Asked by: Robert Neill (Conservative - Bromley and Chislehurst)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will meet members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Equitable Life to discuss the level of funding provided to victims through the Equitable Life Payment Scheme and the funds already allocated which have not yet been distributed.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Around £1.5bn has been allocated to the Equitable Life Payment Scheme, which closed to new claims in 2015. Whilst previous representations have been made in regard of further funding, there are no plans to reopen the Payment Scheme or to allocate further funds to it.
Asked by: Robert Neill (Conservative - Bromley and Chislehurst)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on implementing (a) clauses 195 and 196 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 and (b) clauses 38 and 39 of the Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
Ministers and officials from my department have regular discussions with our counterparts in MHCLG to discuss a range of issues, including housing and planning.
Asked by: Robert Neill (Conservative - Bromley and Chislehurst)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the statutory instruments relating to clause 196 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 will be laid before the House.
Answered by David Gauke
Government is committed to making the process of compulsory purchase orders clearer, fairer and faster. The Housing and Planning Act and the Neighbourhood Planning Bill will enable us to lay the legislation to insist that public bodies pay interest on payments of compensation that are paid late. The Regulations to set this level of interest will be laid at least 21 days before the substantive commencement of sections 192 to 198 of the Housing and Planning Act. This is likely to be in spring 2017.
Asked by: Robert Neill (Conservative - Bromley and Chislehurst)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on SI 1995 No. 2262 since 1 June 2016.
Answered by David Gauke
The Treasury has been working closely with the Department for Communities and Local Government to prepare a new Statutory Instrument to amend the Acquisition of Land (Rate of Interest after Entry) Regulations 1995. The new Statutory Instrument introduces a 0% floor for the interest rate on compensation paid after entry. The Statutory Instrument was laid on 7 September and will come into effect before the next reference day on 30 September 2016.
Asked by: Robert Neill (Conservative - Bromley and Chislehurst)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he plans to take in relation to SI 1995 No. 2262 to ensure that the interest rate on late payments of compensation in relation to compulsory purchase does not become negative.
Answered by David Gauke
The Treasury has been working closely with the Department for Communities and Local Government to prepare a new Statutory Instrument to amend the Acquisition of Land (Rate of Interest after Entry) Regulations 1995. The new Statutory Instrument introduces a 0% floor for the interest rate on compensation paid after entry. The Statutory Instrument was laid on 7 September and will come into effect before the next reference day on 30 September 2016.
Asked by: Robert Neill (Conservative - Bromley and Chislehurst)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the likely annual reduction in CAP subsidies to farmers arising from the change to disallow grazing under a solar farm.
Answered by Priti Patel
The total Common Agricultural Policy allocation for the Basic Payment Scheme for England will be unaffected by the change in eligibility of land used for solar panels from 2015. There will be reductions in payments for English farmers who are currently claiming on land on which there are solar panels. In the future, they will not be able to claim BPS payments on this land.
Asked by: Robert Neill (Conservative - Bromley and Chislehurst)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people in each region earn between the 2014-15 higher rate threshold and £55,000.
Answered by David Gauke
The number of individuals with total income between £41,865 (higher rate threshold) and £55,000 by each Government office region in 2014-15 is projected to be:
Region | Taxpayers (thousands) |
North East | 84 |
North West and Merseyside | 251 |
Yorkshire and the Humber | 173 |
East Midlands | 163 |
West Midlands | 197 |
East of England | 274 |
London | 421 |
South East | 441 |
South West | 215 |
Wales | 96 |
Scotland | 211 |
Northern Ireland | 51 |
UK | 2,590 |
Table note:
Projected estimates for 2014-15 is based upon the 2011-12 Survey of Personal Incomes using economic assumptions consistent with the OBR’s March 2014 economic and fiscal outlook.
Some UK taxpayers reside abroad, or their region is not known. Therefore, the sum of taxpayer numbers across countries and regions will not match the UK summary.