Express views on devolution

“Nothing of the sort maxmin, if during the next assembly elections the good people of Wales vote into power a party opposed to wind power then so be it. My advice to you is to vote Tory or UKiP and if they get into power here in Wales, then there will be no more wind power. That's how democracy works, and long may it last.

I'm not so sure as to what Levell wants. On one hand he supports the Tory Party and then on the other he doesn't want Wales to have more devolved power(something the Tories are in favor of). Remember how the last labour government dragged it's feet over law making powers for Wales, the Tories soon addressed that situation didn't they.”

“Poor old NeathboyCLM erupts afresh in his latest offering "All the nonsense that Gwilym Levell spouts in his letter, is of course entirely irreverent"

What Mr Levell is doing Nurdboy is asking people to exercise their democratic right to be heard on this subject by writing and expressing their views that's all.

Your statement therefore is very sinister. On the windfarm thread you keep banging on about democracy and how great it is - but here you want to shut it down, describing any attempt at getting people to democratically voice their views as irrelevant. Well actually you wrote 'irreverent', but I am a master at deciphering' NB write' and assume you didn't really mean that.

So your version of democracy is it is ok as long as everyone votes the way you want them to but should not be allowed in any other case. Sounds very fascist to me, still you are a great admirer of them so that comes as no surprise!”

“R.17. We recommend that the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) should produce Welsh
income tax forecasts in a similar way to Scotland and the amounts forecast should be
assigned to the Welsh Government prior to the introduction of legislation, without any
impact on the Welsh Government's spending power.
R.18. We recommend that the transfer of income tax powers to the Welsh Government should
be conditional upon resolving the issue of fair funding in a way that is agreed by both the
Welsh and UK Governments.
Chapter 6
R.19. We recommend that Welsh Ministers should be given an additional power to borrow to
increase capital investment above the Welsh Government DEL budget. There should be
an overall limit to such borrowing, at least proportionate to that in Scotland, whilst taking
into consideration the relative lack of exposure to PFI in Wales. The agreed annual profile
should provide some flexibility and be subject to review in each spending review. Borrowing
should be from the National Loans Fund and commercial sources. We also believe that the
Welsh Government should be able to issue its own bonds.
R.20. We recommend that new powers for Welsh Ministers to borrow for short term purposes
should be introduced to manage cash flow and volatility in taxes when devolved taxes are
in place, similar to those in the Scotland Act 2012.
R.21. We recommend that the Welsh and UK Governments should work together to promote
increased investment in Wales through the variety of funding mechanisms available.
Chapter 7
R.22. There is opportunity for improving the availability of information to increase financial
accountability, public understanding and transparency, and we recommend the following,
subject to a detailed assessment of the costs and benefits involved by the UK Government
and Welsh Government as appropriate:
a. estimates of spending in England on services which are devolved in the case of Wales
should be made available to help inform the debate on public finances in Wales;
b. consideration should be given to whether the ONS United Kingdom accounts should
include a 'sub-national' tier of government spending;
c. figures on the amount of tax collected in Wales should be produced. Such figures should
also include estimates of the Welsh fiscal balance. This country and regional analysis
should be done on a consistent basis across the United Kingdom;
d. we encourage the UK Government and the devolved administrations to publish annually
key comparative statistics in devolved and non-devolved areas; and
e. the Welsh Government should consider whether more information could be published
on the economy in Wales including on Welsh GVA or other income measures, as well as
on economic forecasting.Financial Powers to Strengthen Wales | 13
R.23. The following institutional changes should be made to improve financial accountability:
a. consideration should be given to the OBR or another body having a wider role in either
producing or validating information on public finances and the economies of Wales,
Scotland and Northern Ireland; and reviewing and auditing technical aspects of the
devolved funding system where appropriate;
b. changes to the Statement of Funding Policy should be agreed between the UK
Government and devolved administrations wherever possible and transparently
recorded;
c. the current finance ministers' meetings should be formalised;
d. the present arrangement whereby the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has attended the
National Assembly's Finance Committee to answer questions on the UK Budget should
be formalised; and
e. more information should be made available on the current scrutiny and accountability of”

“R.8. We recommend that the following taxes should not be devolved:
• alcohol and excise duties;
• Vehicle Excise Duty;
• Capital Gains Tax;
• Insurance Premium Tax;
• stamp duty on shares;
• Inheritance Tax;
• betting and gaming duties; and
• Climate Change Levy.
R.9. We recommend that when the UK Government is considering introducing new taxes in
devolved areas of policy, there should be a presumption in favour of devolving powers over
the tax to the Welsh Government.
R.10. Where UK-wide taxes and reliefs are not devolved, we recommend that:
a. the UK Government should keep under review the scope for introducing tax reliefs
which would help to support the Welsh economy in an affordable and cost effective way
subject to EU state aid constraints; and
b. if the UK Government changes the thresholds and allowances or rates for a tax that is
not devolved, which includes an element of geographical targeting (for example, capital
allowances in Enterprise Zones in selected areas), then an assessment should be made in
consultation with the Welsh Government as to whether the Welsh Government should
be able to fund additional coverage.Financial Powers to Strengthen Wales | 11
R.11. The National Assembly for Wales should be given a power to legislate with the agreement
of the UK Government on a case by case basis to introduce specified taxes and any
associated tax credits in Wales. The Welsh Government should retain the revenue from
these without a deduction to the block grant. The UK Government should adopt a flexible
approach to any proposal for these taxes from the Welsh Government.
Chapter 5
R.12. We do not recommend devolving corporation tax to Wales. However, if the UK Government
were to agree to devolve corporation tax to both Scotland and Northern Ireland, we
recommend that the same powers should be given to Wales.
R.13. We recommend that the enhanced capital allowances should be able to be offered
within more enterprise zones in Wales subject to state aid rules and provided the Welsh
Government pays the incremental cost.
R.14. Variation of VAT rates within a member state is prohibited by EU law. We therefore have
no option but to rule out the devolution of VAT, although we recognise that there are also
other arguments against the devolution of VAT. To make devolved budget adjustments
when those adjustments are not the result of the actions of the Welsh Government could
be regarded as the opposite of improved accountability. As a result we do not recommend
assigning VAT.
R.15. We do not recommend that NICs in their current form should be devolved. There is
an intrinsic link between contributions and the National Insurance Fund which funds
social security benefits. We recommend that the UK Government should give further
consideration to regionally differentiated adjustments, such as the employers NICs holiday,
to support the labour market within state aid rules. The Welsh Government should be able
to fund extra such geographically differentiated adjustments within Wales, if compatible
with EU commitments and the UK social security system.”

“RECOMMENDATIONS
R.1. The current funding arrangements for the Welsh Government do not meet the
requirements of a mature democracy and are anomalous in an international context. The
funding model of a block grant and some devolved taxes best meets sound principles for
funding the Welsh Government. We therefore recommend that part of the budget for the
Welsh Government should be funded from devolved taxation under its control.
Chapter 4
R.2. Business rates should be fully devolved subject to the Welsh and UK Governments agreeing
the details and assessing any risks involved.
R.3. Stamp Duty Land Tax should be devolved to the Welsh Government with Welsh Ministers
given control over all aspects of the tax in Wales. A fixed deduction should be made to the
block grant with the value of this agreed between the Welsh and UK Governments taking
due consideration of the volatility of receipts.10 | Empowerment and Responsibility
R.4. Landfill tax should be devolved to the Welsh Government with Welsh Ministers given
control over all aspects of the tax in Wales. A fixed deduction should be made to the block
grant with the value of this agreed between the Welsh and UK Governments taking due
consideration of the declining taxable base.
R.5. Subject to the outcome of discussions between the UK Government and the EU
Commission on state aid issues, aggregates levy should be devolved to the Welsh
Government, with Welsh Ministers given control over all aspects of the tax in Wales. A fixed
deduction should be made to the block grant with the value of this agreed between the
Welsh and UK Governments taking due consideration of the declining taxable base.
R.6. We recommend that APD should be devolved for direct long haul flights initially
and recommend that devolving all rates for APD to Wales should be part of the UK
Government's future work on aviation taxation, which should include considering the wider
case for regional differentiation for APD or airport congestion charging. We recommend
that this issue should be considered in the context of the Davies review and any
developments in Scotland and Northern Ireland. A fixed deduction should be made to the
block grant with the value of this agreed between the Welsh and UK Governments taking
due consideration of the forecast tax revenues in Wales.
R.7. We do not recommend that fuel duty should be devolved. We recommend that in the
light of experience of the fuel rebate pilot scheme, the UK Government should assess the
extension of the scheme to some rural and remote areas in Wales, subject to EU agreement.”

“Tony Blair aside the Commission is looking into the subject of tax powers for wales. Like Mr Cameron i also believe that Wales should have some responsibility for raising it's own taxes. There should be no power without responsibility. The Tory party believe this and so do the LD. Plaid also want tax powers devolved, but they also want the barnett formula looked at the same time. The Labour party are less keen on wales gaining tax powers, but are also in favor to a lesser extent. I myself would like to see more tax powers being devolved, it's only natural that this should happen. devolution is a journey not an event

All the nonsense that Gwilym Levell spouts in his letter, is of course entirely irreverent, which of course is to be expected from him. And to think that Levell once called on everyone to vote labour lol lol”

“The Commission on Devolution in Wales was launched by Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan on 11 October 2011.

The independent Commission has been established to review the present financial and constitutional arrangements in Wales. It will carry out its work in two parts.

The Commission published its report (and Executive Summary) on Part I, which looked at fiscal powers, on Monday 19th November 2012.

The Commission has now begun work on Part II of its remit, reviewing the powers of the National Assembly for Wales. It issued its Call for Evidence on Part II on 29 November 2012 and is interested in hearing the views of as many people across Wales and beyond as possible.

Over the coming months, there will be a number of ways to engage with the Commission including an online questionnaire, public events and online debates.”