Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:05 pm on 29 September 2020.
Thank you, and thank you to those colleagues who have indicated their support for the regulations today. I will confine my remarks to the specific regulations that we're debating today. Just in response to the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, I'm very grateful for the work that the committee undertook. And I do very much accept the merit point that was raised, and in future I will ensure that the explanatory memoranda for future regulations include that point made as well. So, grateful for your work on that.
In terms of the threshold at which we set the rates, of course, we did it to recognise the different housing market that we have in Wales, where the average house price is £168,000, as compared to £254,000 across the border in England, and our average first-time buyer here in Wales pays £145,000, as compared to £213,000—although Nick Ramsay and I have, on a number of occasions, rehearsed the differences that there across Wales, and the fact that the situation in Monmouthshire is different because it's the only place in Wales that consistently has house prices that are at the very upper end of the spectrum. So, yes, obviously, I will keep the matter under review, although I do point out to colleagues that what we're voting on today is a limited measure, just for seven months, until the date at which it will end next year.
And then to the Finance Committee, as the Chair said, this is the first time that we as Members of the Senedd have used these powers to set new, albeit temporary, changes to the rates and thresholds of land transaction tax. We've used them in the best interests of the people of Wales, and I'm very, very happy to continue the discussions with the Finance Committee, and to continue to share our learning with Finance Committee, and to learn from the Finance Committee's work on this area as well. So, diolch to all colleagues.