10. Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the great number of rating cases coming before the local valuation courts, preventing full consideration being given to all these cases, he will take powers to increase the number, or limit the area, of local valuation courts.
§ Mr. BevinsThose are matters within the discretion of chairman of local valuation panels, and my right hon. Friend sees no reason to seek power to interfere. There is nothing to prevent full consideration of each appeal.
Mr. Gresham CookeIs my hon. Friend aware that in south-west Middlesex valuation courts are overloaded and some 20 cases are heard at a time in a rather slipshod fashion? Is it not possible to increase the number of courts in that area or alternatively to appoint some qualified people who will know what they are doing in adjudicating on these valuation cases?
§ Mr. BevinsIt is at the discretion of the chairman of the panel to decide how often courts are called. As to the qualification of the members of the courts, I think it has always been the view of this House that those courts should not consist entirely of legal gentlemen, but also of people who have a knowledge of the district. My right hon. Friend is aware of the difficulties in the area of Middlesex to which my hon. Friend has referred, but I believe that there there are appeals to the Lands Tribunal.
§ Mr. W. R. WilliamsIs the hon. Gentleman aware that it is estimated that in Manchester it will take between five and seven years to clear arrears of work on this valuation and in the meantime about £500,000 a year is being lost on local rateable value?
§ Mr. BevinsIt is quite true, as the hon. Member for Openshaw (Mr. W. R. Williams) has said, that there are a considerable number of appeals outstanding in Manchester. Anything we can do to expedite matters we shall do.