HC Deb 06 July 1955 vol 543 cc1207-15
Mr. John Arbuthnot (Dover)

I beg to move, in page 3, line 27, at the end to insert: (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the said section forty, a proposal for altering a valuation list in force at the passing of this Act shall not have effect if (not being made by the valuation officer) it is served on the valuation officer after the passing of this Act, and is made otherwise than by the owner or occupier of the hereditament to which it relates.

Mr. Deputy-Speaker (Sir Rhys Hopkin Morris)

It may be convenient to discuss with this Amendment the later Amendment in the name of the hon. Gentleman—in page 19, line 30, after "area" to insert "owner."

Mr. Arbuthnot

The purpose of the two Amendments standing in my name is to close what I feel to be a gap in the Bill. As the Bill stands, the rating authorities will receive copies of the new assessments in December of this year; that is to say, some three months before they come into force.

It seems to me that some local authorities, because of the need for revenue, will have a great temptation to amend assessments in the existing lists in order to bring them into Rite with the higher values. That that can be achieved would seem to be clear by the mass proposals which have already been made, for example, by Sheffield. Furthermore, the valuer will not be able to contend that the valuations which local authorities could put forward in these circumstances are excessive, because they would, of course, be based upon the valuer's own figures.

It seems to me, therefore, that we should be wise to put into this Bill a provision to prevent local authorities from jumping the starting-gate so to speak. Unless these Amendments are accepted, these new assessments, which may be retrospective, could come into force at the current rate in the pound rather than at the very much reduced rate which we expect to see in 1956–57.

That this is a real danger is I think shown by the interest that is being taken by local authorities in the mass proposals made by the Liverpool and Sheffield local authorities, and I therefore hope that the House will accept the Amendments.

Mr. Kenneth Thompson (Liverpool, Walton)

I beg to second the Amendment.

Mr. J. A. Sparks (Acton)

The hon. Member for Dover (Mr. Arbuthnot) has put one side of the story, but has left out the other one. I do not know whether he thinks, as so many of his hon. Friends seem to do, that it is a bad and evil thing to give local authorities any additional rating and valuation powers. Why he should think that local authorities would be interested only in levelling up a lower assessment to a higher one I do not know, because they have the power and are able to effect the reverse.

A local authority is, in matters of this kind, concerned with equity as between one ratepayer and another, and a local authority could, if it wished, make representations to the valuation officer and the valuation court to reduce assessments which it considered to be excessive. This is a double-edged weapon. The hon. Gentleman might well be doing an injustice to the ratepayers if this Amendment were agreed to, because it would be quite in order, so far as I can understand the position, for a local ratepayer, if he felt he was over-assessed, to go to a local authority and invite its support for his effort to secure a reduction in the assessment. The local authority could precisely do that if it thought fit. Therefore, the local authority will approach this question——

7.30 p.m.

Mr. Arbuthnot

If the hon. Member reads the Amendment he will see it provides that changes are not to be made other than on the representations of the owner or occupier, so that the owner or occupier is safeguarded and can initiate amendments.

Mr. Sparks

Yes, but what the hon. Gentleman is proposing is to rule out the power of the local authority to make a recommendation. It may be there would be a large number of ratepayers who for one reason or another did not want to proceed to secure a reduction of their assessments, and the local authority may on the basis of equity as between one ratepayer and another itself make representations on behalf of the ratepayers.

All ratepayers are not in a position to understand the intricacies of rating and valuation, but local authorities have a certain power to assist the ratepayers to secure equity in their assessments. It does not follow, as the hon. Gentleman seems to think, that local authorities are interested in putting up everyone's assessment to the highest possible point. The reverse is also a function of the authority, and I feel the hon. Gentleman might well leave the issue where it is. In general, we can trust the judgment of the local authorities, and if they have a case for levelling up or levelling down a group of assessments in a particular area, I think they should have the power to, to make a proposal to the valuation officer and, if necessary, take it to the valuation court. It is a safeguard to the ratepayers generally, and I think that the matter might well be left where it is.

Mr. Deedes

The first thing I would stress about the Amendment is that we should not like to exaggerate the likelihood of this contingency occurring in more than very isolated cases. I know the difficulty which my hon. Friend the Member for Dover (Mr. Arbuthnot) has in mind, but it is expected to be a very rare occurrence. Where the events of April were anticipated it could, as my hon. Friend has said, be particularly unfair. The effect of a partial revaluation would be that the assessments of the revalued shop or premises would rise very sharply but there would be no corresponding fall in the rate poundage. Therefore, in the isolated instance where it might occur it certainly would result in a certain amount of injustice.

A year ago the Foreign Secretary, when Minister of Housing and Local Government, said from this Box that he would deprecate any attempt by local authorities to anticipate the results of revaluation. The words which he used then certainly did not fall on deaf ears, and up to now we have felt very reluctant to seek to impose any embargo on all local authorities merely because a few had not exercised restraint. Now that this Amendment is before the House, my right hon. Friend feels that he cannot do other than accept it. He is willing to do that, but I stress again that it is not likely to be required to meet other than a very few isolated instances.

Mr. Mitchison

Surely this is the kind of case that ought to be left to the discretion and the good sense of the local authority. It is a matter about which right hon. Gentlemen and hon. Gentlemen opposite have often expressed considerable solicitude. We have not been told what is the reason for accepting this rather novel and remarkable limitation on the powers of local authorities. If there has been one defaulter or even two, in the eyes of the Ministry, is it right to impose an almost insulting restriction of this sort on local authorities generally?

This is not a matter that is going to have a very long effect. After all, it is only a question of a few months, and I should have thought that if it had not occurred to the Minister and his Parliamentary Secretary that a restriction of this sort was necessary, if things had not reached, in the eyes of the Ministry, a stage when restrictions of this sort were necessary, then it was a lamentable lack of foresight or, in the alternative, a sudden and rather feeble concession by the Minister and his Parliamentary Secretary to the views of their hon. Friends behind them.

At the Ministry it must be known whether something of this sort is needed or not, if they did not propose it themselves, surely it is not the kind of thing to accept on a very vague suggestion from an hon. Member, and without giving the Committee any instance or any particulars of why it is necessary.

Mr. Arbuthnot

Liverpool and Sheffield were two instances, of which I have told the House, of mass proposals of this kind being made.

Mr. Mitchison

I do not recollect the hon. Gentleman mentioning Liverpool at all——

Mr. Arbuthnot

I did.

Mr. Mitchison

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman did and I did not hear him. I apologise, but as a matter of fact the mere mention of that magic name is hardly enough.

What we want to know is what these local authorities have done wrong. If they have done something wrong it should be pretty well known. The position seems to be that the Ministry knew about it but they did not think it was necessary to put any restriction on them. Now at the very last moment on the Report stage of the Bill, the Minister has suddenly decided that Liverpool and Sheffield, instead of being the highly competent and well-intentioned local authorities which we had all supposed them to be, are, in fact, bad boys to be rebuked at the instance of Dover.

Mr. K. Thompson

It had not been my intention to intervene, but I cannot allow this slanging of Liverpool to go on without something being said in the city's defence. I seconded the Amendment of my hon. Friend the Member for Dover (Mr. Arbuthnot) in order to provide him with the opportunity of airing the subject, and I am glad I did so, though now I am in an embarrassing position.

I must say there is a great deal in what the hon. and learned Gentleman the Member for Kettering (Mr. Mitchison) said about proper intentions, and they inspired Liverpool and Sheffield in what they did. It comes a little hard to hear a great local authority being accused of failing to exercise restraint when trying to bring justice into a situation which has been distorted since 1934. In 1955 that

seems to be acting with very great restraint and very great moderation.

Let me add further in justification of what Liverpool has done that this great commercial city had almost its entire centre destroyed by the war, and it is now being rebuilt and brought into modern working condition. It was necessary to equate the rateable assessments of comparable buildings among those that remained from the blitz with those that have been built since the end of the war. For that purpose we had to carry out this considerable revaluation of commercial properties only in the centre of the city—not houses, not factories, not even shops. It was a modest and restrained enterprise, and I hope the House will take due note of that fact.

Mr. Mitchison

On a point of order, Mr. Deputy-Speaker. Apparently the hon. Gentleman's heart caused him to second this Amendment but his head now causes him to oppose it.

Mr. Deputy-Speaker

That is a matter for the hon. Member, not me.

Mr. Mitchison

May I make one last appeal to the hon. Gentleman——

Mr. Deputy-Speaker

Order, order. We are not in Committee now.

Question put, That those words be there inserted in the Bill:—

The House divided: Ayes 204, Noes 174.

Division No. 20] AYES [7.42 p.m.
Agnew, Cmdr. P. C. Bryan, P. Duthie, W. S.
Amery, Julian (Preston, N.) Buchan-Hepburn, Rt. Hon. P. G. T. Emmet, Hon. Mrs. Evelyn
Anstruther-Gray, Major W. J. Bullus, Wing Commander E. E. Errington, Sir Eric
Arbuthnot, John Burden, F. F. A. Farey-Jones, F. W.
Armstrong, C. W. Cary, Sir Robert Fell, A.
Ashton, H. Channon, H. Finlay, Graeme
Atkins, H. E. Chlohester-Clark, R. Fleetwood-Hesketh, R. F.
Baldock, Lt.-Cmdr. J, M. Clarke, Brig. Terence (Portsmth, W.) Fort, R.
Baldwin, A. E. Cole, Norman Fraser, Sir Ian (M'cmbe & Lonsdale)
Balniel, Lord Cooper, Sqn. Ldr. Albert Freeth, D. K.
Barber, Anthony Corfield, Capt. F. v. Galbraith, Hon. T. G. D.
Barlow, Sir John Craddock, Beresford (Spelthorne) Glover, D.
Barter, John Crookshank, Capt. Rt. Hn. H. F. C. Godber, J. B.
Bell, Ronald (Bucks, S.) Crouch, R. F. Gomme-Duncan, Col. A.
Bennett, Dr. Reginald Crowder, Sir John (Finchley) Gower, H. R.
Bevins, J. R. (Toxteth) Crowder, Petre (Ruislip—Northwood) Graham, Sir Fergus
Bidgood, J. C. Cunningham, S. K. Green, A.
Bishop, F. P. Currie, C. B. H. Gresham Cooke, R.
Black, C. W. Dance, J. C. G. Grimond, J.
Body, R. F. Davidson, Viscountess Gurden, Harold
Boyd-Carpenter, Rt. Hon. J. A. D'Avigdor-Goldsmid, Sir Henry Hall, John (Wycombe)
Boyle, Sir Edward Deedes, W. F. Harris, Frederic (Croydon, N.W.)
Braine, B. R. Donaldson, Cmdr. C. E. MCA. Harrison, A. B. C. (Maldon)
Braithwaite, Sir Albert (Harrow, W.) Doughty, C. J. A. Harrison, Col. J. H. (Eye)
Brooke, Rt. Hon. Henry Drayson, G. B. Harvey, Air Cdre. A. V. (Macclesfd)
Browne, J. Nixon (Craigton) Duncan, Capt. J. A. L. Harvey, Ian (Harrow, E.)
Harvey, John (Walthamstow, E.) Lucas-Tooth, Sir Hugh Robson-Brown, W.
Harvie-Watt, sir George Macdonald, Sir Peter Roper, Sir Harold
Heald, Rt. Hon. Sir Lionel Mackeson, Brig. Sir Harry Sandys, Rt. Hon. D.
Heath, Edward McKibbin, A. J. Schofield, Lt.-Col. W.
Henderson, John (Cathcart) Mackie, J. H. (Galloway) Shepherd, William
Hicks-Beach, Maj. W. W. McLaughlin, Mrs. P. Spearman, A, C. M,
Hill, Rt. Hon. Charles (Luton) McLean, Nell (Inverness) Speir, R. M.
Hill, Mrs. E. (Wythenshawe) Maddan, Martin Spens, Rt. Hn. Sir P. (Kens'gt'n, S.)
Hill, John (S. Norfolk) Maltland, Cdr. J. F. W. (Horncastle) Stanley, Capt. Hon. Richard
Hinchingbrooke, Viscount Maitland, Hon. Patrick (Lanark) Steward, Harold (Stockport, S.)
Holt, A. F, Manningham-Buller, Rt. Hon. Sir R. Steward, Sir William (Woolwich, W.)
Hopkinson, Rt. Hon. Henry Markham, Major Sir Frank Stewart, Henderson (Fife, E.)
Horsbrugh, Rt. Hon. Dame Florence Marshall, Douglas Storey, S.
Howard, Gerald (Cambridgeshire) Mathew, R. Studholme, H. G.
Howard, Hon. Greville (St. Ives) Maude, Angus Sumner, W. D. M. (Orpington)
Howard, John (Test) Mawby, R. L. Taylor, Sir Charles (Eastbourne)
Hudson, Sir Austin (Lewisham, N.) Milligan, Rt. Hon. W. R. Thomas, Rt. Hn. J. P. L. (Hereford)
Hudson, W. R. A. (Hull, N.) Moore, Sir Thomas Thomas, Leslie (Canterbury)
Hughes Hallett, Vice-Admiral J. Nabarro, G. D. N. Thompson, Kenneth (Walton)
Hughes-Young, M. H. C. Nairn, D. L. S. Thornton-Kemsley, C. N.
Hulbert, Wing-Cmdr. Sir Norman Neave, Airey Tiley, A. (Bradford, W.)
Hutchison, Sir Ian Clark (E'b'gh, W.) Nicholls, Harmar Touche, Sir Gordon
Hyde, Montgomery Nicholson, Godfrey (Farnham) Turner, H. F. L.
Hylton-Foster, Sir H. B. H. Noble, Comdr. A. H. P. Turton, Rt. Hon. R. H.
Iremonger, T. L. O'Neill, Hn. Phelim (Co. Antrim, N.) Vane, W. M. F.
Irvine, Bryant Godman (Rye) Orr, Capt. L. P. S. Wade, D. W.
Jenkins, Robert (Dulwich) Osborne, C. Wakefield, Edward (Derbyshire, W.)
Jennings, J. C. (Burton) Page, R. G. Wall, Major Patrick
Johnson, Dr. Donald (Carlisle) Pannell, N. A. (Kirkdale) Waterhouse, Capt. Rt. Hon. C.
Johnson, Eric (Blackley) Peyton, J. W. W. Webbe, Sir H.
Kerby, Capt. H. B. Pickthorn, K. W. M. Whitelaw, W.S.I.(Penrith & Border)
Kerr, H. W. Pott, H. P. Williams, Rt. Hn. Charles (Torquay)
Kershaw, J. A. Price, David (Eastleigh) Williams, Gerald (Tonbridge)
Lagden, G. W. Raikes, Sir Victor Williams, Paul (Sunderland, S.)
Lancaster, Col. C. G. Rawlinson, P. A. G. Williams, R. Dudley (Exeter)
Leavey, J. A. Redmayne, M. Wills, G. (Bridgwater)
Leburn, W. G. Rees-Davies, W. R. Wilson, Geoffrey (Truro)
Lindsay, Hon. James (Devon, N.) Remnant, Hon. P. Wood, Hon. R.
Linstead, Sir H. N. Renton, D. L. M. Woollam, John Victor
Llewellyn, D. T. Ridsdale, J. E. Yates, William (The Wrekin)
Lloyd, Maj. Sir Guy (Renfrew, E.) Rippon, A. G. F.
Longden, Gilbert Roberts, Peter (Heeley) TELLERS FOR THE AYES:
Lucas, P. B. (Brentford & Chiswlok) Robinson, Sir Roland (Blackpool, S.) Mr. Richard Thompson and
Mr. Legh.
NOES
Ainsley, J. W. Cullen, Mrs. A. Houghton, Douglas
Allaun, F. (Salford, E.) Dalton, Rt. Hon. H. Howell, Charles (Perry Barr)
Allen, Scholefield (Crewe) Davies, Stephen (Merthyr) Howell, Denis (All Saints)
Anderson, Frank Deer, G. Hubbard, T. F.
Attlee, Rt. Hon. C. R. Dodds, N. N. Hughes, Emrys (S. Ayrshire)
Baeon, Miss Alice Dugdale, Rt. Hn. John (W. Brmwh) Hughes, Hector (Aberdeen, N.)
Balfour, A. Dye, S. Hunter, A. E.
Bartley, P. Ede, Rt. Hon. J. C. Hynd, H. (Accrington)
Bellenger, Rt. Hon. F. J. Edwards, Rt. Hon. Ness (Caerphilly) Hynd, J. B. (Attercliffe)
Bence, C. R. (Dunbartonshire, E.) Evans, Albert (Islington, S.W.) Irvine, A. J. (Edge Hill)
Blackburn, F. Evans, Edward (Lowestoft) Johnson, James (Rugby)
Boardman, H. Evans, Stanley (Wednesbury) Jones, Jack (Rotherham)
Bottomley, Rt. Hon. A. C. Fernyhough, E. Jones, J. Idwal (Wrexham)
Bowden, H. w. (Leicester, S.W.) Fienburgh, W. Jones, T. W. (Merioneth)
Bowles, F. G. Fletoher, Eric Kenyon, C,
Boyd, T. C. Forman, J. C. Key, Rt. Hon. C. W.
Braddock, Mrs. Elizabeth Fraser, Thomas (Hamilton) King, Dr. H. M.
Brockway, A. F. Gibson, C. W. Lawson, G. M.
Broughton, Dr. A. D. D. Greenwood, Anthony Ledger, R. J.
Brown, Rt. Hon. George (Belper) Grenfell, Rt. Hon. D. R. Lee, Frederick (Newton)
Brown, Thomas (Ince) Grey, C. F. Lewis, Arthur
Burke, W. A. Griffiths, David (Rother Valley) Lindgren, G. S.
Butler, Herbert (Hackney, C.) Griffiths, Rt. Hon. James (Llanelly) Logan, D. G.
Butler, Mrs. Joyce (Wood Green) Griffiths, William (Exchange) MacColl, J. E.
Callaghan, L. J. Hale, Leslie McGhee, H. G.
Carmichael, J. Hall, Rt. Hn. Glenvil (Colne Valley) Mclnnes, J.
Champion, A. J. Hall, John T. (Gateshead, W.) McKay, John (Wallsend)
Chapman, W. D. Hamilton, W. W. McLeavy, F.
Clunie, J. Hannan, W. Mahon, S.
Coldrick, W. Hastings, S. Mainwaring, W. H.
Collick, P. H. (Birkenhead) Hayman, F. H. Mallalieu, E. L. (Brigg)
Collins, V. J. (Shoreditch & Finsbury) Healey, Denis Mann, Mrs. Jean
Corbet, Mrs. Freda Henderson, Rt. Hn. A. (Rwly Regis) Mayhew, C. P.
Cove, W. G. Herbison, Miss M. Mikardo, Ian
Craddock, George (Bradford, S.) Hobson, C. R. Mitchison, G. R.
Cronin, J. D. Holman, P. Moody, A. S.
Crossman, R. H. S. Holmes, Horace Morris, Percy (Swansea, W.)
Mort, D. L. Rhodes, H. Tomney, F.
Moss, R. Robens, Rt. Hon. A. Viant, S. P.
Moyle, A. Roberts, Albert (Normanton) Warbey, W. N.
Noel-Baker, Francis (Swindon) Roberts, Goronwy (Caernarvon) Watkins, T. E.
Oliver, G. H. Ross, William Wells, Percy (Faversham)
Oram, A. E, Shawcross, Rt. Hon. Sir Hartley West, D. G.
Orbaeh, M. Shinwell, Rt. Hon. E. Wheeldon, W. E.
Oswald, T. Short, E. W. White, Mrs. Eirene (E. Flint)
Paling, Will T. (Dewsbury) Silverman, Julius (Aston) White, Henry (Derbyshire, N.E.)
Palmer, A. M. F. Silverman, Sydney (Nelson) Willey, Frederick
Panned, Charles (Leeds, W.) Simmons, C. J. (Brierley Hill) Williams, David (Neath)
Pargiter, G. A. Skeffington, A. M. Williams, Rev. Llywelyn (Ab'tillery>
Paton, J. Slater, Mrs. H. (Stoke, N.) Williams, Rt. Hon. T. (Don Valley)
Pearson, A. Slater, J. (Sedgefield) Williams, W. R. (Openshaw)
Peart, T. F. Sorensen, R. W. Williams, W. T. (Barons Court)
Price, Philips (Gloucestershire, W.) Sparks, J. A. Willis, E. G. (Edinburgh, E.)
Probert, A. R. Steele, T. Winterbottom, Richard
Proctor, W. T. Stewart, Michael (Fulham) Woodburn, Rt. Hon. A.
Pryde, D. J. Stones, W. (Consett) Zilliacus, K.
Pursey, Cmdr. H. Summerskill, Rt. Hon. E.
Rankin, John Swingler, S. T. TELLERS FOR THE NOES:
Reid, William Thomas, Iorwerth (Rhondda, W.) Mr. John Taylor and
Mr. J. T. Price.

Further Amendment made: In page 4, line 4, leave out subsections (6) and (7).—[Mr. Deedes.]