Weaknesses in the Tax System

Part of 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance – in the Senedd at 1:39 pm on 24 January 2018.

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Photo of Mark Drakeford Mark Drakeford Labour 1:39, 24 January 2018

Well, this is a very important question and thanks to Mike Hedges for raising it. He is right to say that, when income tax responsibilities were devolved to Scotland, there were some teething troubles, which Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs experienced in correctly identifying those individuals who were now to be liable for Scottish rates of income tax. HMRC tell us that they have learnt through that experience that they are better placed to make sure that, as Welsh rates of income tax become a reality as of April of this year, they will be able to avoid some of the difficulties that they experienced first time round. There are advantages, as Members will know, in going second in some of these things. However, the executive who has primary responsibility for these matters at HMRC is coming to the Finance Committee on Wednesday of next week so that he can be scrutinised on these matters. I will be meeting him on the same day, and I will certainly be looking for further assurances from him that, as Welsh income tax responsibilities become a reality, HMRC will be able to deliver on their side of that bargain.