§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of extending the 50 per cent. reduction in business rating available to environmentally friendly sources of electricity generation to the generation of electricity by pumped storage hydro techniques; and if he will make a statement. [103739]
§ Ms ArmstrongThe current regulations prescribing the rateable value of wind and tidal power generators value these at less than other sources of electricity generation. There is no reduction in business rating for environmentally friendly sources of electricity generation.
The next quinquennial revaluation of non-domestic rates will take effect from 1 April 2000. As part of this, the Government is considering the values which it will prescribe for certain industries, including electricity generators. There are no pumped storage schemes in England. Rating valuation in Wales is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.