§ Mr. C. J. O'DONNELLasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, seeing that the double valuation of land under the Finance Bill to ascertain the fee simple value and the site value is intended to supply an elaborate and highly accurate record of every element of value in the land separately, and having in view the want of authority in an unprofessional and interested valuation made by an owner, he will consider a valuation by Government officials; whether he can state what would be the probable cost of such a valuation of the 32,000,000 acres of tillage and pasture land in Great Britain, and of the buildings, timber, fruit trees, fences, drains, etc., in, on, and under its surface; and whether he will explain how such a complicated valuation could be arrived at at a cost, on the average, of less than 20s. per three acres?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI am afraid that I cannot give my hon. Friend the information for which he asks, but I can assure him that these points have received the careful consideration of the Government.
§ Mr. O'DONNELLBefore the scheme of valuation was incorporated in the Finance Bill, was any estimate made as to the cost of that?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe question was put to me by the Noble Lord the Member for Marylebone. My hon. Friend will find my reply to it the day before yesterday.