Questions Without Notice from Party Spokespeople

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Finance and Local Government – in the Senedd at 1:51 pm on 28 September 2022.

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Photo of Llyr Gruffydd Llyr Gruffydd Plaid Cymru 1:51, 28 September 2022

(Translated)

Thank you very much, Llywydd. I raised with you yesterday, Minister, the need for the Government to now use the powers that you have to protect the basic rate of income tax in Wales, in order to protect the key services that many vulnerable people will be reliant on during the difficult period ahead of us. You didn't answer my question then, but you did say, and you have consistently said, that the Conservatives' plans in Westminster are regressive and unfair. 'It embeds unfairness' were the words of the First Minister, and he is quite right, of course. But that is just as true of the cut in the basic rate too, isn't it? Because millionaires will benefit from this, and anyone who earns more than £50,000 will get at least five times more benefit from a penny off the basic rate as compared to someone who's, say, on £20,000 per annum. And most of our pensioners, and anyone who doesn't earn enough to pay income tax, the poorest in society, won't see any direct benefit from this. But, of course, they will be the first to feel the impacts of the loss of services that will come as a result of it. So, if you're not willing to commit to retaining the basic rate at 20p in Wales, will you at least confirm that you agree that using a cut in the basic rate of income tax isn't sufficiently targeted to help the most vulnerable in our society?