logo
Query over Welsh Government's £4m Uganda planting spending

Query over Welsh Government's £4m Uganda planting spending

With finances tight in Wales, look at the state of the roads, the badly underperforming NHS. Quite how they can justify such expense beggars belief.
But it would seem a fair solution would be for the Welsh Labour party to refund the amount out of their funds to the Welsh budget.
If it comes out of their own money, they will hopefully be more rational about what they spend other people's money on.
Just another nail in the coffin of the Welsh Labour who have over 25 years in running the Senedd, proving they are so far out of their depth.
If they had an ounce of common sense or any morals, they would call a snap election.
They should be acutely embarrassed.
R Brading,
Wales
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Rachel Reeves could solve all her problems with a VAT raid
Rachel Reeves could solve all her problems with a VAT raid

Times

time4 hours ago

  • Times

Rachel Reeves could solve all her problems with a VAT raid

How can the government fill the £50 billion fiscal black hole that the National Institute for Economic and Social Research identified last week? Abandoning our fiscal rules is a non-starter. These are a weak enough constraint as it is, and with the UK already borrowing more, and at higher costs, than most other major economies, our room to ramp up debt is severely limited. Spending cuts are neither impossible nor impractical. Current plans suggest that annual government spending in the 2029-30 tax year will be about £60 billion higher in real terms than it is now. Limiting the overall increase to inflation over the next few years would solve the problem. Yet a large part of government spending — on debt interest, pensions and an ailing NHS — is hard to manage in the short term. The result is that spending uplifts linked only to inflation would require a degree of radicalism that the government lacks the policy-thinking, democratic mandate and political will to deliver. If ministers couldn't trim around the edges of the welfare bill, then saving £50 billion is going to be a tall order. And so we come, inevitably, to tax increases. The National Institute for Economic and Social Research correctly argues against further taxes on jobs, savings, investment and profits, noting their anti-growth impact. It correctly points out that revenue increases on this scale must come from the big, broad-based taxes: namely, income tax or VAT. The conventional wisdom prefers to raise income tax rates because it's a progressive tax, meaning that the burden is spread more 'fairly', with the better-off bearing a relatively higher burden. But I believe there is a better option from an economic standpoint. • Read more money advice and tips on investing from our experts Britain's VAT base is exceptionally narrow by international standards. Broadening it could raise huge amounts of revenue while also simplifying the tax system and removing some of the economic distortions it creates. Both the politics and the policy design of such a move would be challenging, to say the least, but they are not insurmountable. Why VAT? First, properly structured consumption taxes are relatively benign from an economic standpoint. Unlike taxes on income or profits, they don't discourage saving and investment. Second, a narrow VAT base — the result of too many exemptions, reduced and zero rates, and a high registration threshold — causes all kinds of problems of its own. It makes VAT extremely complicated and burdensome to administer. It distorts economic decision-making in a variety of unhelpful ways, like the huge pile-up of small businesses that are just below the registration threshold. A narrow VAT base is also a very inefficient way to help the poor, since most of the benefit in cash terms goes to those who spend the most — that is, the rich — even if that spending is a relatively smaller share of their household disposable income. • Parents beat VAT on private school fees raid by paying £500m up front Third, the potential revenue gains are huge. To use an extreme example, if our VAT base were as broad as New Zealand's (the global paragon of simplicity and efficiency) we could raise at least an extra £150 billion by 2029/30. That's enough to balance the budget, compensate lower-income households, and introduce offsetting pro-growth tax cuts all at the same time. Of course, there would be downsides. We would see a one-off boost to inflation (of perhaps 3-4 per cent) when the standard rate of VAT was applied to a much wider range of goods and services. And small companies would complain loudly about being dragged into the VAT net, even if, in the long run, businesses overall would benefit mightily from simplification. But when we're talking about fiscal consolidation on this scale, there are no pain-free options; it is all about trade-offs. The government ought to prioritise spending restraint as well as pro-growth regulatory reforms to boost the economy. But if higher taxes are unavoidable, broadening the VAT base has much more to recommend it economically than any other option. Tom Clougherty is the executive director at the Institute of Economic Affairs, a free-market think tank based in London

Cardiff to host service to mark 80th anniversary of VJ Day
Cardiff to host service to mark 80th anniversary of VJ Day

Rhyl Journal

time5 hours ago

  • Rhyl Journal

Cardiff to host service to mark 80th anniversary of VJ Day

The ceremony, taking place at the Wales National War Memorial, will honour Welsh veterans who served in the Asia Pacific during the Second World War. Huw Irranca-Davies, the Deputy First Minister of Wales, said: "Today we honour the Welsh veterans and all those who served in Asia Pacific during the Second World War. "On this 80th anniversary, we remember not only their service, but also the importance of reconciliation. "We must ensure their stories and sacrifices are never forgotten, so that future generations can understand the true cost of war and the value of peace." Mr Irranca-Davies will lay a wreath alongside MP Dame Nia Griffiths and Mr Masaki Ikegami, Deputy Ambassador for the Japanese Embassy in the UK. He will also host a private reception at the Temple of Peace, where families of VJ veterans will gather to remember their loved ones.

Senedd Member concerned over possible cuts to Powys buses
Senedd Member concerned over possible cuts to Powys buses

Powys County Times

time10 hours ago

  • Powys County Times

Senedd Member concerned over possible cuts to Powys buses

Passengers looking to travel between Newtown and Cardiff could face delays as major changes are coming to the route. From September, the T4 bus route between the Powys town and the Welsh capital city will reportedly undergo major changes, as Celtic Travel will be taking over part of the service. But this has created concerns that the direct link service will be scrapped. While currently, passengers can travel between Newtown and Cardiff on a single T4 bus with no changes, the new arrangement could see Celtic Travel operating the service from Newtown to Merthyr only, meaning passengers will need to transfer to the X4 service to travel to places south of Merthyr, such as Pontypridd and Cardiff. James Evans, Member of the Senedd (MS) for Brecon and Radnorshire, has expressed concerns over this X4 route taking longer due to additional stops in Treforest. He said: 'Transport for Wales' promises of an 'enhanced' service are a sham. Instead, we are seeing timetables reduced, direct buses withdrawn and significantly longer travel times to reach Cardiff. These contractual changes are not progress – this is a step backwards for the residents of Brecon & Radnorshire. 'We don't have a final timetable published as yet – but I fear what further changes they are planning next for the Brecon to Hereford route, and Brecon to Abergavenny route. 'Our bus services are a lifeline in this area, whether for travelling for work or social, and I cannot believe Transport for Wales think these changes are an 'enhancement' – it is the very opposite of that.' Further cuts to the T4 service include the reduction in the timetable and removal of stops at Bronllys and Talgarth. Mr Evans said he is due to meet with Transport for Wales officials later in August where he plans to discuss the concerns over cuts to these bus services. A Transport for Wales spokesperson said: "The T14 service between Brecon and Hereford will no longer operate as part of the TrawsCymru network. "The service will continue to run under the local bus network, ensuring continuity for passengers while allowing for greater alignment with regional transport needs."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store