Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 17 July 2013, WMS106 on New Nuclear Power Stations (Community Benefits) how much of the money distributed came from (a) additional funding and (b) existing sources of local authority revenue.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
Community benefits are not paid to any new nuclear community until the new station starts generating. As set out in the 2013 Written Ministerial Statement, under the current policy community benefits would be paid in two phases: Firstly local authorities would retain a share of the business rates from the power station, up until the end of the decade in which it comes online. Thereafter, the remaining balance of the community benefit package would be paid directly from central government.
The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government are making changes to business rates retention policy and the Department is engaged with them to understand the potential implications for the delivery mechanism for community benefits.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what progress the Government is making on enabling local authorities to retain business rates generated by new nuclear developments.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the then Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change Michael Fallon on 17th July 2013, Official Report, Column 105-106WS:
In the first instance, authorities hosting new nuclear power stations would retain a share of the business rates that a power station pays once it begins generating electricity, up until the end of the decade in which the power station comes online. Thereafter, the remaining balance of the community benefit package would be paid directly by BEIS.
We are working closely with colleagues in DCLG on the detailed business rates arrangements that will be in place for new nuclear communities, and will engage with the relevant local authorities to ensure their views and concerns are heard as we take forward work on the policy.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to his Department's announcement, Community benefits for sites that host new nuclear power stations, published on 17 July 2013, if he will publish the date from which communities will receive community benefit as a direct grant from his Department.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the then Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change Michael Fallon on 17th July 2013, Official Report, Column 105-106WS:
The minister’s statement described how community benefit is to be paid delivered in two stages. Firstly, authorities hosting new nuclear power stations would retain a share of the business rates that a new nuclear plant pays once it begins generating electricity, up until the end of the decade in which the plant comes online. Thereafter, the remainder of the community benefit package would be paid directly by BEIS. For example, Hinkley Point C is scheduled to come online in 2025; direct payment from BEIS would therefore start in 2030.