, Finance Committee
Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill: Evidence session 5
We'll go to Huw in terms of what the businesses have been telling you as a council leader—it's possible that you've been lobbied about that. What is your take on that?
, Finance Committee
Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill: Evidence session 5
To go up to Gwynedd, to another part of the country, it's possible that this levy will come in and have a negative reaction from some elements within the business community there, and in some other parts of the country too. Are you concerned about that and…
, Finance Committee
Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill: Evidence session 5
And, Rob, not to duplicate what Huw’s just said, but maybe your views from your neck of the woods, and your understanding of your engagement.
, Finance Committee
Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill: Evidence session 5
And what sort of input have you had in the development of the legislation with the Welsh Government? Has there been a dialogue and a development opportunity for you to have your say in that development?
, Finance Committee
Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill: Evidence session 5
I have, yes. [Laughter.]
, Finance Committee
Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill: Evidence session 5
I’d like to start by exploring the general principles of the Bill and the views on the public perception of the levy, and the register and the levy premiums, and the spending of the levy. So, do you think a visitor levy would support the Welsh Government’s…
, Finance Committee
Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill: Evidence session 5
You're welcome to contribute in Welsh or English—that's up to you.
, Finance Committee
Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill: Evidence session 5
There will be a transcript available for you, for accuracy, at the end.
, Finance Committee
Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill: Evidence session 5
Welcome to you all this morning.
, Finance Committee
Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill: Evidence session 5
Fantastic. Thank you very much.
, Finance Committee
Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill: Evidence session 5
And then Rob—can you introduce yourself, Rob, please?
, Finance Committee
Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill: Evidence session 5
A warm welcome to you.
, Finance Committee
Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill: Evidence session 5
Welcome, and we'll go to Gwynedd.
, Finance Committee
Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill: Evidence session 5
—we'll start with you, Huw.
, Finance Committee
Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill: Evidence session 5
It's evidence session 5. We've reset the room and reset online. We've got new witnesses—colleagues from local government—and I'd like to ask them to introduce themselves for the record. So, if we start in the room—
, Finance Committee
Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill: Evidence session 5
Welcome back to this second session this morning—evidence session 5.
, Finance Committee
Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill: Evidence session 4
Diolch yn fawr.
, Finance Committee
Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill: Evidence session 4
I'm sure that would be appreciated by Members here, definitely. So, we'll be in touch with that. Thank you very much.
, Finance Committee
Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill: Evidence session 4
There will be a transcript available for you to check for accuracy. We appreciate the work that's gone into what you've developed so far and, obviously, the work that will come down the line, should this Bill pass, and the preparatory work. So, we'll take a…
, Finance Committee
Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill: Evidence session 4
Thank you very much for your time this morning.
, Finance Committee
Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill: Evidence session 4
So, it's something that—. Yes. Thank you very much. That brings us to the end of our session. Thank you very much.
, Finance Committee
Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill: Evidence session 4
And would there be a preference, or are you just—? From an administrative point of view—
, Finance Committee
Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill: Evidence session 4
And then, finally from me, we haven't talked much about refunds, and there are limited areas where refunds are applicable in the Bill. Also in the Bill, I think it forces—and you tell me if I'm wrong—a collection and then a refund rather than an exemption. Is…
, Finance Committee
Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill: Evidence session 4
And going back to what Anthony was saying earlier about some of those triggers for updating registers, for example, those might be things that are collected by HMRC—some of that data. Is there a data relationship between the two organisations to be able to…
, Finance Committee
Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill: Evidence session 4
Just a couple of quick questions, maybe, at the end like this. HMRC won't have an equivalent to this. It's probably the first time you're going to be in that place where next door don't have the same thing, so you have something new and shiny, potentially, to…
