Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Oral Answers to Questions

Andrew George Excerpts
Thursday 16th January 2014

(10 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lindsay Hoyle Portrait Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle)
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We need a little brevity to get through topical questions.

Andrew George Portrait Andrew George (St Ives) (LD)
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T6. I was interested to see that the Prime Minister confirmed this week that people living near shale gas sites would enjoy an additional financial benefit. Ministers have confirmed the principle that that should be available to those who live near large-scale onshore wind and large-scale onshore solar array projects. Can the Minister confirm that people who live near such projects will definitely, and on every occasion, enjoy that benefit?

Michael Fallon Portrait The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Michael Fallon)
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Yes. What has been proposed for shale gas is exactly the same as what will apply for large-scale wind farms and large-scale solar farms. Local authorities will be able to enjoy the benefits of 100% business rate retention, and it is only right that local people should therefore get some of the benefit.