HC Deb 20 October 1966 vol 734 cc416-7 A hereditament which is not a dwelling-house by reason only of the fact that part of it is used for purposes other than those of a private dwelling or private dwellings shall be deemed to be a dwelling-house within the meaning of the Valuation for Rating Act 1953 in any case where, if that part were a separate hereditament in the same occupation as the remainder of the hereditament and used solely for those other purposes, the separate hereditament would not be liable to be rated.—[Mr. MacColl.]

Brought up, and read the First time.

4.4 p.m.

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (Mr. James MacColl)

I beg to move, That the Clause be read a Second time.

The Clause arises from our deliberations in Standing Committee. We had discussion then about the possibility that a dwelling-house which was partly used for a non-residential purpose which itself was not rateable might lose its status as a dwelling-house. The hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Charles Morrison) gave an illustration of one room in a farmhouse being used as a farm office.

We have given thought to this matter and for the avoidance of doubt we propose the new Clause, which will make it clear that that will not be the effect.

Mr. John M. Temple (City of Chester)

We are all obliged to the Government for introducing the Clause, which will especially clarify the position concerning the rateability of a farmhouse in which it is customary to have a farm office.

I would like to know whether the Government consider that there are any other non-rateable parts of dwelling-houses other than farm offices to which a Clause like this would be applicable. We are satisfied that the Clause covers the question of the farm office, which my hon.

Friend the Member for Devizes (Mr. Charles Morrison) and I brought to the attention of the Standing Committee, but I wonder whether there could be any other non-rateable part of a hereditament

Mr. MacColl

It was the point put by the hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Charles Morrison) that particularly carried weight with us. There could, I think, be other examples. Some rather frivolous ones were deployed in our earlier debates, but the farm office in a farmhouse is the substantial example which we have had in mind.

Question put and agreed to.

Clause read a Second time, and added to the Bill.