LATER this month, the Welsh Assembly goes into recess for the summer with no plenary sessions over the summer.

Predictably this means we have a busy month fitting everything Welsh Labour wanted to do this legislative year into the final few weeks.

Worryingly, it is now that the Welsh Government bring forward a debate on introducing new taxes.

They propose to “test” the Welsh Assembly’s new powers on taxation.

But, taxation isn’t a tool to be tested to see what it is like.

Taxes should only be put forward when there is a clear and identifiable reason to do so.

Is the Welsh Government looking to impose a new tax just because it potentially can?

Or is the Welsh Government, keen to practice, to pull some levers and press some buttons to see what happens, a bit like my three year old when I let him in the front of the car?

The government shouldn’t take money from the public just because they want to see if they can.

People are generally better placed to determine how to spend their own money than a bureaucrat in Cardiff.

Why is the Welsh Labour government so keen to dream up new ways to take people’s money?

I was pleased that the assembly’s finance committee recently met in Newport.

However, I was less impressed when the cabinet secretary for finance referred approvingly to a report by the Bevan Commission pushing new taxes: a tourism tax; a sunbed tax; and a takeaway packaging tax.

But aren’t we trying to encourage tourism?

And aren’t we in danger of forgetting the purpose of tax?

Surely it is to raise money when necessary, not to punish people for using sunbeds or enjoying takeaways?

I fear the Welsh Government wants new taxes to strong-arm the people of Wales into government approved “good” behaviour.

This is not something we should stand by and allow to happen.