, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Bill—evidence session with the Minister for Finance and Local Government
I think this sets out really why the statement will be important, in terms of setting out how Welsh Ministers would use the power to make retrospective legislation as is proposed in the Bill. The statement is intended to provide that security to the public…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Bill—evidence session with the Minister for Finance and Local Government
As things stand at the moment, yes. I'm keen, though, to perhaps do some more work on the statement based on the comments of this committee and others, and listening to the expert advice that we've been receiving as well.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Bill—evidence session with the Minister for Finance and Local Government
So, I think this might be an area where we could look to the wording in the draft policy statement, to potentially review and clarify. The intention of the statement wasn't to substitute the Government's view of what the law was intended to be with that of…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Bill—evidence session with the Minister for Finance and Local Government
Is it worth as well, Andrew, saying something about the ECHR and how it recognises that tax is special? Your favourite topic, I know.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Bill—evidence session with the Minister for Finance and Local Government
I'll ask Andrew, perhaps, to come in on this, or Anna, in the first instance, and then I will augment, if there is anything to augment after they have responded.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Bill—evidence session with the Minister for Finance and Local Government
Yes, great.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Bill—evidence session with the Minister for Finance and Local Government
Yes, thank you, and I think that the fact that it is the Senedd that will have the ultimate say on whether or not regulations that are passed protect that principle, as does section 5 of the Bill that seeks, then, to protect taxpayers should the Senedd not…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Bill—evidence session with the Minister for Finance and Local Government
I think the main role for the Senedd in terms of when the Senedd will have its ultimate say will be on the approval or otherwise of the decisions made in respect of the regulations. I'm open to making changes to the statement because, again, this is something…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Bill—evidence session with the Minister for Finance and Local Government
Yes, this is something that I am interested in exploring with committee as to whether or not we should be making changes to our proposals to do as you suggest, in terms of only bringing these matters into play, if you like, from the point at which there's a…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Bill—evidence session with the Minister for Finance and Local Government
So, we would obviously want to be able to have the same powers, actually, as UK Ministers have to close loopholes in the law where people are using avoidance techniques. Obviously, we would need and want to do that as quickly as possible to protect Welsh…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Bill—evidence session with the Minister for Finance and Local Government
I would disagree with that in the sense that we have, really, changed our proposal significantly in response to concerns such as those that you've described, which were raised during the consultation process. So, what was originally being proposed was quite…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Bill—evidence session with the Minister for Finance and Local Government
I think that there are really robust checks and balances in place for this legislation, and the scope of the power within the legislation has been really deliberately constrained by the inclusion of the four purpose tests. This is quite a departure from our…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Bill—evidence session with the Minister for Finance and Local Government
There's certainly more time for scrutiny, so that Welsh Government can be made aware of the views of the Senedd. But I think that an important point here is that we've got section 5 of the Bill, which has probably received less attention than most sections of…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Bill—evidence session with the Minister for Finance and Local Government
Thank you. So, we have given really careful consideration to the most appropriate vehicle for achieving the policy objectives underpinning the Bill, and the powers afforded by the Bill arguably provide equal or greater opportunities for scrutiny. So, for…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Bill—evidence session with the Minister for Finance and Local Government
It's clear that seeking new regulation powers should be given really robust and thorough consideration and scrutiny, both in the formulation and the drafting stages and, of course, during Senedd scrutiny. And although I've sought to limit the scope of the…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Bill—evidence session with the Minister for Finance and Local Government
Thank you. So, the Bill will not in itself engage convention rights. However, it is correct that the future exercise of the power conferred in the Bill, particularly in relation to making legislation with retrospective effect, may give rise to convention…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Bill—evidence session with the Minister for Finance and Local Government
Yes, Chair, we are. There's no requirement for Secretary of State or Crown consents, and the legislation doesn't relate to a reserved matter; it relates to devolved taxes, which are within competence, and any amendments of legislation within the power of the…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Bill—evidence session with the Minister for Finance and Local Government
Yes, please, Chair. I'll hand over to Anna and Andrew just to do some quick introductions.
, Plenary
Debate: Draft Budget 2022-23
—but I just want to really conclude by again pointing to the cost-of-living announcements that I'll be making as soon as I possibly can in respect of how Welsh Government will continue to support those individuals affected by it. And also, to thank again the…
, Plenary
Debate: Draft Budget 2022-23
And, again, we're taking a different approach in respect of our approach to reserves. So, as part of the multi-year budget, we have a new fiscal strategy to maximise the available funding on the resource side. Unlike in previous years when spending plans have…
, Plenary
Debate: Draft Budget 2022-23
Diolch, and thank you to all colleagues for what I think has been a really, really useful debate. And there have been some incredibly constructive contributions, which I know that I and my ministerial colleagues, who will have been listening carefully, will…
, Plenary
Debate: Draft Budget 2022-23
We also recognise the need to look to the longer term to ensure that we leave behind us a sustainable Wales for future generations. We have acted now to address the urgent need to respond to the climate and nature emergency. Our preparations have been guided…
, Plenary
Debate: Draft Budget 2022-23
Thank you. I'm pleased to open this debate this afternoon on the Welsh Government's draft budget for 2022-23. Since we first had the opportunity to debate this draft budget in the Senedd, the Finance Committee and the other Senedd committees have scrutinised…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Finance and Local Government
We haven't cancelled projects; we're pausing projects so that they can be reviewed. And I think it's only right that the roads review panel is allowed to do its work. I mean, we clearly still recognise the importance of transport in our budget, because over…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Finance and Local Government
As part of the significant transport investments we are making, we have provided £1.6 billion of capital to deliver improvements in transport infrastructure over the next three years. Our new Wales infrastructure investment strategy also reflects our approach…
