Wales offered tax raising powers

The Welsh government will be offered some control over income tax subject to a referendum, UK Prime Minister David Cameron announced on the 1 November 2013.

Welsh Government's Finance Minister Jane Hutt welcomed the UK Government's announcement that it would devolve borrowing powers and some smaller taxes to Wales, in response to the first report by the Silk Commission.

The Commission on Devolution in Wales was launched by Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan on 11 October 2011. The Commission, chaired by Paul Silk, has eight unpaid members drawn from Welsh business, academia, the four main political parties and civic society.

The independent Commission was established to review the present financial and constitutional arrangements in Wales. It has carried out its work in two parts.

The Commission published its report (and Executive Summary) on Part I, which looked at fiscal powers, in November 2012.

The Commission is working on Part II of its remit, reviewing the powers of the National Assembly for Wales. The Commission will publish its report on Part II in the Spring of 2014.

First Minister Carwyn Jones said he would not pursue income tax powers until HM Treasury funding of Wales was reformed.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Devolution of powers to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland http://www.europeansources.info/record/devolution-of-powers-to-scotland-wales-and-northern-ireland/

Welsh Government: Press Release, 01.11.13: New powers are 'excellent news' for Wales - Jane Hutt http://wales.gov.uk/newsroom/finance1/2013/131101silk/?lang=en

Website: Commission on Devolution in Wales [ Chairman: Paul Silk] http://commissionondevolutioninwales.independent.gov.uk/

The Guardian, 01.11.13: Wales to gain more powers over tax and borrowing http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/nov/01/wales-more-powers-tax-borrowing-devolution

The Guardian, 01.11.13: Welsh tax powers ups the pace for Scotland and greater devolution http://www.theguardian.com/politics/scottish-independence-blog/2013/nov/01/scottish-independence-wales-tax-raising

BBC News, 03.11.13; Kirsty Williams: tax powers 'frighten' first minister http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-24797105

UK: Wales Office: News, 01.11.13: Powers for Wales in biggest devolution in decades https://www.gov.uk/government/news/powers-for-wales-in-biggest-devolution-in-decades

Wales: NAW: Research Service: In Brief, 05.11.13: Implementing Silk 1 http://assemblyinbrief.wordpress.com/2013/11/04/implementing-silk-1/

Western Mail, 25.11.13: Voters split on whether to give Assembly income tax-varying powers http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/voters-split-whether-give-assembly-6336279

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