Tax
and borrowing powers for Welsh government move closer
Plans to give the Welsh government the
power to raise some of the
money it spends have moved a step closer. UK ministers introduced into Parliament legislation to
devolve some tax varying and borrowing powers to Wales. The Wales Bill
is expected to be debated by MPs early next month. The Welsh government said it looked forward to working with UK
ministers in the coming months to "establish a better funding
settlement for Wales within a strong UK". UK ministers believe introducing the bill before the
final Queen's Speech of this parliament signals their determination for it to
become law before next year's general election. The bill would give the Welsh government control of stamp
duty land tax and landfill tax, and pave the way for a referendum on
devolving some income tax.
A "lockstep" restriction -
where tax rates would all have to rise or fall by the same amount - on the
Welsh government's ability to vary income tax rates, proposed in the draft
legislation and criticised by all four party leaders in the assembly, has not
been dropped from the bill. 'Powerful
tools' Welsh Secretary David Jones described the introduction of the
legislation as a "major milestone in Welsh devolution".
"The package of tax and borrowing
powers it devolves to Wales should be used by the Welsh government to grow the
Welsh economy, give Wales a competitive edge and help the people of Wales feel
more secure about having a better future.
"The swiftness by which we have introduced this bill is
testament to this government's desire to see the bill passed before the
end of this parliament, and provides the opportunity for devolved governance in
Wales to be fairer, more accountable and, crucially, more able to support
economic growth." Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said the financial powers would provide
"powerful new tools for Wales to exercise greater control over its
future".
Welcoming the bill, Welsh Finance
Minister Jane Hutt said: "I am pleased that the UK government is continuing to make good progress in
legislating to deliver new financial powers and responsibilities to
Wales. "We have secured
important improvements to the draft bill by working collaboratively with the UK
government."
Assembly
Presiding Officer Dame Rosemary Butler welcomed some changes since the bill's
draft version was published, but repeated her call for more assembly members, saying it was "not about
lightening members' workloads".
"It
is about making the assembly an even stronger force for democratic scrutiny," she
said.
"When
government ministers put forward new policies, laws or expenditure, it is vital
that members have the time, expertise and knowledge to challenge those
proposals robustly."
'Sharpen minds'
Plaid Cymru said its aim had been to "preserve the integrity"
of the Silk Commission's original recommendations on tax and borrowing powers
for Wales, and it was
"disappointing" to see they had been "cherry-picked".
Plaid MP Hywel Williams said: "We will aim to put this right by
tabling amendments to the Wales Bill with a view to scrapping the lockstep,
a roadblock that would limit
the Welsh government's income tax varying powers and was not part of the
original recommendations.
"We
will also seek to amend the bill so that Air Passenger Duty is devolved
to Wales, as per the Silk Commission report."
Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty
Williams said tax varying powers would bring "much needed
accountability" to the political system in Wales.
"It will sharpen minds in Cardiff Bay and bring the
same level of accountability to Wales that exists in almost all other national
parliaments," she said.
Tensis :
11.
some of the money it spends have moved a
step closer.
= Present Perfect Tense
22.
UK ministers believe introducing the bill =Present
Countinous Tense
33. The bill would give the Welsh government
control of stamp duty land tax = Past Future Tense
44. 'Powerful tools' Welsh Secretary
David Jones described the introduction of the legislation as a "major milestone in Welsh devolution". = Simple Past Tense
55. we have introduced this bill is testament
to this government's
= Present Perfect Tense
66. the financial powers would provide
"powerful new tools for Wales to exercise greater control over its
future".
= Past Future Tense
77. "We have secured important
improvements to the draft bill by working collaboratively with the UK
government."
= Present Perfect Tense
8.8. It is about making the assembly an even
stronger force for democratic scrutiny = Present Countinous Tense
9.9. its aim had been to "preserve the
integrity" of the Silk Commission's original recommendations on tax and
borrowing powers for Wales = Past Perfect Countinous Tense
110. It will sharpen minds in Cardiff Bay = Simple Future
Tense
111. "We will also seek to amend the bill = Simple Future
Tense
112. "We will aim to put this right by tabling amendments
to the Wales Bill with a view to scrapping the lockstep = Simple Future
Tense
113. a roadblock that would limit the Welsh government's = Past Future
Tense
114. it was "disappointing" to see they had been
"cherry-picked". = Past Countinous Tense
115. saying it was "not about lightening members'
workloads".
= Past Countinous Tense
116. Assembly Presiding Officer Dame Rosemary Butler welcomed
some changes since the bill's draft version was published, = Simple Past
Tense
117. it looked forward to working with UK ministers in the
coming months
= Simple Past Tense
118. UK government is continuing to make good progress in
legislating
= Present Countinous Tense / Simple Present Tense
119. UK ministers introduced into Parliament legislation to
devolve some tax varying and borrowing powers to Wales = Simple Past
Tense
220. "When government ministers put forward new policies,
laws or expenditure, it is vital that members have the time, expertise and
knowledge to challenge those proposals robustly." = Past
Countinous Tense
