Agenda and minutes

1.1 The Chair welcomed Members to the virtual meeting of the Finance Committee.

1.2 Apologies were received from Mark Reckless MS.

Minutes of the meeting on 16 December 2020.

2.1 The papers were noted.

Rebecca Evans MS, Minister for Finance and Trefnydd

Andrew Jeffreys, Director Treasury, Welsh Government

Margaret Davies, Deputy Director of Strategic Budgeting, Welsh Government

Matt Wellington, Head of Budget Delivery, Welsh Government

Anna Adams, Deputy Director, Head of Tax Strategy Policy and Engagement

Supporting papers:

Draft Budget 2021 - 2022

FIN(5)-01-21 P1 - Consultation responses booklet

FIN(5)-01-21 P2 - Summary of consultation responses

FIN(5)-01-21 P3 - Letter from the First Minister: Responsibilities of the Counsel General - 23 December 2020

Research Brief

3.1 The Committee took evidence from Rebecca Evans MS, Minister for Finance and Trefnydd; Andrew Jeffreys, Director Treasury, Welsh Government; Margaret Davies, Deputy Director of Strategic Budgeting, Welsh Government; Matt Wellington, Head of Budget Delivery, Welsh Government; and Anna Adams, Deputy Director, Head of Tax Strategy Policy and Engagement, on the scrutiny of the Welsh Government's Draft budget 2021-22.

3.2 The Minister for Finance and Trefnydd agreed to:

·         provide an update on the work of the income tax working group;

·         share the analysis of information gathered from all colleges on the impact of the personal learning accounts;

·         share information on the costs of changing the criteria for free school meals; and

·         share the analysis on the impact of creating a higher tax band for Non-residential property transactions.

Rebecca Evans MS, Minister for Finance and Trefnydd

Andrew Jeffreys, Director Treasury, Welsh Government

Margaret Davies, Deputy Director of Strategic Budgeting, Welsh Government

Matt Wellington, Head of Budget Delivery, Welsh Government

Anna Adams, Deputy Director, Head of Tax Strategy Policy and Engagement

Supporting papers: 

FIN(5)-01-21 P4 - The Land Transaction Tax (Tax Bands and Tax Rates) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 

SUB-LD13969 - The Land Transaction Tax (Tax Bands and Tax Rates) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 

SUB-LD13969-EM - The Land Transaction Tax (Tax Bands and Tax Rates) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 - Explanatory Memorandum 

FIN(5)-01-21 P5 - The Land Transaction Tax (Specified Amount of Relevant Rent) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 

SUB-LD13973 - The Land Transaction Tax (Specified Amount of Relevant Rent) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 

SUB-LD13973-EM - The Land Transaction Tax (Specified Amount of Relevant Rent) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 - Explanatory Memorandum 

FIN(5)-01-21 P6 - The Landfill Disposals Tax (Tax Rates) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 

SUB-LD13968 - The Landfill Disposals Tax (Tax Rates) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 

SUB-LD13968-EM The Landfill Disposals Tax (Tax Rates) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 - Explanatory Memorandum

FIN(5)-01-21 P7 - Letter from the National Registration Landlords Association to the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd: Changes to Land Transaction Tax Higher Rate – 5 January 2021

4.1 The Committee took evidence from Rebecca Evans MS, Minister for Finance and Trefnydd; Andrew Jeffreys, Director Treasury, Welsh Government; Margaret Davies, Deputy Director of Strategic Budgeting, Welsh Government; Matt Wellington, Head of Budget Delivery, Welsh Government; and Anna Adams, Deputy Director, Head of Tax Strategy Policy and Engagement, on Tax Statutory Instruments.

5.1 The motion was agreed.

6.1 The Committee considered the evidence received.

7.1 The Committee considered the evidence received and agreed to report on the statutory instruments.

Supporting papers:

FIN(5)-01-21 P8 – Draft letter

8.1 The Committee considered the draft letter.

Supporting papers:

FIN(5)-01-21 P9 – Forward Work Programme

9.1 The Committee considered the forward work programme.