have no clout. If Wales receives anything more and becomes more equal it will be because Mr Salmond gave us a mantion. Our best hope is that he remebers his Celtic bretheren. Maybe Plaid should give up and start lobbying Salmond to give them a mention!
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As a new blogger first thanks for the newys blogs I am now able to keep to speed with whats going on back home whilst Iam overseas.
I amfollowing the finanicial situation closely, I was myself tempted by the Icelandic banks, but thought it had to be too good to be true and that some one wouls suffer. Not really realising that it would be me via my councils taking the risk. Or, maybe it was just greed!
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The Devolved Territories inhabited by devolved territorials, verses the Undevolved Territory and Undevolved Territorials! I love that Brynt41!
It sounds just as appealing as that one encylopedia entry "For Wales See England!"
But in truth it does sum up the thinking in Westminister for the past 100 or more years regarding the Welsh question.
The truth is, Wales needs tax raising authority, and by that the ability to keep Welsh money in Wales, rather then siphoned off to Westminister.
It is patronizing that the people of Wales are treated like teenagers and have to be dolled out an allowance, all the while being told they can not handle the full responsibility of decesion making!
Whatever the shortfalls, devolution has led to more investment in Wales, and further powers will also lead to greater investments into Wales.
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Betsan:
Why pay for a prescription? when u can get it for free....
I hope that your asthma is OK....
~Dennis Junior~
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