Welsh Conservatives debate - Employer National Insurance

NDM8857 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes the UK Government’s increase to employer national insurance contributions, coming into effect for the 2025-26 tax year.

2. Recognises the detrimental impact the increase to employer national insurance contributions will have on Welsh charities, not-for-profits and voluntary organisations.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to make urgent representations to the UK Government to ensure Welsh charities, not-for-profits and voluntary organisations delivering public services will be included in the UK Government’s definition of ONS-defined public sector employees and will be as a result reimbursed for the rise in employer national insurance contributions.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete all after point 1 and replace with

Recognises that:

a) national insurance is not devolved;

b) Welsh charities, not-for-profits and voluntary organisations are concerned about the impact of increases to employer national insurance contributions; and

c) the Welsh Government has made and will continue to make representations to the UK Government on behalf of public services and Welsh charities, not-for-profits and voluntary organisations about employer national insurance contributions.

If amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be de-selected.

Amendment 2 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

Add as new point after point 2. and renumber accordingly:

Regrets:

a) the intention to allocate Treasury reimbursements to core public services on the basis of the Barnett Formula, which would leave Wales facing a shortfall compared to England.

b) the lack of clarity as to the full extent of costs to core public services in Wales as a result of these changes, less than a month before the start of the next financial year and after the passing of the Welsh budget.

Amendment 3 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

Add as new point at the end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to make urgent representations to the UK Government to ensure that the costs of increases to employer NI contributions to core public services in Wales are covered in full by the UK Treasury.