Part of 11. 9. Debate: Stage 3 of the Land Transaction Tax and Anti-avoidance of Devolved Taxes (Wales) Bill – in the Senedd at 4:13 pm on 28 March 2017.
Mark Reckless
UKIP
4:13,
28 March 2017
Diolch, Llywydd. I thank all Members who have contributed comments, and recognise, with Nick Ramsay, we’re trying to do a pretty similar ambition with our amendments 36 and 32. I note the strength of the Cabinet Secretary for finance’s reply in terms of competence issues around 35, and I had only sought to put in an Amendment that I considered might be arguable. I accept his view that that is a stretch, and far be it from me to challenge competence issues and make some great assertion of the Assembly’s power over UK legislation in this respect. I just thought it would be rather easier for taxpayers all round. However, I do think that the idea of either a 50/50 split or simply apportioning the tax on the basis of the land area and deeming that to be just and reasonable is sensible, and that would be achieved either by my own or by Nick Ramsay’s amendments. And, frankly, it would make things a lot easier for everyone concerned, while protecting the tax base. So, I note the Cabinet Secretary’s points, but I’m not sure what merit or use is served by those arguments, when we can actually raise the money and ease everyone’s administrative burden if we accepted either Nick Ramsay’s amendment or my own. My intention, Llywydd, if this is in order, would not be to push 35 to a vote, but to look to vote on amendment 36 from my group.
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