To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what role local strategic partnerships will have in (a) setting levels of new community infrastructure levy and (b) deciding how monies raised from the levy will be used. (277016)

The Government will consult in the summer on its proposals for the procedures for setting the level of CIL through a charging schedule and applying CIL revenue to infrastructure. These will make proposals about how local authorities should engage and work with their strategic partners. Local strategic partnerships should already be involved in the infrastructure planning that will provide a basis for CIL charge setting.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Answers to the hon. Member for Meriden of 27 April 2009, Official Report, columns 1101-2W and 28 January 2009, Official Report, column 629W, on the community infrastructure levy, who will appoint the independent examiner responsible for reviewing community infrastructure levy charges; and whether the examiners' office will be classified as a public body. (277116)

The charging authority will appoint the independent examiner to review its draft community infrastructure levy (CIL) charging schedule. The status of the examiner is set out in section 212 of the Planning Act 2008. The Government’s August 2008 policy statement on CIL says (paragraph 3.43):

“It will be important that the independent person testing the draft charging schedule is seen to be independent and has the confidence of those participating in debate on its contents. The Government’s lead option is that the Planning Inspectorate should lead the examination of charging schedules with the assistance where necessary of expert assessors from, for example, the Valuation Office Agency.”

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Answers to the hon. Member for Meriden of 27 April 2009, Official Report, columns 1101-2W and 28 January 2009, Official Report, column 629W, on the community infrastructure levy, whether the rate of the levy will be capped. (277117)

Charging authorities will be responsible for setting the proposed rate of community infrastructure levy for their area subject to independent testing. Sections 205 to 225 of the Planning Act 2008 set out this framework.