Mark Drakeford: I move formally.
Mark Drakeford: Turning to the last question first: the rules for how cross-border properties are to be treated in devising the new tax strategy are set out in the 2014 Act. They’re not something that we have the freedom to manoeuvre over, even when there are sensible suggestions about how it might be done differently. We have a rulebook; we are trying to design the best system we can within it. Do I...
Mark Drakeford: Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. I’m always glad to hear Nick Ramsay say those things about the fiscal framework; I quoted him in my meeting with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to let the Chief Secretary to the Treasury know what pressure I was under from the Conservative benches here in the Assembly to make sure that the fiscal framework was properly negotiated from the Welsh perspective....
Mark Drakeford: I thank Mike Hedges for all those questions. I’m grateful for what he said about the general anti-avoidance rule, and those who will be looking at the Bill closely will see that we have adopted the Scottish test for the GAAR, which is that tax arrangements that are artificial will be captured by the GAAR, whereas, in the stamp duty land tax, they have to be abusive before the GAAR applies....
Mark Drakeford: Well, thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer, and thank you to the Member for those comments and questions. Byddaf yn ceisio ymateb i dri o'r cwestiynau mawrion a ofynnwyd. Cytunaf yn llwyr â'r hyn a ddywedodd Adam Price, sef ein bod yn ceisio cael cydbwysedd yn y Bil rhwng parhad uniongyrchol—gan fod yna system y mae pobl yn gyfarwydd iawn â hi, system a chanddi hefyd lawer o...
Mark Drakeford: Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. Yesterday, I laid the Land Transaction Tax and Anti-avoidance of Devolved Taxes (Wales) Bill, together with the explanatory memorandum, before the National Assembly for Wales.
Mark Drakeford: The introduction of this Bill marks a significant step in our tax devolution journey and progress in preparing for the first Welsh-specific taxes in almost 800 years. The Bill follows the passage of the Tax Collection and Management (Wales) Act 2016, which received Royal Assent in April. The Act provided the legal framework to collect and manage devolved taxes, including the establishment of...
Mark Drakeford: We remain committed to delivering the skills Wales need to grow and prosper. Whilst the partial Treasury guarantee on funding for current structural funds programmes is a welcome short-term assurance, we will continue to press to ensure Wales does not lose a penny of current or future anticipated EU funding.
Mark Drakeford: The Welsh Government’s priority is to continue to expand and deliver improvements to technology services for businesses and individuals in the west and across Wales.
Mark Drakeford: Levels of prosperity in Wales are best judged by a basket of indicators that includes GVA, employment, income and poverty. Taking the basket in the round, since devolution, Wales has broadly kept pace with the UK, a period over which the UK has grown faster than the EU average.
Mark Drakeford: The Welsh Government remains fully committed to increasing the use of the Welsh language. Our challenging vision for a million Welsh speakers by 2050 is currently subject to public consultation and we will consider all responses in due course.
Mark Drakeford: Life sciences is an important driver of economic growth and improved well-being. It is vital to the economy, for creating jobs, increasing wealth and developing high-end skills. Weekly earnings have increased by 8.3 per cent, over 5 percentage points more than the increase of any other sector.
Mark Drakeford: Working conditions and workers’ rights are reserved matters and remain with the UK Government.
Mark Drakeford: Maintaining a strong Welsh business climate, including the advanced materials and manufacturing sector, is important for our steel industry. I was in the States to remind them Wales means business. I will publish a full statement on my visit shortly.
Mark Drakeford: Diolch yn fawr, Ddirprwy Lywydd. It’s a pleasure to take part in this short debate and it’s a great thing, I think, that the last words we will speak on the floor of the Assembly before we go away on our summer break in this first year of the fifth Assembly will be about trade unionism and its importance here in Wales. I’m not going to compete with either Bethan or the Member for...
Mark Drakeford: Well, I absolutely agree, and I hope they do, too, because the partners who were around the table at that programme monitoring committee, who actually deliver these projects, who employ real people providing real services to people who need them so much—they’re not interested in a big debate. They are interested in knowing that the funds on which they rely will be guaranteed in the way...
Mark Drakeford: Diolch yn fawr, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Well, it’s clear from the debate this afternoon that the impact of the decision taken on 23 June continues to be felt keenly, and that the extent of the economic, political, constitutional and social challenges are increasingly making themselves clear. To wrestle with the consequences of the referendum vote is not to contest its outcome, but nor is it to...
Mark Drakeford: Formally.
Mark Drakeford: Thank you, Presiding Officer, and thank you to everyone who has contributed to the debate. May I start by thanking the Chair of the Finance Committee once again for the report and for the recommendations? He’s highlighted a number of things in the report and I look forward to formally responding to the recommendations. I’d also like to thank Adam Price for telling us that Plaid Cymru will...
Mark Drakeford: Thank you very much, Llywydd. This first supplementary budget is the first opportunity to amend the budgetary plans for the current financial year. The plans were published and approved by the previous Assembly in March. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the new Finance Committee for its scrutiny work on this budget. Before too long, I will be responding to the Chair with...
