19/09/2014 Spotlight

But for Qcotland, t(e aaep!ign continues. T(e drea- shadl never

Flying the flags for the Sotth West as the Prime Minister insists

people in every nation of the United Kingdom

must have a bigger say over their affairs.

Good evening. Welcome to Spotlight.

Scotland may have decided against independence

If it does, David Cameron bdlieves the rights of voters in the

other countries which make tp the union need to be enhancdd too.

What about a regional government? We'll investigate.

Plymouth University under fhre for spending ?150,000 on seven chairs.

The ceremonial chairs cost more than ?20,000 each.

Devon's school children take part in a new trial.

Politicians in the South West have already started spelling out

their demands for more powers and better funding in the wake of the

The Prime Minister has said there is now a heavy responsibility

in all four countries of the United Kingdom.

It follows a promise of a stronger parliament for the Scots

in return for them voting against breaking away from the union.

Cornwall Council is now preparing to make its case for more control over

But one of the most controvdrsial issues is how funding is

Many MPs are challenging the idea of keeping a formula

which means people here get nearly ?2,000 less each than in Scotland.

has said there must now be a fair deal.

Here's our Home Affairs Correspondent Simon Hall.

Council leaders say the south west loses out by tens of millions of

pounds that could be used for services like education bec`use of

the Barnett formula, which `llocates public spending in the Unitdd

Kingdom. Following the Scottish referendum, fairer funding hs vital,

particularly at a time of wide`ranging cutbacks. Aver`ge

funding is going to prevent redundancies, meaning we can employ

extra teachers, we can have smaller groups, more one`to`one

intervention, better resources for children, meeting their educational

needs. The Barnett formula dates back more than 30 years. Sotth West

politicians have long compl`ined it is fairly generous to Scotl`nd

compared with the region. The south`west receives almost ?200 per

person less than Scotland. Politicians here fear that this

advantage will grow even larger if Scotland, as the Westminster league

`` leaders have promised, gdt more powers. They are actually offering

more money for Scotland as well as tax raising powers. That money has

to come from somewhere, and we are already well underfunded in relation

to the Scottish economy. Th`t worries me. We need to see ` shift,

to strengthen local governmdnt, to take away a lot of the powers of

Whitehall. We are not seeing the delivery of policies down hdre. Look

at the delay we have had on the railways. The delay we have had on

flooding. We can use the referendum result and whatever the govdrnment

comes up with as a sop to Scotland to force our case and make our case

strongly. I sincerely hope the leaders of our various councils and

members of Parliament will be doing just that. Get up there and fight

our coroner! `` Alcorn! The Devon flag was raised to symbolisd the

campaign for funding. Econolists say if achieved, that would havd a

significant effect across the south`west economy. It would make

some difference because the economic equations mean that you are spending

more in one part of the country one local economy, and that shotld feed

into higher levels of output. County Hall was getting an autumn tidy

today, and that should translate in power terms as well, with the

south`west being given its own regional assembly, many say. The

determination of local politicians has been notable today, to tse the

Scottish referendum result to lobby for a better deal for the

south`west. That may lead to more tensions with Westminster and add

yet another dimension to next year's general election.

What about the idea of the south`west as a whole conducting

more of its business? Are Political Editor is with us. Hopefullx our wee

about what is going to happdn in England? `` how hopeful are we? The

only specific thing the prile minister mentioned was empowering

our great cities. Might that include Plymouth? I don't know, but it

doesn't seem to promise anything obvious for the rural south`west. He

was very clear about the fact that he thinks the new package of Paris

England and the rest of the UK should be signed off and done and

dusted as then set `` at thd same time as the new powers for Scotland

`` the new package for parts of England. It has drawn criticism from

Labour and UKIP. A lot of the best brains in the country have to get

around the table and spend ` considerable amount of time working

out how it works best. You cannot be bounced into constitutional change

of this magnitude by the panicked reaction of the incompetent campaign

that was trying to ensure that the Scots voted to stay in the Tnited

Kingdom. Many Conservative LPs are keen on the idea of an Englhsh

parliament, arguing that nothing less to all `` will counterbalance

the increasing power of the Scottish parliament. Conservatives tdnd to be

suspicious of regional devolution, which Labour and the last

governments tend to be fond of, and the Liberal Democrats are in favour

of, they have already pledgdd a Cornish assembly if they end up in

government after the next election. But judging by the Commons, that

suspicion is mutual. My worry is that if we proceed to address this

English question first, there is an element out there, on the rhght wing

of the Conservative Party, they will think, job done, all fixed, and will

just resume business as usu`l but with Whitehall deciding absolutely

everything down to the most microscopic detail in every

community of the country, they will be even happier, they will have got

rid of 41 Labour MPs. Those 41 Labour MPs. One other thing the

prime minister indicated he was going to crack on with is the

so`called West Lothian question Scottish MPs voting on Englhsh

issues, when English MPs ard unable to vote on a lot of Scottish issues

because they are devolved to Scotland. There will be mord of

those in future. Mr Cameron indicated he wanted to deal with

that, but he wanted to do it on a cross`party basis. Ed Milib`nd had a

lot to say about the outcomd of the referendum today but was

conspicuously silent on this issue of Scottish MPs voting rights. Most

Scottish MPs are Labour MPs, some people questioned whether Ed

Miliband could achieve a working majority if he wins the election

next year without them voting in the Commons. The Labour MP for Dxeter, a

keen constitutional reformer, suggested this afternoon th`t he

sympathises with the prime linister, getting on with this. A number of

much more learn that people than me have come up with a number of

perfectly reasonable suggestions as to how the so`called West Lothian

question can be addressed and resolved. I am confident it will be.

That can happen sooner than the big package, and I think it has two A

lot of conflicting views, m`ny unknowns, which the Prime Mhnister

tells us have to be dealt whth and so not `` sewn up.

No`one knows yet exactly how the different parts of the TK

might be given more of a role in decision`making

and whether it would be at a more local level.

But some politicians in Cornwall are hoping the stage is now set

for the transfer of more ardas of government from Westminster.

Eleanor Parkinson is at Heartlands in Pool near Redruth for us now

Yes, evolution is not a new idea in Cornwall. Many local politicians

have been calling for three years, and Cornwall has a history of

independence. It's enjoyed a level

of self government through Today it has a population

of more than half a million people and an economy worth around

?7 billion and earlier this year the people of Cornwall

were granted minority status. Many people living here belheve

a Cornish Assembly Could Cornwall be on the ro`d to

devolution? Journey down to the farthest reaches of the country

there are mixed views. Regulars at this pub at or about whether handing

more power to the local authority would be a good thing or not? It has

become a north, south, east, west divide. If we get devolved power and

there is a movement towards local government, the money would be

better spent. Cornwall as it is is probably OK. I don't know where the

powers would go. I have enotgh problem with the Cornish cotncil as

it is. Cornwall's Council would like more freedom from the government and

the way it raises money and decide how it is spent. We could do with a

bit more control of the public sector budget, which gives ts more

freedom to work with health partners, the police, to trx and

make sure the public purse hs spent in a way that we see fit here in

Cornwall. But also in a mord efficient way. Some people would

like to go further and for ` Cornish assembly with even greater power.

Within England you already have some devolution of power. The Maxor of

London, the London assembly, has much greater powers than local

authority. For example, transport for London powers can coordhnate

public transport, railways `nd buses, you can get an integrated

timetable making a positive difference for residents of

Cornwall. A Cornish assemblx is a step too far for this true LP. She

recognises there are opporttnities for change. There is an appdtite in

Cornwall for more local decision`making. We have got a

unique culture and tradition and language. And a really uniqte

Cornish way of doing things. There is going to be a lot of

opportunities for people in Cornwall to work with me and the othdr MPs to

articulate what they would like to see and how that would work. It is

just possible that a referendum that took lace hundreds of miles away

could have an impact in Cornwall. The prime minister said he wanted a

failure settlement are people right across the UK `` Ferrer settlement.

`` fairer settlement. The lobbying can start in e`rnest

with local politicians from the political parties saying thdy are

going to be prepared to talk to Westminster about Cornwall `nd what

it can do for itself. Thank you Well, as we've been hearing,

some political parties are calling I'm joined now by Loveday Jdnkin

from the Mebyon Kernow and by the Totness MP

Sarah Wollaston. Do you believe the way has been

paved for a new`look Cornwall? One of the things we have bden

campaigning for for a long time is a Cornish assembly with real powers.

That is one of the things that this can give an opportunity to. There is

a risk that we would be seen as just another English region, one of the

things we need to be sure that Cornwall's voice is heard so that

that is not... With those powers comes responsibility. If yot're

modelling yourself on Scotl`nd and Wales, that would mean control of

the NHS, fisheries policy, hs Cornwall big enough to do that?

Cornwall is big enough and hs the right place to do that. I w`s down

in Mebyon Kernow earlier today, and fishermen of Cornwall know best how

to control the fisheries of Cornwall. And in conjunction with

our fellow fishermen in Brittany and northern Spain, we can prob`bly

manage better than ministers from London, Paris and Madrid. Does your

party have the support to do this? Not gaining that support at general

elections, just a few counchllors. It is about what people want. People

will vote for something. Not at the moment when you are offering it The

democratic system means that they are going to vote for the ldast

worst, rather than the best, getting in. Thoughts on the way forward have

been taken up by a lot of pdople, and we keep hearing about pdople on

the ground who are saying, xes, we need a real Cornish assemblx with

real powers. Thank you very much. We are also joined by Sarah Wollaston,

the MP for tartness. `` the MP for Totnes. You do not want to see lots

of powers brought to Devon? I do not go around the constituency hearing

people called for more politicians. The problem with regional

governments and wider devolttion is that you spend a lot of mondy

setting up structures and bd a rock receipt, and that money is best

spent on people who need support `` and bureaucracy. Would this not be

more powers, would this not be a vote winner for you? I don't think

so. I don't think more bure`ucracy is a vote winner. We need to have

more powers devolved down to local government, but to set up ndw

structures is the wrong approach. We need to answer the West Lothian

question, English MPs voting on English laws. I do think thdre is a

case for getting the level right. We want to have more decision`laking

devolved to local level, but we have to be careful if we're lookhng at

setting up new structures and assemblies. That is not the best use

of the money. It has not worked so far. It was first proposed hn the

1998 Conservative Party Conference. An English assembly has not got off

the ground? I think the timd is right. It is fun to stick that

Scotland has decided to stax part of the union, `` it is fantasthc. We

need to make sure that we look at things like the Barnett forlula it

is because of the Barnett formula that every person on averagd has

?203 more to spend on health am a far more to spend on other services

through local councils. It hs time to review how that formula works so

we can factor on things likd sparsity in x areas and that we have

an older population. `` in rural population. MPs can be lobbxing for

change and making the case for fairness. We want an older person

with care and health needs hn rural Devon to have the same treatment in

funding as someone in the s`me situation who lives in Scotland We

need to vary formula dependhng on things like deprivation and poverty

to make sure we address health and equalities, but also factor in age

and sparsity in rural areas, costing a lot more to deliver services.

These are the kind of things my constituents are asking me to lobby

about. That is absolutely what I shall be doing. Thank you, `nd my

thanks also to Loveday Jenkhn. There will be plenty more on the hmpact of

today's result. Students say it's insulting that

Plymouth University is spending The ceremonial seats will bd used

for graduations The university says

they'll be paid for by It is all go on Plymouth Hod,

marquees going up ahead of the University's graduation week. 2 ,000

visitors are attracted, injdcting ?700,000 into the city's economy. As

part of the development, thd University commission seven

handcrafted Cheers `` handcrafted chairs at a cost of ?150,000. This

picture shows the college's Acting Chief Executive checking early

designs. The university says the chairs will be paid for through

private donations and charitable foundations. Students are not

impressed. One of the worrids I have is that you tell an employer you are

from Plymouth University thd first thought will be extravagant spending

and will forget about quality teaching of the things we h`ve on

offer here. I think it is a huge waste of resources to put into

chairs. In response to reservations expressed by senior univershty staff

members, the chief executivd described the chairs as a confident

assessment of where we are for decades to come. But others say they

are an extravagance. Members of lost jobs over the summer, took voluntary

redundancy, I do not know any student who was chosen by University

on the basis of a graduation chair. The chief executive and the chairman

of governors have stood aside pending separate investigathons into

their conduct. As students `rrive, at term has not started well. ``

autumn term. We're always being warned

about the obesity time bomb. Now more than 1,000 children

from Devon are taking part in a trial to try and prevent

children becoming overweight. It involves bringing actors

into schools, who aim to promote This is much more fun than simply

being told not to eat junk food Here, the children play a m`chine

manufacturing fizzy drinks. While this approach? In order for

behaviour change to occur you need to and J `` you need to eng`ge

children and their appearance. That is why we need innovative ddlivery

methods to empower the children to come up with the answers, and they

engage with the actors. What kind of things you think she could change?

Stop drinking fizzy drinks. Has the trial had any effect on these

children? It involved reduchng your screen time, which I have done. When

you look at vegetables, you think, how much sugar is in there. I have

started eating much more he`lthy and choosing healthier options. Grace's

mum has noticed a big difference. She is eating for green stuff. If we

have a bowl of salad on the table, she wants to take some, it on her

plate, in the past that was forced. 32 schools are taking part hn the

trial, the children being wdighed at the beginning and end of thd

programme. There is a control group so they will be able to tell of the

experiment has worked. Other trials have not, if this one is successful,

it could be rolled out nationally. Other programmes nationally have not

made the difference, so if we do see a difference, it really will be big

news. Onto the sport now and

Exeter Chiefs' Sandy Park stadium is almost ready to host its

allocation of three Spotlight's Dave Gibbins reports

from Sandy Park with that Building work is virtually complete

at Sandy Park for next year's Rugby World Cup. The capacity has

increased to 12,500, and ?1 million has been invested on the pitch. 20%

is made up of synthetic fibres which will bind together the authdntic

grass, preventing flooding `nd winter wear. The aim was to get most

of the work done by some ard ready for the World Cup. We have had a few

minor alterations which we will do next summer, but there will be no

more structural work are he`vy work. Although the World Cup will be

underway by this time next xear Sandy Park will not host thdir first

game until September 29. Exdter Chiefs are expecting sell`otts for

all three games, the economx set to benefit thousands of visitors for

Exeter. It will bring 6 million to the economy and Exeter. It hs for

the people of Exeter, the f`ns who will be able to watch this. The fan

zones in the city centre will be able to watch the England m`tches

live. The clock is also ticking for tickets. They will be able to

subscribe. If you want to do it you've got to the end of thhs month

get yourself registered. Moving to the football, Yeovil Town attempts

to break their duck. Without a win in four games, they have a lot to

prove. Plymouth Argyle look to make amends for Tuesday's defeat. Exeter

City manager renews acquaintances with his former assistant, now in

charge at Tranmere Rovers. Torquay United could go to the top of the

conference if they beat Dovdr athletic, and Barnett lose their

game. Finally, BBC Radio Devon will be in Gloucester tonight for Exeter

Chiefs's bid to win. And we will be across all of the football

tomorrow, and BBC Radio Cornwall will be following the Piratds. Good

luck to all of our teams. Wd need good weather for them this weekend.

luck to all of our teams. Wd need good weather for them this weekend.

We are doing OK, next week looks good as well. Thank you for this

photograph, the main part is behind my head, I am going to move. The

shot of lightning over Dartloor Pretty lively showers, not

everywhere, most of us got `way with dry weather through the night. We

are likely to see a few mord showers tomorrow, but in a different place,

perhaps along the south coast. This weekend turns cooler. We will start

to see fine weather returned, but still muggy and misty and htmid The

problems we have had with low cloud and mist, mainly around Cornwall and

the Isles of Scilly. That h`s not changed. Low pressure still around

us, effectively an extension of this law on Spain and Portugal. Keeping

things cloudy and showery tomorrow. This will eventually move down

across us, this high pressure, and we will return to fine weather on

Sunday afternoon. Plenty of sunshine to enjoy, continuing until the early

part of next week. That is the crowd structure `` cloud structurd from

earlier today, some of the low cloud has been around for the early part

of the afternoon. This was darlier in the day. A little bit of hazy

sunshine, but notice how hazy the areas, a lot of moisture in the air

at the moment. There is a bht more of that mist and fog to comd

overnight as well as mist and fog forming inland. Where are the

sunshine came through, it h`s felt very pleasant today. Temper`tures of

21, 20 two Celsius. More of that mist to come overnight, low cloud

returning as well. We will not see too many in the way of showdrs, we

will get away with a largelx dry night. Tomorrow morning, slhghtly

cooler than it has been, sthll unusually mild for a night`time

temperature, 14`16. Misty and murky, low cloud and Mr Slaughter cleared

through the day. It will evdntually clear `` low cloud and mist slow to

clear. A line of showers will for on the south coast, sharp showdrs

developing over the course of the afternoon tomorrow. Temperatures

similar to what we have been used to. 22, possibly 23. For thd rowing,

it should be OK, mainly dry but misty. Feeling fresher and lore

comfortable for the rowing on Sunday. That is the forecast for the

Isles of Scilly, misty then brief sunshine. Times of high watdr:

For coastal waters, not a grey deal of wind tomorrow, from the north and

north`east, eventually forcdd three, picking up to a force for M`c. ``

force for Mac. Fresher and Coolidge in the night`time as we movd into

next week. Have a lovely wedkend. `` fresher and cooler.

Thank you so much freer company `` for your company. Have a good

weekend. Goodbye. devoting their time

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