Localism and Devolution -it must be right?!

Localism rules and devolvement sort of rules. I say 'sort of' because we are only part way along the exploratory journey of the evolvement of devolvement of Westminster powers and responsibilities to Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.

Consumer affairs laws remain for example largely reserved to the Westminster Parliament. This has meant that my trading standards colleagues in Scotland and Wales have always laboured under the handicap of being seen by Holyrood and local government politicians and officials there as being in a service that itself is devolved but is delivering largely reserved matters.

That isn't helpful to them and their services have suffered accordingly. Indeed they are but a shadow of the pre-1996 local trading standards services. Now Scotland, for example, is talking of galvanising the police and fire services into perhaps a single Scotland police service or four fire boards.

There is a window of opportunity for trading standards there to be part of these new structures. I think there is general acceptance now that 32 trading standards services in Scotland is not conducive to future impact and effect. This leads to the point that 'localism' is not always right for services, like trading standards, that also have to have a strategic role. Localism is a strapline for this coalition government and I understand the point.

But then I hear the Transport Secretary saying this morning that he will investigate why some councils are gritting roads better than others. Obviously he wants to see the national road grid kept open and consistently so. Quite right. But localism rules Mr Hammond and councils must be able to choose whether they spend cash on rock salt or trading standards. That's right isn't it??!!