, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Why do you want to take anti-avoidance powers in relation to non-domestic rate liability?
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Right.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Just on this point, it'd be very, very helpful to the committee, I think, if you could furnish us your assessment that leads you to the conclusion that the secondary powers you're seeking in this Bill don't go significantly further than powers that are…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Well, maybe we can move on, but I was just making the point that I was quoting your own explanatory memorandum back at you to give a counter example, because the Minister was saying, 'Look, there are some technical things that, really, we don't need to…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
But, in the explanatory memorandum, you note that significant changes to non-domestic rates relief usually do require primary legislation, so why not continue with that?
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
But the question, Minister, is: the level of scrutiny that one has on the floor of the Senedd is going to be so much better in having that expedited Bill than one would have through regulations, to be honest. And, of course, we did see during the COVID period…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Isn't there a different model? We've already heard reference to alternatives, but I remember, 20 years ago, when I was a Member of another Parliament, at every budget there would be a budget Bill tabled and we would vote on that legislation. For taxation of…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
That isn't the view that we hear, perhaps, from some of the experts that we've consulted on this issue, who emphasise the role of the legislature. I understand the suggestion that you've made, Minister, that there is still some element of a role for the…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
But the question is—and perhaps they would find it more convenient—what is the situation at the moment. Does the UK Government tend to use primary law-making powers to make these changes in this field in general?
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Just to remain on this topic of the 13 occasions that you referred to that you'd used Government Bills in order to make legislative changes, they were primary legislation, Bills, weren't they—by definition, that is? So, the UK Government was using these…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Okay. Thank you.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Yes, but you could apply that logic to section 28, couldn't you, on the provision of services?
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Chair, could I just come in on this section? I was wondering, Counsel General, if you could just explain a little bit of the thinking behind the different approach taken in sections 28 and 29. So, could I just summarise? In section 28, which is about the…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Chair.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thank you.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
In a situation where a local authority is taking part in a pilot, whether on a voluntary basis or in those exceptional circumstances that you'd just referred to, where they'd be compelled to do so, do you foresee that additional resources or capacity will be…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thank you, Chair. A number of witnesses raised concerns about powers in the Bill allowing the Welsh Government to compel local authorities to undertake these electoral pilots. Will there be scope for a local authority to opt out of a pilot if they are of the…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Diolch, Cadeirydd.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Well, I think, having received the evidence from the commissioner, it would be very difficult for my party to support the Bill at it currently stands, if the Government doesn't take action on the recommendation of the commissioner. So, I look forward to more…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
If I may just raise two further questions, Counsel General. I've already had the opportunity to ask you this question in a different committee, but the question is about bringing the returning officers under the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 as part of…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
And do you think that there should be any role at all for the Senedd to play in making appointments to the management board?
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
[Inaudible.] Oh sorry, go ahead.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
You've referred to this briefly already, but the Bill contains provisions for the democracy and boundary commission to nominate one of its commissioners to act as chair of the electoral management board. Is this, in your opinion, an appropriate mechanism for…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Yes. Well, aside from the annual report, how will the electoral management board be accountable, how will it be held to account by the Senedd?
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thank you, Chair. I have a number of questions, staying on the subject of the electoral management board. The committee has heard evidence stating that it's essential that the electoral management board has strict independence from both the Welsh Government…
