Business organisations questioned on the Union and devolution
15 December 2015
The Constitution Committee hears evidence from business organisations and the local government on the Union and devolution inquiry.
- Parliament TV: The Union and devolution
- Inquiry: The Union and devolution
- Select Committee on the Constitution
Witnesses
Wednesday 16 December in Committee Room 1, Palace of Westminster
First panel
At 10.30am
- Stephen Herring, Head of Taxation, Institute of Directors
- Martin McTague, National Vice Policy Chairman, federation of Small Businesses
Second panel
At 11.30am
- Sir Richard Leese, Core Cities
- Lord Porter of Spalding, Chairman, Local Government Association
Possible questions
In the first session, possible questions include:
- What are the most important elements of the Union from a business perspective?
- How and to what extent do differences in Government policy between the nations of the UK affect business? To what extent can Government policy, regulation, and service delivery diverge across the UK without undermining the Union?
- What impact do you envisage that the ‘devolution deals' and decentralisation of taxes already announced for England and Wales will have on business?
In the second session, possible questions include:
- What impact has devolution to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland had on local government? Has the asymmetrical devolution of extra powers to London had an impact on local government elsewhere in England?
- To what extent do local authorities coordinate their work and shared interests on a UK-wide basis, rather than within each nation or region? Has this been affected by the devolution to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland of power over local government?
Further information
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