Inquiry into the implementation of the Wales Act 2014 and operation of the Fiscal Framework

Inquiry into the implementation of the Wales Act 2014 and operation of the Fiscal Framework

The Finance Committee undertook an inquiry into the implementation of the Wales Act 2014 and the operation of the Fiscal Framework. The inquiry also considered public awareness of fiscal devolution and taxation in Wales.

 

The Committee published its report (PDF, 2MB) on 2 February 2021. The Committee received responses from the Welsh Government (PDF, 208KB) HM Revenue and Customs (PDF, 106KB) and the Senedd Commission (PDF, 211KB).

 

Terms of Reference
Taxation

  • The Welsh Government’s tax principles, whether these have been met and whether the current tax regime and proposed new taxes align with these principles;
  • How successful the administration of Welsh taxes and the Welsh Rates of Income Tax has been;
  • What possible future tax changes could look like and what scope there is for a different approach to taxation in Wales;
  • How the mechanism for devolving powers for new Welsh taxes has been performing.

 

The Fiscal Framework

  • Consider the fiscal framework processes and how funding is allocated to the Welsh block grant;
  • Examine the application of the Barnett Formula and the criteria for excluding specific funding from the formula;
  • Consider the block grant adjustment mechanism and the effectiveness of the adjustment model;
  • Review the suitability of the budget management tools such as the Wales Reserve, and the ability to borrow;
  • Evaluate the treatment of spill-over effects and the mechanism for agreeing these effects;
  • Draw comparisons between Wales and other international fiscal frameworks.

Evidence session

Date, Agenda and Minutes

Transcript

Video

Office of Budget Responsibility

Robert Chote, Chairman

 

28 September 2020

Read transcript

Watch on Senedd.tv

Audit Wales

Adrian Crompton, Auditor General for Wales

Richard Harries, Audit Director

Mark Jeffs, Audit Manager

28 September 2020

Read transcript

Watch on Senedd.tv

Wales Governance Centre

Dr Ed Poole, Senior Lecturer

Guto Ifan, Research Associate

12 October 2020

Read transcript

Watch on Senedd.tv

Professor Gerry Holtham

9 November 2020

Read transcript

Watch on Senedd.tv

HM Revenue & Customs

Ruth Stanier, Director General, Customer Strategy and Tax Design

Jackie McGeehan, Deputy Director of Income Tax Policy

9 November 2020

Read transcript

Watch on Senedd.tv

National Audit Office

Gareth Davies, Comptroller and Auditor General

Darren Stewart, Director

Ben Rodin, Audit Manager

Lee Summerfield, Director

9 November 2020

Read transcript

Watch on Senedd.tv

Institute of Fiscal Studies

David Phillips, Associate Director

16 November 2020

Read transcript

Watch on Senedd.tv

Wales Revenue Authority

Dyfed Alsop, Chief Executive

Rebecca Godfrey, Chief Strategy Officer

Sam Cairns, Chief Operating Officer

16 November 2020

Read transcript

Watch on Senedd.tv

Welsh Government

Rebecca Evans MS, Minister for Finance and Trefnydd

Andrew Jeffreys, Director, Welsh Treasury

Julian Revell, Head of Fiscal Analysis, Welsh Treasury

30 November 2020

Read transcript

 

Watch on Senedd.tv

 

Business type: Committee Inquiry

Reason considered: Senedd Business;

Status: Complete

First published: 29/06/2020

Documents

Consultations