25.2.08

MARTYN JONES MP EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT LIBERAL DEMOCRAT BIG LOTTERY FUND PROPOSAL

Martyn Jones MP today reacted with concern in response to comments by Roger Williams, Lib Dem Welsh Spokesman, who stated at the Party’s Conference this weekend that the Barnett Formula should be replaced by a funding regime structured similarly to the Big Lottery Fund.

The Big Lottery Fund has recently been shown to preferentially give out money to the South rather than the North of Wales. Wales was awarded nine grants under the Stepping Stones strand of the project and all of those projects were in the South. North Wales had several strong bids rejected.

Mr Jones stated:

“What kind of proposal is this? The Liberals would do well to remember that there is life in Wales outside of Cardiff. They cannot seriously propose a model of national funding which would be likely to treat the South more favourably than the rest of the country.

The way Wales is funded is a big debate and it is right that it is discussed. People I have spoken to this weekend want to know whether the Liberal Democrats seriously believe that the North of this country is less entitled to our national funds and if that is the case what possible grounds they could have for suggesting such a scheme. They have some serious questions to answer.”