§ 14. Mr. HOAREasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that valuers are claiming the right to make domiciliary visits to private houses under the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910; which Section of the Act justifies the claim; whether every house in the country is to be entered; if so, how long the valuation is estimated to take before it is completed; if only certain houses, upon what principle the selection is made; whether he is aware that valuers are excusing themselves on the ground that their visits will only occupy some few minutes; and, if so, what is the use of so perfunctory a valuation?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The authority to make such inspections is contained in Section 31 (2) of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910. Inspection will be made in all cases where it is necessary for the purpose of arriving at a correct valuation, and the time occupied by such inspection must depend upon the circumstances of each case. It is anticipated that the original valuation will be completed by the 31st March, 1915.
§ Mr. PRETYMANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in some cases the valuers remain in a house a very long time and take actual drawings of the rooms, while in other cases they spend about ten minutes in a very large house? Can he give any reason for such a difference in the procedure adopted?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEPossibly it is due to the attendant circumstances. I have no doubt they acquire all the information necessary to assess the value of the site.
§ 19. Mr. PRETYMANasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the decision of the Referee that the Government valuation of thirty-five acres of land at Woodhall Spa was inaccurate to the extent of 20 per cent. or £1,000; whether he has seen the statement in evidence of the superintending valuer of the eastern division that he had no instructions regarding the method of valuation under the Act and that this valuation had been carried out on the same basis as all other valuations in the same district; and can he state the difference between the total value of the land in the eastern district, which has already been valued, as shown on these valuations, and 2029 its total value where the existing valuations have all been revised in accordance with the Referee's decision?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part of the question, I understand that the statement of the superintending valuer, as regards not having received instructions, referred to the particular hereditament which was then in question. With regard to the third part of the question, the decision of the Referee in this case does not affect any land other than the thirty-five acres referred to by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. PRETYMANCan the right hon. Gentleman say how many more test cases will be necessary before he alters the method of valuation?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEAs I have already pointed out in Debate, when I had an opportunity of stating the case fully, very few cases in proportion to the number of assessments have been reversed. Can the hon. Gentleman point to any valuation in any part of the United Kingdom where there have been as few reversals on appeal?
§ Mr. PRETYMANCan the right hon. Gentleman point to a single case where there has not been a reversal?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI certainly could not without notice. Does anyone imagine that any Minister can carry all these cases in his mind? As I have already pointed out to the House, the number of appeals is singularly small, and there are about 2,000,000 cases where the assessments have been settled.