§ MR. RAMSAYasked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether, considering the general feeling in Scotland in favour of the Valuation Acts, under the provisions of which the value of all lands and hereditaments is annually ascertained with ease and accuracy in that Country, Her Majesty's Government would con- 1227 sider the expediency of introducing the same system into England, and appoint a Select Committee to inquire and report as to the means by which such a change in the Law of England might be best carried out, so as to secure a uniform valuation of all real estate throughout Great Britain?
§ MR. DODSONSir, although I have no reason to doubt that, as the hon. Member states, the feeling in Scotland is in favour of the Valuation Acts in force in that country, I must remind him that in applying the system to England the feeling here has to be considered; and I am not aware of any desire whatever on the part of the ratepayers to have the system referred to applied to this country, where the local rates of all kinds have been always assessed upon rateable value as distinguished from the actual rental of the property. The effect of such a change would be to interfere most seriously with the whole incidence of rating; and I am not prepared to recommend the introduction of the Scotch system, or to institute any especial inquiry with that view. At the same time, I am sensible of the advantage of uniformity attending the Scotch system; and I am in hope that substantial uniformity may be secured in England in a manner adapted to the habits and circumstances of the country.