Wales seeks powers over council tax

10 Dec 2009

Wales would control council tax on holiday homes and council tenants' right to buy under new powers being sought by the Assembly government.

Housing minister Jocelyn Davies says she is confident that Assembly members will agree that they and not Westminster MPs are the lawmakers best placed to pass legislation for Wales.

Her previous attempt at 'devolution' was derailed by speculation over what legislation Welsh ministers would seek to introduce if and when they had the power to do so.

Although a deal would have allowed the Assembly to temporarily suspend the right to buy if there was a shortages of cheap homes, Westminster agreement would have been needed to to scrap the scheme altogether.

Opposition AMs complained it handed the UK Government a veto over the Assembly. The latest legislative competence order is broader, reflecting two years of policy making on affordable housing.

Says Ms Davies: "I think last time the debate was narrowly focused around speculation of what might or might not be in a measure. I am looking forward to the opportunity of going to the Welsh Affairs Committee and presenting a case that it's appropriate that these legislative powers rest here with the Assembly."

Copyright © Press Association 2009

www.wales.gov.uk/housingandcommunity (Welsh Assembly)

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Morgan Cole Partner Emyr Lewis comments:

The interesting legal point is that a Parliamentary Committee that scrutinises LCOs and other statutory instruments ruled that giving the veto to the Secretary of State over the Assembly's law-making powers would be illegal, which is the main reason the previous attempt failed.