, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Finance
Well, I think, by doing the job of work that I outlined just earlier. We're a new Government, we have a new lens and, hopefully, a new energy into wanting to make the best use of the Welsh pound and to make sure that we are outcomes led in how we take our…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Finance
I am willing to commit to look at this issue. It's not an issue that I'm completely familiar with. I do see the value in it and I am aware that my fellow Ministers are very aware that the impact of any budgetary changes need to be assessed and need to be…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Finance
I'm not going to be one of those Ministers who avoids the term 'cuts' at all times and tries to say 'efficiencies' or other ways of describing it. So, all of these factors are in the melting pot, as I see it, at this time. That overview of the whole budget of…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Finance
I think that that question is a truly interesting one, and is truly a question that faces us as a Government, who are in Government for the first time. We've inherited budgets that have been planned by other parties and previous Governments, although we as a…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Finance
I accept that there is a higher ask of those businesses across the business rates portfolio that have the higher rateable values. The bit you didn't mention in your question was those up to 20,000 businesses that will benefit from lower taxes as a result of…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Finance
It was fully costed, but the job of work that we have to do as a Government, and I've alluded to it already, is the discipline now that Ministers have to face in allocating within their priorities how they marry the priorities that a governing party brings…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Finance
There are two aspects to this; I've spoken, actually, twice on the politics show on both of them. One was the in-year challenges that the Welsh Government inherited as a result of the budget that was laid last year and passed last year. The pressures in…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Finance
A year-round tourism economy is something that I definitely want to see, both for the constituency that we both represent, but also for Wales generally. I think we've seen significant progress on that over the last few years, but there is more to do still on…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Finance
Well, it's always been something that's been a topic of debate in this Senedd, and within Plaid Cymru too, in terms of what is that point where you're striking the balance in the housing market between the housing stock available for people to live in and…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Finance
The Wales tourism investment fund, and other initiatives, invest almost £60 million directly in Wales. Many businesses receive non-domestic rates relief or they will benefit from the expanded lower multiplier from 2027 onwards, as I announced yesterday. We…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Finance
I don't think we have different priorities, Mike; I think we share that priority of needing to spend more on additional learning needs. We were prepared and we voted for that in the supplementary budget. I don't think these are competing positions. We need to…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Finance
Yes, I certainly agree that, in looking at budgets, we need not just to look at those spending lines as they are drafted on a spreadsheet, but we need to look properly at where our outcomes can be improved, and you've listed some of the areas where we need…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Finance
I take no red lines into this budgetary process, genuinely, in terms of the work that I'm doing within Government and the need, as I outlined in my initial statement, for this Government to be disciplined in how our Ministers are looking at their portfolios…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Finance
I'm not sure whether I will always welcome a question from Andrew R.T. Davies as Cabinet Minister for Finance, but today in particular, it was particularly useful for me to see that your question, constructed in this manner, allowed me to outline some of my…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Finance
There are lessons for Government and political parties from the supplementary budget vote. In a Senedd with no overall majority, co-operation and responsible decision making are essential as we look forward to future budgets. The Government wants to engage…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Finance: Rebalancing the non-domestic rates system
The points you've made and the illustrations you've given as to how important the hospitality sector is in our various communities, and how important it is for different aspects of the economy, how many of our young people have their first jobs in pubs—. I…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Finance: Rebalancing the non-domestic rates system
Thank you for your contribution, and thank you for stretching the discussion to other areas that this Senedd will be interested in over the next months and years. As I've said, this is very much a first step to support businesses on our high street. It's a…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Finance: Rebalancing the non-domestic rates system
I was obviously too keen to go to the pub to prepare for this statement, so I'll reflect on what everybody has united upon in thinking about the timing of statements. But just very genuinely from me, I could have made this statement during the summer recess…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Finance: Rebalancing the non-domestic rates system
Thank you for the contribution.
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Finance: Rebalancing the non-domestic rates system
Thank you for those comments and the welcome and the challenges that you set out there in your contribution. Of course, one of the advantages, hopefully, that the businesses that are eligible for this support will see is that it will be a 30 per cent…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Finance: Rebalancing the non-domestic rates system
Well, I'm sure I could have made this statement at any point during the summer term. The statement was ready to be made. I chose in particular to wait for the first day of the Senedd being back in session to make the statement, and I'm making it on the floor…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Finance: Rebalancing the non-domestic rates system
I'll bring forward the regulations required to implement the changes to the differential multipliers in the coming weeks. The regulations will specify the properties that will be subject to the lower multiplier, and amend the value used to calculate the…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Finance: Rebalancing the non-domestic rates system
Thank you, Llywydd. Today, I'm pleased to announce changes the Welsh Government will make to reflect our manifesto commitments to rebalance the non-domestic rates system, and level the playing field for high-street businesses. We recognise the importance of…
, Plenary
Debate: The First Supplementary Budget 2026-27
I ask Members to vote for this budget motion, to lift our collective heads above tribal party politics. Because this is a progressive budget for progressive parties. And even more importantly, it puts the priorities of the people of Wales first.
, Plenary
Debate: The First Supplementary Budget 2026-27
To Labour Members, old and new, I know that you have recently been badly defeated in an election. I know it's painful and confusing. I have been there. But, ultimately, you will not be defined by that loss, but how you respond to it. It can make a party or…
