A few weeks ago in The Telegraph, Simon Heffer argued a good case in respect of the West Lothian Question. But there is one slight flaw in Simmon Heffers comments on the West Lothian Question and that is he only tackles half the problem. If he wants a truly representative settlement, then he needs to look wider.
For example, in the UK Cabinet, we have around the table all the Great Offices of state which are UK wide. And that is entirely correct.
But we also have England only offices such as Health and Education to name but two who sit at the UK table. Are we not all heartily sick of hearing Ruth Kelly being called the Education Secretary. She's not. She is the Education Secretary for England.
So as well as banning Scots voting on English issues, what we should do is not have these England only offices at the Cabinet table otherwise, quite rightly, Scots will ask why they are at UK cabinet given they do not represent the UK.
Instead, bring in an English Secretary of State to whom all these offices would report.
We had it that way in Scotland until Devolution. The whole of Scotland's interests were represented at Cabinet level by one person. And it worked. It was truly joined up government. And it saved a fortune in costs.
If it was good enough for us Scots for 100s of years, then it’s good enough for England now. That would bring a really fair settlement.
So a fair settlement with English MPs only on English issues and a Secretary of State for England who can sit along side other Secretaries of State for Scotland NI and Wales would be the perfect solution to the West Lothian Question
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