Jul102017

Consultation on criminal enforcement powers for the Welsh Revenue Authority launched

Welsh Government

From April 2018, the Welsh Revenue Authority will be responsible for collecting and managing landfill disposals tax and land transaction tax – the two taxes being devolved to Wales. They will replace landfill tax and stamp duty land tax, respectively, which are currently collected by HMRC.

HMRC have a wide range of criminal enforcement powers, which help it to tackle and deter tax crime, in relation to stamp duty land tax and landfill tax. 

The consultation being launched today asks for views about the advantages and disadvantages of the WRA having a similar set of criminal enforcement powers for land transaction tax and landfill disposals tax but with some differences in scope.

For example, powers of arrest and detention are not proposed as they are not regarded as necessary or proportionate. However, powers to gain entry to premises and seize information are. 

The consultation also sets out the proposed safeguards for citizens. 

Launching the consultation, Professor Drakeford said:  

“In nine months’ time the Welsh Government will raise our own taxes for the first time in almost 800 years. 

“The effective collection of taxes is vital to fund the public services we all rely on.  To protect these services, it is important we have a tax system that is fair – making it easy for people to pay the right amount of tax at the right time, while tackling and deterring those who seek to evade paying tax.

“That is why I am today launching this consultation about proposals to ensure the Welsh Revenue Authority has the right and proportionate criminal investigative powers in place to tackle and deter devolved tax crime.   

“No government should legislate to provide a public authority with criminal powers unless it is necessary. HMRC currently uses criminal powers in Wales to tackle and deter tax crime in relation to the two taxes being devolved in April and has a clearly-defined set of safeguards to ensure those powers are used proportionately and appropriately. I believe the WRA should be no different.

“The devolution of taxes brings with it new duties – one of which is to protect the interests of law abiding citizens by tackling those who would seek to evade their responsibilities. 

“I urge everyone with an interest to get involved and share their views with us on this important issue.”

Jul102017

News story: Ministers step up engagement with small businesses

HM Government

At a roundtable with small businesses today, Government Ministers reiterated their determination to have a two way dialogue with small businesses throughout the process of EU exit.

Hosted by the Federation of Small Business, the event was attended by Robin Walker, Minister for Exiting the European Union and Margot James, Minister for Small Business as well as representatives from the FSB and various small businesses.

During the roundtable attendees discussed the important part that the UK’s five million small businesses play in the economy and looked at issues such as the Repeal Bill, market access and skills.

It follows a conference held at Chevening House, during which Ministers from the Department for Exiting the EU, the Treasury and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy came together with business leaders to discuss EU exit.

Robin Walker, Minister for Exiting the European Union, said:

Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy and we want to ensure that they continue to flourish long after we leave the EU.

That is why we are stepping up our engagement with businesses throughout the exit process, ensuring we can help them to capitalise on the opportunities that arise and address the challenges that they may face.

We have been clear that providing businesses with certainty is a key priority and the forthcoming Repeal Bill will give Britain’s businesses confidence that they won’t face unexpected changes on the day we leave the EU.

Margot James, Small Business Minister, said:

We want the UK to remain the best place in the world to start and grow a business. This is why we are working closely with Britain’s small businesses to ensure that the interests of small and medium sized businesses are well represented during the Brexit negotiations.

FSB is helping to ensure that that they play a key role as we deliver a long-term Industrial Strategy that builds on our strengths, as well as ensuring the voice of small businesses are heard loud and clear in our Brexit negotiations.

Mike Cherry, National Chairman of the Federation of Small Business, said:

We are delighted to be hosting Ministers from the Department for Exiting the European Union and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

This is an opportunity for key Ministers, who will be playing a vital role in the exit process, to engage directly with FSB members and discuss their needs in a post-Brexit UK.

FSB has conducted a thorough series of research reports underpinned by in-depth member consultation as to what small businesses want from Brexit, from trade and exports, to jobs and skills, to the replacement of EU funding. And we know that Ministers and civil servants across the Government will be listening and responding to our findings, which will help inform a deal that works for small businesses and so fosters economic growth and job creation.

We will continue to be a constructive partner in these negotiations and ensure that the voice of the UK’s 5.5 million small businesses and self-employed is heard loud and clear.

Since last June the Government has been engaging extensively with businesses across the UK, travelling across the country for visits, roundtables and meetings. The Government will continue to have an open dialogue with the FSB and its members throughout the Brexit process.

Jul102017

Emily Thornberry response to High Court’s ruling that UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia are legal

Labour

Emily
Thornberry MP, Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary, responding to the High Court’s
ruling that UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia are legal, said:

“This
is a frustrating setback, but that is all it is. It will not for one
second stop us fighting for justice on behalf of the thousands of
civilians killed by Saudi air-strikes, and working for peace on behalf of the
millions of ordinary Yemenis currently living in fear of violence, famine and
cholera.

“In
particular, we must first redouble our efforts to force the UK Government
to support an independent, UN-led investigation into alleged violations
of international humanitarian law by the Saudi coalition, one the
Government will not be able to circumvent through the presentation of secret
evidence in closed sessions of court.

“And
second, we must continue to demand that the Government brings forward the
peace plan that the UN has been waiting for Britain to present for the
last nine months, and does not treat today’s judgement as a green light to
continue pushing for a military solution which can only bring more death,
misery and hardship to the people of Yemen.”

Jul102017

Lucas: Selling arms to Saudi Arabia is 'utterly unethical'

Green Party

10 July 2017

Caroline Lucas, the co-leader of the Green Party, has suggested that a change of law is needed to stop arms sales to repressive regimes after the High Court ruled that the Government can continue to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia [1].

Lucas, who has been battling the Government over arms sales to Saudi Arabia for many years, accused the Government of being ‘utterly unethical’ by selling arms to a regime accused of breaking international law in Yemen. She is supporting the CAAT appeal against the verdict. 

Caroline Lucas MP, Green Party co-leader, said:

“Today’s verdict might mean that the Government is on the right side of the law for now, but it doesn’t give any moral justification for their utterly unethical actions when it comes to arms sales. While the strict legal verdict is that arms sales can continue, the only morally justifiable way forward would be an immediate arms embargo to Saudi Arabia. 

“This verdict suggests that a change of law is desperately needed, because the current legal framework is allowing Britain to sell weapons to a repressive regime whose actions in Yemen are causing a humanitarian disaster. This weak Government has said they are looking to work with other parties – they should start by forming a cross-party review into arms sales to repressive regimes.”

Notes:

1. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/10/uk-arms-exports-to-saudi-arabia-can-continue-high-court-rules?CMP=share_btn_tw

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Jul102017

Frank McAveety’s tribute to Alistair Watson

Scottish Labour

Alistair Watson Tribute

To all who are here today – Elected Members, Leader of the Council, former Leaders, MPs and MSPs – thank you for coming today on such a sad occasion.

I stand here today, on behalf of the Glasgow Labour Party, fellow councillors and party comrades, carrying out a task that is premature and totally unexpected.

We share the grief of Alistair’s family and their relations and friends.  A special word too for Cheryl, Jordan and their mum Christine, Alistair’s brothers Jackie and Brian, and the unforgettable Evie whom her Granda doted on.
It has been a tough few weeks for the Labour family in the City with the loss of former Councillor Margaret McCafferty and former Depute Lord Provost Gerry Leonard.

The news early last Thursday of the sudden loss of our friend and colleague Alistair Watson on the day of the final Council meeting before recess shocked everyone in the City Chambers.

Today as we join together, there are two motions that have been tabled in the House of Commons and the Scottish Parliament from an SNP MP and Labour MSP, demonstrating the high regard and respect held for our colleague Alistair Watson.

But the response from all the Party Leaders at the Full Council demonstrated the respect and love felt for our friend Alistair from across the political divide.

We all shared the thought that only Alistair – a Councillor well versed in the Machiavellian skulduggery essential for survival amidst the Victorian grandeur of the City Chambers – was achieving his final revenge by taking over the Full Council meeting.

Alistair would have enjoyed that as he had been a significant figure from the very first day he entered the City Chambers as an elected politician in 1995.

My first encounter with Alistair was to avoid him as he made his way into the Debating Chamber.  I wasn’t prepared to argue with a 6ft 3 inches railway worker from Govan whose affiliation in football terms was not quite what mine was.

But from that day on Alistair became more than just a physically towering figure in the City Chambers.  He made it his own as he represented his constituents to the best of his ability.

He relished the hurly burly of his work in the City Chambers; he enjoyed the nature of the boisterous Debating Chamber where he stood, rock like as his political opponents questioned his values and his party.

But Alistair could cope as he was a product of his family background; a son of Govan, proud of his time at Govan High School and his time working for the railways and representing fellow workers at Corkerhill Depot.

The Debating Chamber held no fear for Alistair and he ensured that his fellow Councillors would hear all about his passions and interests.

For 22 years that is what Alistair did ……
For 22 years we witnessed his commitments to the people of his Ward…
For 22 years we recognised his contribution to improving the great City of Glasgow.

Alistair loved what Local Government could do to transform his city and to ensure that every person in the city could realise whatever potential within them.

But Local Government needs people who have ideas that are transformative; people who think big about how to change a sometimes cautious and mighty institution.

Alistair was one of those who did think big : from the simple idea of his Socialist youth that ordinary men and women, if given the opportunity, can do extraordinary good things.

To the idea that Glasgow, once again – if given the power and resources – could recreate the ambition of its predecessors as they forged a model of municipal, democratic public services – serving the people and not Mammon.

I had the task, earlier this week, of sorting out the things that were in Alistair’s office.

Although it wasn’t difficult to gain access – I guessed his entry code was 1872!!

My oh my! What an office that was.

But if a room could sum up what the passions of Alistair Watson were they were contained within those four walls.

  • Many photographs of his family – in the good times when they were all together;
  • Some fantastic old railway registers – all hand written and entered by his predecessors in the past;
  • His train sets, his photograph of Govan High School at the Millennium; his Rangers pennant and Rangers tie! (How he loved to show me those!!)
  • His Labour Rosettes from endless campaigns ….

But there were three articles he had written that illustrated the driving commitments of Alistair’s political career.

They were all about Transport and Infrastructure:

  • One called “At a Crossroads” arguing for greater fairness in the allocation of national funding for roads maintenance;
  • another called “Waiting For A Bus” arguing for reregulation of buses;
  • and a third one titled “Getting On The Right Track” seeking public sector control of our taxpayer funded railway service.

What they all revealed was Alistair’s relentless quest for making a difference.

They revealed his passion for Glasgow.  He said:

“I love going around Scotland, but I always return to my home city of Glasgow”.

But most of all they revealed an unquenchable desire that the purpose of an elected member is to leave a legacy.What a legacy it would be for all of us in this hallowed Church – going back centuries to the heart of Scottish Christianity – if we in public office irrespective of our political affiliations – could fulfil the legacy on putting people and not profit first.

That was Alistair’s credo throughout life and we will miss the energy, passion and commitments he gave every day.

We, in the Labour Group, have lost not just a colleague – but a fighter, a thinker, a doer, a friend and a believer in the capacity of humanity to put each other first.

Alistair may now be on another journey but we should reflect on who he was and the contribution he made.
As he said:

“Mrs Thatcher was wrong.  You’re not a failure if you get on a bus.  You’re a decent member of the travelling public.  On the buses, there is such a thing as society.”
To Alistair’s family – be proud of what he achieved and remember, to the end, he wanted everyone to have a chance.  There can be no finer legacy than that.