Nick Ramsay: I think I did move it, but that might have been a mistake earlier. That was following your advice, which is why I asked the initial question.
Nick Ramsay: Forgive me for following your advice.
Nick Ramsay: I’m not going to say any more other than I move amendment 32.
Nick Ramsay: I'm more than happy to support the lead amendment in this group, as moved by Mark Reckless. This lead amendment was the subject, as Mark said, of much discussion at Stage 2, and Welsh Conservatives are happy to support it. I believe it is sensible to get the Welsh Government's proposals for tax bands on the face of the Bill. It does happen in other places; there's no reason why we couldn't...
Nick Ramsay: Thank you for taking my intervention. I think the Cabinet Secretary is being a little bit mischievous there, perhaps with some Plaid Cymru collusion that neither the Member of the lead amendment or me were aware of earlier. But, no, that is certainly not the intention. As the Cabinet Secretary has said himself, the intention is for these taxes not to come into force until April 2019. So,...
Nick Ramsay: Move.
Nick Ramsay: I’m all for creativity, but there’s a difference between creativity and destabilisation. I think that whilst the devolution of taxation does allow this Assembly and Welsh Government to do things differently here, and over time we would expect that to happen, if you’re following the maxim that in the first instance the system and the regime here should mirror as closely as possible that...
Nick Ramsay: Diolch. I heard the cheer there, PO, as you announced this was the last group, so I will be very brief. The only amendment, the lead amendment, which I wish to move, 34, in this group, relates to the insertion of a new section: ‘Guidance. The Welsh Ministers may issue guidance to the WRA as to the adoption of best practice in the administration of land transaction tax.’ The basis for this...
Nick Ramsay: Diolch. I’m pleased to hear the Cabinet Secretary make those comments. This amendment was well meaning in its intention, and that was to ensure that the Welsh Revenue Authority is an efficient organisation that does seek to provide the maximum value for money to the taxpayer. That was why we were suggesting that the Welsh Government might provide guidance. However, this is a grey area, and...
Nick Ramsay: 3. Will the First Minister make a statement on investment in Welsh road infrastructure? OAQ(5)0546(FM)
Nick Ramsay: Thank you, First Minister. The public inquiry into the M4 and the route decided on by the Welsh Government is well under way. The Welsh Government’s original published proposals for the M4 black route also included de-motorwaying the existing stretch of motorway between Magor and Castleton, with the possible creation of cycle lanes, bus lanes and speed restrictions. Is this still the Welsh...
Nick Ramsay: The Welsh Conservatives will also be supporting Stage 4 of this Bill. Can I also thank the Chair of the Finance Committee for his work in overseeing the scrutiny of the Bill at the earlier stage? It’s been uncharted territory for an Assembly committee because, of course, it has been uncharted territory for the Welsh Government as well, and the Cabinet Secretary and his officials. Can I also...
Nick Ramsay: 4. Will the Cabinet Secretary outline the Welsh Government’s priorities for developing the agricultural sector in Wales? OAQ(5)0127(ERA)
Nick Ramsay: Thank you, leader of the house. In answer to Neil Hamilton’s question earlier, you said that a large percentage of herds are currently TB free. This is little consolation for farmers I met with recently in Dingestow, a TB hotspot in my constituency. They’re concerned that whilst the statistics point to a decline in the number of herds affected by the disease over time, this can be...
Nick Ramsay: Thank you, Presiding Officer. And can I thank everyone who’s taken part in this afternoon’s debate? It is a fact that local authorities across Wales are clearly under increasing pressure year in, year out. We know that, they know that, there’s no denying it, whatever your view of the reasons for it. As Paul Davies said in opening, we need innovation in local government, and we need...
Nick Ramsay: A lot less than when it went up under the Labour Party. It takes a long time to turn a supertank around. At least we’ve started. Unfortunately, your party in Westminster didn’t. I realise I’m out of time, Presiding Officer, so in conclusion to this non-partisan and fair-minded debate—or at least it started that way—I’m happy to join you, Mark Isherwood, on your revolution and on...
Nick Ramsay: First Minister, let’s please get a little bit of sanity back into this question. Borrowing is, of course, an important tool in any Government’s toolbox. It’s an important tool for the Welsh Government; it’s been an important tool for the UK Government. But the levels of borrowing being proposed by the UK Labour Party are truly eye watering. In your heart of hearts, you know that. Will...
Nick Ramsay: Can I thank the Cabinet Secretary for his statement today and the publication, indeed, of the future trends report—another first for devolution, although maybe not quite as groundbreaking as some firsts that we’ve had? It’s probably, I’m afraid to say, Cabinet Secretary, not going to be the talk of pubs and clubs across the nation, but I take your statement in the spirit that you...
Nick Ramsay: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on his priorities for local government following the local government elections?
Nick Ramsay: First Minister, as Michelle Brown has just said, the Wales Act—the current legislation—will of course deliver a range of new fiscal powers for the Welsh Government, ranging from borrowing to income tax powers and stamp duty. Whatever you want to do with those taxes in the future—whether you want to leave them where they are, raise them, or lower them—will be dependent on a strong...
