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795741

registered interest
date	28/11/2017
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Solar Power: Non-domestic Rates
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent representations he has received from the solar power industry on how rooftop solar power is treated in business rates.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Zac Goldsmith
uin	116092
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/12/2017 answer text <p>The Treasury receives a range of representations on various issues including business rates as part of the policy making process.</p><p> </p><p>Business rates are based on valuations from the Valuation Office Agency and the Government does not intervene in their independent assessments. The Valuation for Rating (Plant and Machinery) (England) Regulations 2000 set out when plant and machinery, including solar panels, are rateable.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Central Devon answering member printed Mel Stride question first answered 01/12/2017 14:14:15 answering member 3935 label Biography information for Mel Stride
tabling member	4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

795742

registered interest
date	28/11/2017
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Solar Power: Non-domestic Rates
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the difference in business rate liabilities is for rooftop solar power where the majority of the power produced is (a) exported to a third party and (b) consumed onsite.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Zac Goldsmith
uin	116093
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/12/2017 answer text <p>My Department does not hold information on business rates liabilities. Business rates are based on valuations from the Valuation Office Agency and we are not involved in their independent assessments.</p> answering member constituency Nuneaton answering member printed Mr Marcus Jones question first answered 01/12/2017 14:17:32 answering member 4024 label Biography information for Mr Marcus Jones
tabling member	4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

795743

registered interest
date	28/11/2017
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Renewable Energy: Non-domestic Rates
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what methodology is used to calculate the business rate liabilities of (a) solar power and (b) Good Quality gas CHP; and what the rationale is for that methodology.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Zac Goldsmith
uin	116094
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/12/2017 answer text <p>Business rates liabilities are based on the rateable value and the non-domestic rating multiplier set by the Government.</p><p> </p><p>The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) determines the rateable value of the property using three broad methods: a rentals basis; receipts and expenditure (R&amp;E); and a contractor’s basis, that is to say, a building's replacement costs. Rating case law requires that a hierarchy of use is adopted, in the order shown above; i.e. only when a rentals basis is not possible should the valuer adopt R&amp;E, with the contractor’s basis being the method of last resort.</p><p> </p><p>Solar panels are valued using either the R&amp;E method or the contractor’s basis, depending on the circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>Good quality CHP is partially-exempt from rating. The rateable parts are valued using either the R&amp;E method or the contractor’s basis, depending on the circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, if the solar panels or good quality CHP is a qualifying microgeneration (below 50kW) installation there is a temporary exemption from rating which means new schemes aren't assessed until the next revaluation takes place.‎</p><p> </p><p>Battery storage technologies are valued using the contractor's basis.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Central Devon answering member printed Mel Stride grouped question UIN 116096 question first answered 01/12/2017 14:09:03 answering member 3935 label Biography information for Mel Stride
tabling member	4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

795746

registered interest
date	28/11/2017
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Energy: Non-domestic Rates
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how battery storage technologies installed in commercial premises are assessed for business rates.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Zac Goldsmith
uin	116096
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/12/2017 answer text <p>Business rates liabilities are based on the rateable value and the non-domestic rating multiplier set by the Government.</p><p> </p><p>The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) determines the rateable value of the property using three broad methods: a rentals basis; receipts and expenditure (R&amp;E); and a contractor’s basis, that is to say, a building's replacement costs. Rating case law requires that a hierarchy of use is adopted, in the order shown above; i.e. only when a rentals basis is not possible should the valuer adopt R&amp;E, with the contractor’s basis being the method of last resort.</p><p> </p><p>Solar panels are valued using either the R&amp;E method or the contractor’s basis, depending on the circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>Good quality CHP is partially-exempt from rating. The rateable parts are valued using either the R&amp;E method or the contractor’s basis, depending on the circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, if the solar panels or good quality CHP is a qualifying microgeneration (below 50kW) installation there is a temporary exemption from rating which means new schemes aren't assessed until the next revaluation takes place.‎</p><p> </p><p>Battery storage technologies are valued using the contractor's basis.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Central Devon answering member printed Mel Stride grouped question UIN 116094 question first answered 01/12/2017 14:09:03 answering member 3935 label Biography information for Mel Stride
tabling member	4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

795747

registered interest
date	28/11/2017
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Solar Power
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the industrial benefits of solar power.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Zac Goldsmith
uin	116097
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/12/2017 answer text <p>Solar power is a UK success story, with rapid deployment over the last 7 years. Latest figures indicate that we now have over 12.5GW of solar capacity installed in the UK, enough to power over 2.7 million homes and exceeding our historic projections.</p><p> </p><p>Costs for solar installations have fallen rapidly during this period, allowing both domestic and industrial consumers to benefit from increasingly cheap and clean electricity. We expect subsidy-free solar to be an increasingly attractive option, with the first subsidy-free UK solar farm recently deploying. Some of the UK’s largest solar developers have said that they will be installing and connecting subsidy-free sites over the next 12 months.</p> answering member constituency Watford answering member printed Richard Harrington question first answered 01/12/2017 13:34:50 answering member 4068 label Biography information for Lord Harrington of Watford
tabling member	4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

788481

registered interest
date	13/11/2017
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Neonicotinoids
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the timetable is for the implementation of the full ban on the use of neonicotinoid insecticides announced on 9 November 2017.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Zac Goldsmith
uin	112535
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2017 answer text <p>The Government has stated that it supports further restrictions on neonicotinoids based on recent advice from the UK Expert Committee on Pesticides</p><p> </p><p>The European Commission has made a proposal which is under EU consideration. Any changes are likely to take effect in 2018 and to affect crops harvested from 2019.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 16/11/2017 16:48:08 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

788513

registered interest
date	13/11/2017
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Ascension Island: Biodiversity
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to protect the biodiversity of those waters to the north of Ascension Island which are open to fishing.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Zac Goldsmith
uin	112532
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2017 answer text <p>Through the Blue Belt Programme, the UK Government is working with the Ascension Island Government to ensure the effective implementation of its sustainable fisheries management regime around Ascension. This includes using near real-time analysis of satellite data to build intelligence on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and to allow targeted enforcement during fishery patrols. Data collected will be used in conjunction with research currently underway as part of a scientific approach to determine the final size and location of any Marine Protected Area around Ascension. We are also working through the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas to improve regional management and ensure sustainable harvest levels of tuna, billfish and pelagic shark, species.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 16/11/2017 17:50:56 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

788514

registered interest
date	13/11/2017
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Ascension Island: Fisheries
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many licences have been issued to whom for commercial fishing in the waters around Ascension Island in the last six months; and how much accrues to the public purse from each such licence.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Zac Goldsmith
uin	112533
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2017 answer text <p>The Ascension Island Government are responsible for issuing commercial fishing licences around Ascension’s waters. Within the last six months, no licences have been issued for fishing within the Ascension Exclusive Economic Zone.​</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 16/11/2017 17:49:50 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

788515

registered interest
date	13/11/2017
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Ascension Island: Airports
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the timetable is for the repair of the runway on Ascension Island; and which Minister of his Department has responsibility for that project.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Zac Goldsmith
uin	112534
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2017 answer text <p>The Secretary of State for Defence is working closely with the US to ensure the Ascension Island runway is repaired. The project is scheduled to be completed by 2020.</p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 16/11/2017 14:10:46 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
tabling member	4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

782122

registered interest
date	01/11/2017
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Insecticides: Research
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what research his Department has funded to investigate alternatives to neonicotinoid insecticides; and if he will provide a list of that research.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Zac Goldsmith
uin	110805
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/11/2017 answer text <p>Defra does not fund research into the development of individual insecticides; this would fall to the agrochemical sector. A number of public bodies fund broader research into pest control chemicals, biological controls and cultural methods. This includes funding from Innovate UK through mechanisms including the Agri-Tech Catalyst, which helps develop innovative solutions to challenges in crop production. Any Defra research into alternatives to current chemical pesticides can be found at: <a href="http://randd.defra.gov.uk" target="_blank">http://randd.defra.gov.uk</a>.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 07/11/2017 17:43:29 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park