On the financial settlement, we have acknowledged that the UK has obligations to the EU and the EU to the UK, that will survive the UK’s withdrawal - which need to be resolved. We will continue discussions on how we determine a fair settlement of the UK’s rights and obligations as a departing member state, in accordance with the law and in the spirit of the UK’s continuing partnership with the EU.

In July the Commission set out the European Union position. We have a duty to our taxpayers to interrogate that position rigorously.

The total allocated to each national park authority from financial years 2010/11 to 2017/18 is shown in the following tables with projections for 2018/19 and 2019/20.

The Department invested €1.44 bn with the European Space Agency (ESA) at a Ministerial meeting in Lucerne in December 2016. Before making this investment in line with normal Government practice we undertook a vigorous business case process. The investment was balanced to achieve a number of objectives including excellent science, earth observation including climate study, commercial growth in telecommunications and other technology as well as protecting the space environment. The financial returns were modelled as between €6 and €10 for every €1 invested.

Independent research on “returns from public investment in space” by London Economics has shown that past investment with ESA has generated average returns of £10 for every £1 invested.

HM Treasury does not have estimates on the value of all EU construction projects. However, the government regularly publishes a UK assessment of planned investment in infrastructure across the public and private sectors in the UK. Last published in December 2016, this document contains over 700 projects and programmes with a total value of more than £500 billion.

The financial arrangements for the Scotland Act 2016 are set out in the Fiscal Framework Agreement agreed between the UK and Scottish Governments during the passage of the Scotland Bill. A copy of the Fiscal Framework was placed in the library of the House on the 25 February 2016.

The Fiscal Framework sets out the timeframe for introduction of the new financial arrangements. The transfer of these significant financial powers to the Scottish Parliament is already underway and a number of the associated powers have already been fully implemented, these include:

• The full devolution of income tax rates and bands and thresholds for non-savings and non-dividend income which was delivered in April 2017;
• Revenues from courts and tribunals in Scotland are now retained by the Scottish Government as of April 2017;
• Enhanced borrowing powers came into force for the 2017-2018 financial year.

The remaining aspects of the Fiscal Framework will be taken forward in line with the timetable set out in the Fiscal Framework Agreement.

The Government recognises the benefits our involvement in the Copernicus Earth observation system brings for the UK. These include efficiency savings for local Government in delivering public service and for central Government in managing disaster relief efforts and sustainable development. Additionally UK industry benefits from building the systems and UK SMEs utilise the data provided by the system to benefit from a growing space-enabled economy. UK participation is judged to be beneficial overall. No specific assessment of the value of the polar tracker satellite system has been made.

The Government recognises the benefits our involvement in European Geostationary Navigation Overlay System (EGNOS) and Galileo satellite navigation systems bring for the UK. These include the use of EGNOS at UK airports which allow aircraft to land even during poor weather, as well as the commercial benefits to UK companies involved in the design, building and operation of the systems. UK participation is judged to be beneficial overall.

The department has published no such guidance. Local authorities are best placed to understand the needs of their communities and to commission services in a way which is most effective for those communities.

We do not hold such information centrally, but the department has no knowledge of any such claim or payment.