HC Deb 27 October 1966 vol 734 cc1398-9
Mr. Willey

I beg to move Amendment No. 89, in page 65, line 24, at the beginning to insert: 'Subject to the next following subsection'. I think that it would be convenient to take, at the same time, Amendment No. 90.

Mr. Deputy Speaker

Yes, if the Opposition have no objection.

Mr. Graham Page indicated assent.

Mr. Willey

These Amendments are proposed in response to concern which was expressed in Committee. They represent an endeavour to meet it.

Mr. Allason

More in sorrow than in anger, I regret that it has taken such a long time for the Government to accept this point. They did not think of it themselves. It is not a new point, since it appeared in the Rating and Valuation (Apportionment) Act, 1928. The Government have been so keen on their precedents, proudly pointing to them throughout, that they might have looked at that precedent and got this right in the first place.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendment made: In page 65, line 27, leave out from 'area' to end of line 29 and insert: (6) Where any land is on the boundary between two or more rating areas, and accordingly—

  1. (a) different parts of that land form the subject of different entries in the valuation list for the time being in force for those areas respectively, but
  2. (b) if the whole of the land had been in one of those areas, it would have formed 1399 the subject of a single entry in the valuation list for that area,
the Commission may direct that the whole of that land shall be treated for the purposes of the last preceding subsection as if it formed the subject of a single entry in the valuation list for a rating area. (7) In the application of this section to Scotland, for references to a valuation list and a rating area there shall be substituted respectively references to a valuation roll and a valuation area.—[Mr. Willey.]