Press release

Wales Bill amendments to give Welsh Assembly powers to determine voting age in income tax referendum

Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb: “I want the Welsh Government to get new tax raising powers.”

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Stephen Crabb today (11 November) stressed his determination to work with the Welsh Government to help secure new income tax raising powers for the Welsh Assembly.

Mr Crabb said he was committed to removing any obstacles that may prevent the Welsh Government from making full use of the new financial powers on offer.

Mr Crabb said the UK Government would bring forward amendments to the Wales Bill to give the power to the Welsh Assembly to determine whether 16 and 17 year-olds should have the right to vote in an income tax referendum.

The amendments will be debated in the House of Lords during the third reading of the Bill on 24 November.

If approved, it would mean that the Assembly can decide whether 16 and 17 year-olds in Wales can vote in a referendum on new income tax powers.

Secretary of State for Wales Stephen Crabb said:

New income tax powers are a valuable tool to help the Welsh economy become more dynamic and make the Welsh Government more accountable. I want to make sure that the Welsh Government gets these new powers.

I know that there are strongly held views on allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in a referendum but I have listened to the views in the House of Lords and decided that this is a matter on which the Assembly should decide.

The Assembly has the power to call an income tax referendum – and it is right that they decide the age of those who can vote on this issue.

Published 11 November 2014