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A Principles‐based Approach to the Barnett Formula 1
Author(s) -
MELLETT RUSSELL
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the political quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.373
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1467-923X
pISSN - 0032-3179
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-923x.2009.01960.x
Subject(s) - exchequer , public administration , equity (law) , transparency (behavior) , accountability , commission , block grant , politics , context (archaeology) , political science , government (linguistics) , economics , law , paleontology , linguistics , philosophy , welfare , biology
This essay argues that the Barnett formula—which determines the block grant paid annually by the UK government to each of the Devolved Administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland—be reformulated, guided by the following principles: fiscal equity, accountability, transparency, and flexibility. The rationale for change is that the current fiscal arrangements make little policy sense and may not be sustainable in a changing political and economic context. The formation of a grants commission to help develop data, calculate disparities, and provide public advice to the Chancellor of the Exchequer is also advocated.