, Finance Committee
Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill: Evidence session 2
Lovely. Thank you so much to you both for coming this afternoon. This is the substantive part of our deliberations on this Bill. We've already heard from the Minister in charge. That was in December, but we are now taking evidence and we've got a series of…
, Finance Committee
Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill: Evidence session 2
And we'll go online—Linda, do you want to just introduce yourself?
, Finance Committee
Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill: Evidence session 2
Great, thank you very much. A warm welcome to you.
, Finance Committee
Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill: Evidence session 2
So, this is our second evidence session, and we have our first witnesses this afternoon with us. And if I could ask you to introduce yourselves for the record. We'll start in the room.
, Finance Committee
Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill: Evidence session 2
A warm welcome back to this meeting of the Finance Committee. We have two sessions this afternoon on the Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill, and this is the second evidence session.
, Finance Committee
Motion under Standing Order 17.42(ix) to resolve to exclude the public from items 5, 6 and 9; and the start of the meeting on 30 January 2025
In accordance with Standing Order 17.42(ix), I propose that the committee resolves to exclude the public from items 5, 6 and 9 and the start of the meeting on 23 January 2025. Is everyone content? [Interruption.] Sorry, that's 30 January, to get the date…
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 8
So, thank you very much for your time this morning.
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 8
Diolch yn fawr. Thank you very much for that session this morning—lots for us to digest and a very short time frame for us to come to some conclusions and recommendations in reporting. But thank you for your time this morning; we've gone over slightly, but I…
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 8
I’m very conscious of time; we might run over a little bit, if that’s okay. I just want Mike Hedges to be able to ask a few questions at the end, Cabinet Secretary. I’ll bring Mike in now, and maybe brevity would be excellent in some of these. Diolch, Mike.
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 8
Based on the discussions that you've been having, where would the money come from? Is it that you're anticipating, possibly, late consequentials or something else, to be able to find that extra to give a little bit more to those below the average? Is that…
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 8
Just on that, with your analysis of what that might cost and where it might come from, have you looked at, if you were to, say, put a floor in at 4.3 per cent, at the average, roughly how much that would cost? Do you have that idea—
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 8
That's unless you're appointed to those roles, as you have been over the last period, but there we are. [Laughter.] Sam Rowlands.
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 8
Certainly, yes.
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 8
Thanks for that, Mike. Actually, John, I might just go straight to Sam, if I may, and he might be able to start with that, unless you've got one brief question to come in at the start.
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 8
Mike wanted to come in very briefly, and I'm conscious of time, so, your answers are very fascinating, but could we keep them shorter, please? Then, Mike.
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 8
Great. That takes us on to health and social care. I think John's got one question, and then we'll move on to Sam.
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 8
Okay. Thank you. John.
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 8
And looking at those unintended consequences that have only come to light after a few years.
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 8
Just on that point, broader than children’s services, just in general as a Government, how often do you review the, effectively, rules that you put in place to drive the right behaviour? How often do you look at the behaviour you’re trying to do and then…
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 8
It was in the context of social services and health, the interplay between the two, as well, so, potentially—
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 8
We'll go back to—I know he's not in this committee as it—the Chair of local government and housing there. But, John Griffiths, you might have a view yourself on this, but we'll move on. Time is marching on with us as well, but maybe—. I'll come back to John…
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 8
I think, from memory, with the IFS, it was not the 80 per cent that they were talking about, but the 20 per cent of the properties that were then becoming second homes, as opposed to primary homes, for people. It was that aspect that was—it goes back to the…
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 8
I think Mike Hedges might want to come in just on that point, if I may bring Mike in.
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 8
Thank you. Good question there. That's something I'd echo as well. I'll now bring John Griffiths in, if I may, and I think he's going to talk about some of the tax and economic forecasts. John.
, Finance Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session 8
Certainly, yes.
