The Electoral Commission
The Electoral Commission oversees UK elections and political finance. Public approval of the commission is high, but reviews have proposed potential reforms.
The Committee Stage of the Wales Bill is summarised in this note.
Wales Bill 2013-14: Progress of the Bill (258 KB , PDF)
This is a note on the House of Commons Committee Stage of the Wales Bill. It complements the Research Paper Wales Bill 2013-14 prepared for the Commons Second Reading.
The Bill devolves some tax-raising powers to the National Assembly for Wales. Stamp duty and landfill tax are devolved. Some powers over income tax are also devolved, subject to approval in a referendum.
The Bill also changes the term of the Assembly to five years, allows candidates to stand in constituencies and regions at the same time and removes the possibility of sitting in both the Assembly and in the House of Commons.
No amendments were made to the constitutional provisions of the Bill. There were some largely technical amendments to the financial provisions at Committee stage.
Wales Bill 2013-14: Progress of the Bill (258 KB , PDF)
The Electoral Commission oversees UK elections and political finance. Public approval of the commission is high, but reviews have proposed potential reforms.
Construction work to repair buildings, including historic churches, is charged VAT at the 20% standard rate. The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme provides grants to mitigate the VAT costs for these repairs.
The 2024 elections accentuated a three-way split in the French National Assembly, leading to further instability. The government appointed in September had fallen by the end of the year.