"Silence is not always Golden" (Kirsty Williams AM )

Cymraeg
English

Kirsty Williams AM <info@kirstywilliams.org.uk>

"Silence is not always Golden"

November 27, 2006 11:38 AM

Welsh Liberal Democrat Enterprise, Innovation and Networks spokesperson, Kirsty Williams, has discovered that the EIN Minister has failed to investigate the possibility of varying corporation tax in Wales.

Following questions from Ms Williams, the Minister admitted he has had no discussions with either the Treasury or his colleagues in Northern Ireland on the subject.

Ms Williams said: "Silence is not always golden, especially when it comes to standing up for Wales. There is a very real possibility that corporation tax could be cut in Northern Ireland, it's certainly something that they're talking about in Scotland, but in Wales….well, we're getting left behind yet again. It is vital that the Welsh Assembly Government is at least thinking about the implications of the plans for Northern Ireland and their impact on the Welsh economy; I am shocked that the Minster has so far failed to do so."

Notes:

· Ms Williams submitted written questions to the EIN Minister on November 14th, asking what discussions the Minister had had with the Treasury and with his colleagues in Northern Ireland regarding the possibility of varying corporation tax. The Minister's reply was one word: "None".

· A paper published by the Economic Research Institute and backed by the head of the civil service in Northern Ireland called for companies there to be exempt from corporation tax on the first 60 per cent of their profits, the equivalent of businesses paying a 12 per cent rate. Corporation tax in the Irish Republic is 12.5 per cent. In the UK it is 30 per cent.