What assessment has the Minister made on the viability of further devolution of tax powers?
Six years ago, we began the process to devolve new powers for a vacant land tax and we have still not been able to secure these powers. It is clear the process is not fit for purpose.
It is important that the process for devolving new taxes works – not just for the vacant land tax, but also to ensure appropriate precedents for future tax devolution. If we are not able to secure the powers for this tax, it is very difficult to believe the process, as currently provided for, can deliver any new tax powers for Wales.
Despite successive attempts over several months to discuss the issue of the powers for the vacant land tax with the previous Financial Secretary to the Treasury (FST), a meeting was not forthcoming. I met the current FST in November where I raised this issue. He committed to providing further information following that meeting, which I am currently awaiting.