Asked by: Rachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrat - Tiverton and Minehead)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if her Department will make an assessment of the adequacy of the eligibility criteria for Rateable Charity Relief for charity organisations using (a) tidal mooring and (b) harbour spaces.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) is available to businesses with a single property below a set rateable value (RV). Eligible properties with an RV under £12,000 will receive 100 per cent relief and there is also tapered support available to properties valued between £12,000 and £15,000. More information about SBRR can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-business-rate-relief/small-business-rate-relief
Charitable rates relief provides 80% relief to eligible properties. More information about charitable rates relief can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-business-rate-relief/charitable-rate-relief
To be considered a rateable hereditament, a boat has to have a sufficient degree of permanence, as defined by case law. Examples include floating restaurants, nightclubs and tourist attractions. Further information on the business rates treatment of boats can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rating-manual-section-6-part-3-valuation-of-all-property-classes/section-670-moorings
At the Autumn Budget, the Government published the ‘Transforming Business Rates’ Discussion Paper, which sets out priority areas for reform. This paper invited stakeholders to help co-design a fairer business rates system that supports investment and is fit for the 21st century. As set out in the Discussion Paper, the government is open to receiving written evidence on priority areas.Asked by: Rachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrat - Tiverton and Minehead)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending business rate relief to include angling boats as small businesses.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) is available to businesses with a single property below a set rateable value (RV). Eligible properties with an RV under £12,000 will receive 100 per cent relief and there is also tapered support available to properties valued between £12,000 and £15,000. More information about SBRR can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-business-rate-relief/small-business-rate-relief
Charitable rates relief provides 80% relief to eligible properties. More information about charitable rates relief can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-business-rate-relief/charitable-rate-relief
To be considered a rateable hereditament, a boat has to have a sufficient degree of permanence, as defined by case law. Examples include floating restaurants, nightclubs and tourist attractions. Further information on the business rates treatment of boats can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rating-manual-section-6-part-3-valuation-of-all-property-classes/section-670-moorings
At the Autumn Budget, the Government published the ‘Transforming Business Rates’ Discussion Paper, which sets out priority areas for reform. This paper invited stakeholders to help co-design a fairer business rates system that supports investment and is fit for the 21st century. As set out in the Discussion Paper, the government is open to receiving written evidence on priority areas.Asked by: Rachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrat - Tiverton and Minehead)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the impact of the withdrawal of Winter Fuel payments on pensioners who (a) are not in receipt of Pension Credit and (b) have an annual income below £15,000.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has had to make hard choices to bring the public finances back under control. The policy change ensures that the Winter Fuel Payment will be better targeted to low-income pensioners who need it most.
Information on pensioners with incomes below £15,000 affected by the change to Winter Fuel Payment policy is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. However, the Department has produced some analysis on the impacts of the change in policy on poverty levels which was published here: Winter Fuel Payments eligibility change - Letter from the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
Asked by: Rachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrat - Tiverton and Minehead)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether (a) he and (b) his officials are taking diplomatic steps to ensure that (i) Avinatan Or and (ii) the remains of Yossi Sharabi are returned by Hamas.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The safe release of all hostages, including those with strong UK-links, is a top priority for the government. The current ceasefire deal must secure their release, protect both Israelis and Palestinians, and allow the safe distribution of aid.
The UK is working with international partners to ensure the stability of the ceasefire agreement, so that it is implemented in full. In doing so, we aim to secure the release of all hostages, including those with strong UK-links: Eli Sharabi, Oded Lifshitz, Avinatan Or. And we also aim to ensure that the remains of Yossi Sharabi are returned to his family.
The UK will continue to work with Israel, the Palestinian Authority, the US and regional partners to build consensus for a post-conflict Gaza governance and security framework that supports conditions for a permanent and sustainable peace.
Asked by: Rachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrat - Tiverton and Minehead)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his (a) Israeli, (b) US and (c) Qatari counterparts on the (i) safety and (ii) potential early release of (A) Eli Sharabi and (B) Oded Lifshitz.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The safe release of all hostages, including those with strong UK-links, is a top priority for the government. The current ceasefire deal must secure their release, protect both Israelis and Palestinians, and allow the safe distribution of aid.
The UK is working with international partners to ensure the stability of the ceasefire agreement, so that it is implemented in full. In doing so, we aim to secure the release of all hostages, including those with strong UK-links: Eli Sharabi, Oded Lifshitz, Avinatan Or. And we also aim to ensure that the remains of Yossi Sharabi are returned to his family.
The UK will continue to work with Israel, the Palestinian Authority, the US and regional partners to build consensus for a post-conflict Gaza governance and security framework that supports conditions for a permanent and sustainable peace.
Asked by: Rachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrat - Tiverton and Minehead)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed charge for waste exemption permits on the ability of small environmental farms to recycle.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Environment Agency charges consultation included information on the affordability of waste exemption charges for the agriculture sector. It can be found online here.
Included in the document is the following estimates for a 3-year registration period:
This is considered a worst-case scenario, as Environment Agency data suggests farmers often register more waste exemptions than they need. Approval to charge will be considered after the Environment Agency has analysed responses from the consultation.
Asked by: Rachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrat - Tiverton and Minehead)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2024 to Question 10798 on African Swine Fever and to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question 19080 on Foot and Mouth Disease, what recent assessment his Department has made of the risk of a domestic (a) African swine fever and (b) foot and mouth disease outbreak.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Whilst we have never had an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the UK, it remains a key priority in terms of exotic notifiable disease preparedness. The overall risk of an incursion is currently assessed to be medium, and we continue to prepare for a possible outbreak. To safeguard the UK’s pork and pig industries, Defra, Devolved Governments, together with the pig industry and veterinary bodies have been working together to raise awareness of the risks of the introduction of ASF to the UK. Defra announced further controls in September 2024, restricting the movement of pork and pork products into Great Britain.
The risk of incursion of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) to Great Britain was increased to medium following the confirmation of disease in Germany on the 10 January 2025. The Government has taken decisive and rapid action to protect the UK by suspending the commercial import of susceptible animals from Germany and restricting personal imports of animal products from across the EU. The UK has robust contingency plans in place to manage the risk of this disease as set out in the Foot and Mouth Disease Control Strategy for Great Britain supported by the Contingency plan for exotic notifiable diseases of animals in England.
Asked by: Rachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrat - Tiverton and Minehead)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the resources available to local government for planning enforcement in (a) Devon and (b) Somerset.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
In the answer to Question UIN 16501 on 5 December 2024 I set out the government’s investment to support capacity and capability in local authorities. This will be further underpinned by increases in planning fees that will help improve the resourcing of planning application services, so that local planning authorities can fund the skills they need.
It is for local planning authorities to ensure they have the resources in place to carry out their planning enforcement function.
The government have no plans to undertake an assessment of the adequacy of the resources available for such enforcement in Devon and Somerset.
Asked by: Rachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrat - Tiverton and Minehead)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department had made of the adequacy of existing legislation to ensure copyright protections across the creative industries.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The government recognises the importance of the UKs copyright regime to the economic success of the creative industries, one of eight growth-driving sectors as identified in our Industrial Strategy. We are committed to supporting rights holders by ensuring they retain control over and receive fair payment for their work, especially as technology advances to include AI. We are actively working with stakeholders to ensure copyright protections remain robust and fit for purpose.
Although existing legislation gives creative rights holders control over the use of their protected works, we are aware that this can be very difficult to implement in practice in the context of AI, especially for individual firms and creators. The application of existing copyright legislation in the context of AI training is disputed, both in the UK and internationally, with many high-profile court cases underway. Right holders are finding it difficult to control use of their works to train AI models, and want greater ability to manage that activity and be paid for it.
Responses to our Copyright and AI consultation, published 17 December and closing 25 February, will inform our approach to the design and delivery of a solution to the current dispute over copyright legislation. Our aim is to clarify the copyright framework for AI – delivering legal certainty through a copyright regime that provides creators with real control, transparency, and helps them licence their content, while supporting AI developers' access to high-quality material, so that they can train leading AI models in the UK.
Asked by: Rachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrat - Tiverton and Minehead)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of current council tax guidance for the valuation of farm properties with outbuildings.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) publishes its guidance manual here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/council-tax-manual/council-tax-practice-notes. Practice Note 2, Appendix 2 refers. Technical experts are also available internally to provide support to VOA staff as required.
The VOA’s guidance is kept under review and updated when needed.