Latest news with #SamRowlands
South Wales Guardian
21 minutes ago
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Senedd is set to sign off on £1.30-a-night tourism tax
Senedd members voted on amendments to the tourism tax bill, which would see £1.30 a person, plus VAT, charged on stays in hotels, B&Bs and self-catering accommodation. A lower rate of 80p would apply to hostels and campsites, with the 22 councils in Wales given powers to decide whether to introduce a local levy from 2027 at the earliest. During a two-hour 'stage-three' debate, finance secretary Mark Drakeford told the Senedd it is likely the bill will operate in some parts of Wales but not others. If passed as expected at the fourth and final stage next week, the bill would also establish a register of visitor accommodation providers with separate plans for licensing set to follow. Sam Rowlands, the Conservatives' shadow finance secretary, reiterated his party's concerns about the proposals, with the tourism sector 'united in its opposition to the bill.' Mr Rowlands said tourism is responsible for one in eight jobs and the multi-billion-pound sector pumps significant funds into the public purse through other taxes. Conservative amendments aimed at removing powers in the bill for Welsh ministers to extend the tourism tax to berths and moorings were voted down. Mr Rowlands' amendment to give councils flexibility to introduce either of the levy rates, rather than being required to bring in both or none, was voted down as were his calls for a 'more proportional and fairer' percentage-based tax and an attempt to set the levy at 1p. Proposals for a tourism tax were part of the three-year cooperation agreement, between Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Government, which collapsed in May 2024. Luke Fletcher reiterated Plaid Cymru's support, describing the current tourism model as 'overly extractive in nature which then puts considerable pressure on communities.' Conservative calls for educational trips, young carers, veterans and people living in Wales to be added to exemptions to the tax were rejected by the Senedd. With Labour and Plaid holding two thirds of seats, and barring a Leighton Andrews-style mishap, the bill as amended on July 1 is highly likely to be passed on July 8.
South Wales Guardian
39 minutes ago
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Senedd told 'business as usual' budget planned by government
Wales' finance secretary said the 2026/27 budget will restate this financial year's spending plans, plus an increase in line with inflation, ahead of the May 2026 election. He told the Senedd: 'This will not be a budget which focuses on new priorities or fresh policies. That, I believe, will be for political parties to put before the Welsh electorate.' Prof Drakeford confirmed the Welsh Government will publish an outline draft budget on October 14, 2025, with a more detailed draft to follow on November 4. In previous years, the draft budget has been published in mid-December – just before the Senedd breaks for Christmas, prompting concerns about scrutiny being curtailed. The earlier timeframe will pose its own challenges with the UK Government autumn budget, which is likely to affect funding for Wales, expected in late October or early November. Prof Drakeford will be presenting his sixth and final budget to the Senedd before standing down at the next election after decades at the centre of Welsh politics. He told the Senedd: 'We cannot let uncertainty over the UK Government's autumn budget drive our own timelines and plans.' Prof Drakeford said the politically neutral budget will make hundreds of millions available to get the next Senedd off to a stable and ambitious start. He stated he would have liked – ideally – to bring forward a multi-year budget but the cabinet decided on a single-year 'business-as-usual' budget due to the election. Sam Rowlands, the Tories' shadow finance secretary, welcomed an earlier-than-usual timeline, recognising the driver as next year's poll. Peredur Owen Griffiths, the Plaid Cymru chair of the Senedd's finance committee, welcomed a return to a two-stage budget process for the first time in seven years. Following the statement, a Plaid Cymru spokesperson said: "It is the responsibility of the Labour Welsh Government to develop and publish spending plans up to and including the final year of the Senedd term. 'Plaid Cymru will scrutinise the budget when it is laid and will, as ever, act in the best interests of the people of Wales.' Following scrutiny in the Senedd, the final 2026/27 budget will be published on January 20, with a debate and key vote to follow on January 27.
South Wales Argus
20-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Senedd rejection for renewed calls for M4 relief road
Sam Rowlands described the M4 relief road as a golden opportunity, not only to ease congestion for motorists but also to boost the economy. The Conservatives' shadow finance secretary said the Welsh Government spent £135m of public money on the project before it was scrapped in June 2019. He accused then-first minister Mark Drakeford of breaking a pledge on the £1.6bn relief road and going against an inquiry's finding that the costs would outweigh the benefits two to one. Mr Rowlands told the Senedd: 'At every step of this journey, there's been indecision and money wasted. At the end of it all, it's been the Welsh people who've had to suffer as a result. And nothing has been done to ease congestion around Newport ever since.' Peredur Owen Griffiths, Plaid Cymru's shadow transport secretary, criticised the Tories for calling for a new road through a site of special scientific interest. Calling for a more affordable and environmentally sustainable solution, he raised the lengthy and costly completion of the Heads of the Valleys Road improvements. He told the Senedd: 'After 23 years of roadworks and around £2bn later, [the] Welsh Government will now pay more than £40m a year for 30 years to a private firm before the road will be publicly owned in 2055.' Mr Owen Griffiths, who represents South Wales East, criticised the Welsh Government for being 'too slow' to put forward a genuine alternative solution to M4 congestion. John Griffiths welcomed £445m from the UK spending review for rail in Wales, including three new railway stations planned in his Newport East constituency. Mr Griffiths called for urgency in taking forward the recommendations of the Burns commission 'after far too much delay'. Natasha Asghar said her constituents in South Wales East are regularly faced with bumper-to-bumper traffic and long delays on the route which is not fit for purpose. 'These never ending clogs are not just a nightmare for those stuck in them, they're also a major economic roadblock,' she said. 'The constant gridlock and unreliable nature of the M4 is undoubtedly making Wales a less attractive place to do business.' Senedd members voted 32-12 against the Tory motion following the debate on June 18.
Wales Online
19-06-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
'The Welsh people have had to suffer' over lack of action on M4
'The Welsh people have had to suffer' over lack of action on M4 The Brynglas tunnels were called a "national 26 years of mismanagement" (Image: South Wales Echo ) People in Wales have had to suffer because of the Welsh Government's decision to scrap the M4 relief road, Senedd members said. A debate in Cardiff Bay heard arguments from a series of Conservative Senedd members criticising the decision, made six years ago this month not to proceed with a £1.5bn plan to divert the M4 south of Newport on a new six-lane route to avoid the Brynglas tunnels bottleneck. One Tory MS said the Brynglas tunnels were a "national 26 years of mismanagement". The Welsh Conservatives picked the M4 relief road as the topic of their debate in the meeting of the full Senedd, calling for the Welsh Government to put the idea back on the table. You can read the history to the debate here. Both Plaid Cymru and Labour voted against the motion. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . Former deputy minister for transport Lee Waters told the Senedd "new roads lead to more traffic". Article continues below He said before the tolls on the Severn Bridge were removed in 2018 traffic was forecast to rise by 17%. However, he said National Highways figures show it is now up 34% compared to when there were tolls. "That's what happens when you increase road capacity, when you encourage and incentivise driving—32,000 vehicles a day now crossing the Severn bridge. A University of London study last year showed that, as a result, more people are now commuting from Newport to Bristol because what happens when you increase road capacity is people simply move further away from their place of work. So they drive further. "As a result, house prices within a 5km range of the bridge are now up by 13%. Double the rise in Newport. So that's what happens. People travel more. "They travel further from their place of living to their work, and more journeys are created. So, as soon as you've built the road, the traffic congestion levels are up and, lo and behold, what's the next demand? Build another road to relieve the congestion. And round and round we go. And the evidence is clear, it doesn't work." However, the Welsh Conservatives criticised the scheme being stopped. Welsh Conservative MS Sam Rowlands told colleagues: "The Welsh Government spent £135.7 million of public money on plans for the M4 relief road before scrapping it. "FOI requests from the Welsh Conservatives on the scheme found that 29 homes were purchased for over £15 million through compulsory purchase orders. "Two of these properties were bought for £575,000 and £400,000 in April 2019, just two months before the First Minister decided to ditch the scheme. "At least £44 million was spent by the Welsh Government on development costs and a public inquiry, an inquiry that in fact backed the building of the relief road, saying the economic benefit of the project would outweigh the cost by two to one. "At every step of this journey, there's been indecision and money wasted. "At the end of it all, it's been the Welsh people who've had to suffer as a result." Fellow Conservative MS Gareth Davies said: "The Brynglas tunnels have become a national symbol—a bottleneck where people sit stationary for miles in traffic. It's a perfect illustration of 26 years of mismanagement". Transport minister Ken Skates refuted the Welsh Government had "stood still" in improving things at the M4. Article continues below "Lord Burns and the South East Wales Transport Commission put forward recommendations on both the short-and-long-term solutions to relieve congestion, and the short-term measures have been fully implemented on the M4," he said. He referenced plans for the so-called Burns stations - east Cardiff, west Newport, Somerton, Llanwern, and Magor and Undy - which saw a financial commitment from the UK Government in Rachel Reeves' spending review. You can see the five stations here.
Leader Live
07-06-2025
- General
- Leader Live
Outdoor activities safety concerns raised by North Wales MS
Sam Rowlands, a Welsh parliament member for the region, requested an update from the Welsh government regarding improvements to outdoor safety. The chairman of the cross-party group on the outdoor activity sector questioned Huw Irranca-Davies, deputy first minister and cabinet secretary for climate change and rural affairs, about efforts to improve safety for outdoor pursuits. Mr Rowlands said: "You will know the good work that takes place through the cross-party group on the outdoor activity sector in Wales, and you'll also agree with me that we have some of the best outdoor activity organisations here in Wales that you could possibly imagine. "There have, though, been some recent tragic high-profile cases where basic safety standards in the outdoors have been ignored and caused tragic circumstances to arise." He also pointed out ongoing pressures on organisations such as mountain rescue, which aid people who find themselves in dangerous situations outdoors. Mr Rowlands expressed concern over the lack of clear direction from the Welsh government regarding responsibility for outdoor safety and associated legislation. He inquired about a point of contact for the sector to engage with as they strive to assure the public of safe outdoor enjoyment. READ MORE: NHS Wales to remove no-show patients from waiting lists, health secretary confirms In response, the minister confirmed that the Welsh government is committed to promoting safety, with a focus on prevention and risk mitigation for outdoor activities. Mr Rowlands added: "I firmly believe that everyone should be able to take part in activities safely outdoors and in particular that all young children should have the opportunity to enjoy outdoor education. "I recently met up with Scouts at Cox Wood Campsite in Rossett to see for myself how young people are able to benefit from taking part in all sorts of activities including being taught survival tips."
