§ 42. Mr. J. R. Bevinsasked the Minister of Health what progress he has made 1881 towards implementing the central valuation provisions of the Local Government Act, 1948, as regards dwelling-houses.
§ Mr. BevanFollowing the transfer on 1st February this year of the work of rating valuation to valuation officers of Inland Revenue, an effective start has been made with the task of measuring dwelling-houses for the purpose of the new valuation lists to come into force in 1952 or 1953. I have issued the statements of hypothetical 1938 costs of construction which had to be prepared for each rating area, and copies are obtainable at the offices of rating authorities. The statements of 1938 site costs are being prepared and will be issued when they are ready.
§ Mr. BevinsIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the statements to which he has referred allow two modern houses of exactly the same size and not very different construction to be given 1938 hypothetical building costs of anything from £600 to £1,200? Will he say how, in those circumstances, we can have uniformity of valuation?
§ Mr. BevanIf the hon. Gentleman will put that question on the Order Paper, I will try to give him an answer.