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Ex-senior Plaid politicians on new tax collection body

Welsh Government Jocelyn Davies and Dyfed EdwardsWelsh Government
Jocelyn Davies and Dyfed Edwards are among five new WRA board members announced

Two Plaid Cymru politicians are among five board members at Wales' new tax collection authority.

Jocelyn Davies is a former assembly member and deputy minister while Dyfed Edwards was leader of Gwynedd council.

From April 2018, the Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA) will collect and manage landfill disposals tax and a land transaction tax replacing stamp duty.

It will also be responsible for collecting a portion of income tax from 2019.

Ms Davies was a deputy housing and regeneration minister under the Labour-Plaid coalition government, that ran from 2007 to 2011, and also the party's business manager in the Senedd.

She left the assembly in 2016.

Mr Edwards stood down as Plaid Cymru leader of Gwynedd council and vice president of the Welsh Local Government Association in May.

Welsh Government Dyfed AlsopWelsh Government
Dyfed Alsop has already been in charge of work to create the Welsh Revenue Authority for over a year

The WRA's chief executive will be Dyfed Alsop, who previously worked at HSBC bank, HM Revenue and Customs, and HM Treasury.

He has also led the preparations to set up the authority.

Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford said he was pleased to confirm the appointments of Mr Alsop and the five WRA board members, "who will have the important task of overseeing its work".

"Dyfed and all board members bring a wealth of experience to their roles and together will play a key role in ensuring a smooth transition to tax powers," Mr Drakeford said.

Ministers in Cardiff will also be able to cut or raise income taxes in Wales by 10p within each tax band from 2019, but the Labour-led government has pledged not to make any changes to existing income tax rates before 2021.

It is estimated the WRA will collect more than £1bn in tax revenue over the next four years.