FINANCE scrutiny committee chairs from the Welsh and Scottish Parliaments have sent a joint letter this week slamming the UK Treasury for its lack of engagement with the devolved bodies.

The letter to Treasury Chief Secretary Laura Trott criticises a lack of engagement from HM Treasury despite repeated invitations.

The timing of recent autumn budget statements was also criticised as putting pressure on the Senedd and Scottish Parliament to conduct annual budget scrutiny within tight timescales.

Senedd finance committee chair Peredur Owen Griffiths said: “Scotland and Wales face similar challenges over budget scrutiny and a lack of engagement with HM Treasury on fiscal matters affecting our respective nations.”

A Treasury spokesman said: “While we value the role of devolved legislature finance committees, the UK government is accountable to the UK Parliament for its tax and spending decisions.

“The Treasury engages with the devolved administrations in the usual way to keep them updated in the run-up to all estimates and fiscal events.”