Poverty

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:16 pm on 3 July 2018.

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Photo of Steffan Lewis Steffan Lewis Plaid Cymru 2:16, 3 July 2018

The First Minister will be aware of the comprehensive report published yesterday by the Wales Centre for Public Policy, entitled 'The Welsh Tax Base: Risks and Opportunities after Fiscal Devolution'. I don't expect he's read it all overnight, but, in it, innovative approaches are suggested for regressive taxes, particularly council tax. And, as we know, people living in the lowest valued properties pay nearly 5 per cent of the worth of their house in council tax whilst people living in the most expensive properties pay as little as 0.25 per cent. But the report crucially suggests that we take a holistic approach to taxation and fiscal policy generally rather than looking at individual taxes in isolation. The report says tax reform should be pursued in an integrated way. For example, a more progressive approach to council tax could be linked to changes in land transaction tax or income tax rate. Is that approach supported by the First Minister?