8. 7. Debate: Considering the Case for New Taxes in Wales

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:28 pm on 4 July 2017.

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Photo of Mr Neil Hamilton Mr Neil Hamilton UKIP 5:28, 4 July 2017

I’m sure he’s coming my way. [Laughter.] But as pointed out in relation to corporation tax, certainly, the Irish example is a very interesting one. I’m sorry that my attempts to move the Cabinet Secretary in that direction in the past have met with rebuff. When we had the tax policy framework statement just a few weeks ago, I’m afraid he didn’t prove to be very susceptible to those blandishments, but I do think that Ireland has made very effective use of differential rates of corporate taxation, and within the corporation tax itself, as Adam Price pointed out, to have differential rates, which has enabled the Irish Government to prioritise certain important areas of high-value-added activity, and that is what we need most of all, I think, in Wales: to increase the tax base. And I think that tax system can be used in this way—[Interruption.] I give way to Mike Hedges.