Wales

Lord Harlech Excerpts

Tuesday 26th November 2024 Lords Chamber

[Lord Wigley (PC)]

My Lords—

[Lord Harlech (Con)]

My Lords—

[Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Lab Co-op)]

Let us hear from the noble Lord, Lord Harlech.

[Lord Harlech (Con)]

I am grateful to the noble Lord. Tourism is one of the most important areas for the Welsh economy. Indeed, many farmers and farming families have diversified into tourism. They are already reeling from the Budget announcement, but today the Welsh Government are going to put in place a levy on overnight tourist visitors. How can this be in any way good for growth and prosperity of Wales?

[Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)]

As the noble Lord will know, this is a devolved matter. The Government respect the devolution settlement and the Senedd’s ability to legislate on it. Both this Government and the Welsh Government understand the importance of tourism to local economies, economic growth and jobs.