Tories pledge vote for all MPs on laws that affect devolved grants

Grayling says there will be no block over spending for whole of Britain

All laws that affect Government spending in all areas of Britain will be voted on by all MPs under English votes for English laws (EVEL) proposals, Commons leader Chris Grayling has said.

Amid opposition to the plans from the SNP and other MPs, the Cabinet minister insisted they would not be locked out of decisions affecting block grants to devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Money allocated to devolved administrations from the central pot of spending is calculated using the Barnett formula.

Mr Grayling said that under EVEL all MPs would continue to vote on estimates Bills, which set out the block grants first calculated in spending reviews.

He insisted there is no direct relationship between an individual law, for example raising tuition fees, and the calculation of block grants.

But he also stressed that all MPs would be able to vote on any spending decisions in an individual Bill.

During ad ebate on EVEL, Mr Grayling said: “To assist our debate today I have republished the changes we proposed to make to the standing orders.

“These make it absolutely plain that members from across the entire House, all members, will approve departmental spending together which as I have set out, sets out the levels of funding for the devolved administrations.

“All MPs will vote on the legislation that confirms these decisions. In addition we have clarified that where legislation involves an increase in a department’s expenditure as voted on by the whole House in the estimates process, all MPs will continue to vote on this.”

Members from across the entire House will approve department spending together.

CHRIS GRAYLING