Oral Answers to Questions

Susan Elan Jones Excerpts

Wednesday 12th February 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Jones]

I am hugely grateful to the hon. Gentleman for the interest he shows in the Welsh tourism industry. I invite him to visit Wales and see what a competitive product we have there.

[Susan Elan Jones (Clwyd South) (Lab)]

11. How many people in Wales benefited from the recent reduction in the additional rate of income tax.

[The Secretary of State for Wales (Mr David Jones)]

Approximately 4,000 people in Wales pay the additional rate of income tax.

[Susan Elan Jones]

I thank the Secretary of State for that brief response. In his maiden speech as a Member of the Welsh Assembly, the right hon. Gentleman said, “We have no tax-raising powers—long may that state of affairs continue.” As someone who supported the Assembly having tax-levying powers in the 1997 referendum, I find that view extraordinary. Surely the reason he now wants income tax to be devolved to Wales is to cut public services and cut taxes for the rich.

[Mr Jones]

Rather than concentrating on what I said in 2002, the hon. Lady ought to listen to what her hon. Friend the Member for Pontypridd (Owen Smith) said only last week. The Labour Government in Wales do not want income tax devolved to Wales, but the Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition Government here in Westminster do.