Welsh Conservatives have today welcomed broad support for their stamp duty proposals.

Three Welsh building societies have issued statements backing the Assembly group's positive move in starting the debate:

Earlier this week Welsh Conservatives pledged to abolish stamp duty on the sale of all properties in Wales valued up to £250,000.

Powers to vary stamp duty levels are set to be transferred to the Welsh Government in the Wales Bill.

Monmouthshire, Swansea, and Principality building societies have all broadly welcomed the proposal and the start of the stamp duty debate.

Their full comments are available via WalesOnline at:

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business/business-news/building-societies-welcome-tory-stamp-6680992

Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Finance, Paul Davies AM, said:

"I'm extremely pleased to see this broad support for our stamp duty plans and our constructive move in opening this debate.

"Welsh Conservatives believe in a low tax economy – reducing taxes and helping to make Wales more entrepreneurial and prosperous.

"Stamp duty is a regressive tax and by scrapping it to our proposed level we can give a much-needed shot in the arm to the housing market and keep hard-earned cash in people's pockets.

"It is wholeheartedly welcome to see three of our largest building societies making their views known and supporting further debate.

"It's now up to Labour ministers to properly engage and look carefully at our positive and constructive proposal."