6. Welsh Conservatives Debate: Land transaction tax on commercial land

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:44 pm on 9 May 2018.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Mark Reckless Mark Reckless Conservative 5:44, 9 May 2018

But is it not the case that, by stepping in and buying this site, the Welsh Government, which doesn't pay tax because of its Crown exemption, is avoiding tax that would be paid potentially by another of its partners? The guidance on the LTT says that if it's bought jointly with another public authority not so exempt, e.g. a local authority, the exemption won't apply, and then later the Welsh Government says it's going to be buying the offices. So, instead of the private sector, who may not want to pay the 6 per cent, Welsh Government, it says here, will buy the offices on the site, stepping in to avoid the tax.