Tax Advisory Group meeting: 5 March 2014

Members of the Tax Advisory Group

• Minister for Finance, Jane Hutt AM (Chair)
• Andrew Evans - Geldards
• Frank Haskew - The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) David Phillips - Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS)
• Victoria Winckler - Bevan Foundation
• Emma Watkins – Confederation of British Industry (CBI) Wales
• Janet Jones - Federation of Small Businesses
• Robert Lloyd Griffiths – Institute of Directors (IoD) Wales
• Kay Powell - The Law Society
• Martin Mansfield - Wales Trades Union Congress (TUC) Cymru
• Phil Jarrold – Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA)

In attendance

• Jeff Andrews - Specialist Advisor to the Minister for Finance
• Andrew Jeffreys – Head of Strategic Investment and Financial Reform
• Gareth Morgan – Deputy Director, Financial Reform
• Georgina Haarhoff - Head of Tax Policy & Legislation
• Emma Baff - Senior Private Secretary to the Minister for Finance
• Claire McDonald - Welsh Treasury Implementation Programme Manager
• Ruth Leggett - Strategic Communications & Engagement Manager, Welsh Treasury Implementation Programme
• Trudi King - Group Secretariat

1. The Minister for Finance chaired the first meeting of the Tax Advisory Group (TAG) for Wales at Tŷ Hywel on Wednesday, 5 March 2014.

2. The minister welcomed participants to the first meeting and thanked them for agreeing to be members of the group.

3. The Finance Minister said that it was important to make progress with devolution by ensuring that powers were given for a purpose and that she would like to see clear principles of a fair, simple and stable tax regime that supported and promoted jobs and growth in Wales. Members of the group mentioned that they would also like to see some challenging debate within the group to help facilitate ideas for new Welsh taxes.

4. It was noted there would be times when TAG members would be asked to go out to their networks and consult so that their members have the opportunity of feeding into the process.

5. Members discussed the terms of reference (ToR) for the TAG. The ToR was agreed subject to a slight amendment to include the possibility of the group consulting with and seeking advice from additional advisors and experts if and when appropriate.

6. The group heard 2 short presentations, the first on the progress of the Draft Wales Bill, and the second on tax collection and management.

7. The Minister for Finance thanked the group for their contributions and said that the group would meet next in June and again in the autumn.