VAB56 Jacquie Hatfield

Senedd Cymru | Welsh Parliament

Y Pwyllgor Cyllid | Finance Committee

Bil Llety Ymwelwyr (Cofrestr ac Ardoll) Etc. (Cymru) | Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill

Ymateb gan Jacquie Hatfield | Evidence from Jacquie Hatfield

General principles

1. What are your views on the general principles of the Bill and the need for legislation to deliver the Welsh Government’s stated policy objective, which is to:

§    ensure a more even share of costs to fund local services and infrastructure that benefit visitors between resident populations and visitors;

§    provide local authorities with the ability to generate additional revenue that can be invested back into local services and infrastructure to support tourism;

§    support the Welsh Government’s ambitions for sustainable tourism?

(We would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 500 words).

I think this proposal is ill conceived and provides yet another attack on rural Wales and its communities. This country has very little industry and it's biggest asset is it's countryside. Providing yet another disincentive to visitors will reduce visitor numbers which in turn will reduce income for local families, shops, pubs, restaurants and visitor attractions which will in some cases be enough to cause closures. This will then result in the loss of more income than it will generate. The Welsh government should be providing a welcome to Wales message and offering incentives to those providing accomodation as welcoming visitors would bring far more into local economies, would help to keep high street shops and services rejuvinated all without the need for additional administration for  businesses or for already stretched Local Authorities. The  Welsh farming community is already in crisis and this proposal will disproportionately affect small farms who only survive by offering camping and other holiday let accomodation and will be another nail in their coffins. The consequences of introducing what sounds like a quick fix have not been fully evaluated, implementation and enforcement will be high and the impact on rural communities who rely heavily on tourist trade  will be catastrophic.

The Bill’s implementation

The Regulatory Impact Assessment is set out in Part 2 of the Explanatory Memorandum (https://senedd.wales/media/g5ipwvwh/pri-ld16812-em-e.pdf). This includes the Welsh Government’s assessments of the financial and other impacts of the Bill and its implementation.

2. Are there any potential barriers to the implementation of the Bill’s provisions? If so, what are they, and are they adequately taken into account in the Bill and accompanying Explanatory Memorandum and Regulatory Impact Assessment?

(We would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 500 words).

Local Authorities already struggle to deliver administration of local services. The burden of implantation versus the income achieved is not good use of public funds. Visitors bring additional  income to Local Authorities by paying at car parks, supporting high streets to stay open

3. Are any unintended consequences likely to arise from the Bill?

(We would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 500 words).

As already stated. Any reduction in visitors will inadvertently cause local businesses additional strains causing loss of high street services which will reduce income via taxes anx business rates rather than increase them. Small farms will be disproportionately affected at a time when they are already in crisis.

4. What are your views on the Welsh Government’s assessment of the financial and other impacts of the Bill?

(We would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 500 words).

This assessment is not fully thought through. The potential disadvantages will outweigh the advantages and will disproportionately affect communities who already recieve little or no services from Central or Local government

Subordinate legislation

The powers to make subordinate legislation are set out in Part 1: Chapter 5 of the Explanatory Memorandum (https://senedd.wales/media/g5ipwvwh/pri-ld16812-em-e.pdf).

The Welsh Government has also set out its statement of policy intent for subordinate legislation (https://business.senedd.wales/documents/s155951/Statement%20of%20Policy%20Intent.pdf).

5. What are your views on the balance between the information contained on the face of the Bill and what is left to subordinate legislation? Are the powers for Welsh Ministers to make subordinate legislation appropriate?

(We would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 500 words).

The Welsh Ministers do not have the interests of Rural Wales in third minds so I do not think their powers are appropriate.

Other considerations

6. Do you have any views on matters related to the quality of the legislation?

(We would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 500 words).

As above

7. On 26 November, the Cabinet Secretary wrote to the Finance Committee with some indicative additional registration and enforcement provisions (https://business.senedd.wales/documents/s155952/Letter%20from%20the%20Cabinet%20Secretary%20for%20Finance%20and%20Welsh%20Language%20Indicative%20Stage%202%20amendments%20that%20.pdf) he intends to bring forward at Stage 2 of the legislative process (https://senedd.wales/NAfW%20Documents/Assembly%20Business%20section%20documents/Guide%20to%20the%20Legislative%20Process/Guide_to_the_Legislative_Process-eng.pdf).

Do you have any views on the indicative additional registration and enforcement provisions the Welsh Government intends to bring forward at Stage 2?

(We would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 500 words).

As above

8. Are there any other issues that you would like to raise about the Bill, the accompanying Explanatory Memorandum and Regulatory Impact Assessment, or any related matters?

(We would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 500 words).

As above