§ 33. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has now considered the information sent him by the right hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Thames relating to the practice adopted by the district valuer, Derby, in respect of transactions which it was desired to complete before April 1967; whether this practice has his approval; and what steps he proposes to take to compensate citizens whose property as the result of this practice was subject to payment of part of an impost not then in force and operation.
§ Mr. DiamondYes, Sir. I am writing to the right hon. Gentleman. I do not agree that the district valuer, Derby, has acted in the way he is alleged to have acted, and the question of compensation does not arise.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is clear, on the evidence of a highly respectable firm of professional surveyors that I submitted to the right hon. Gentleman, that the effect of the district valuer's action was to impose the levy under the Land Commission at half-rate two months before it became legally in force, and is that in accordance with the instructions of the Inland Revenue?
§ Mr. DiamondNo, Sir. The evidence does not indicate that. I want to make it absolutely clear. This is a very serious allegation and, therefore, I—as the right hon. Gentleman would no doubt have done in my position—have gone into it very carefully indeed. The surveyors acting for the right hon. Gentleman's client are under a complete misapprehen- 294 sion. No such thing as he has alleged has happened. No damage has been suffered.
§ Mr. RipponIs the Chief Secretary aware that there is very strong feeling about this particular case, which, it is felt, is perhaps not an isolated one? Would he publish a full report of the circumstances?
§ Mr. DiamondI am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for what he has said, because this matter is extremely difficult to deal with simply by Question and Answer. I have gone into the case very carefully, and I shall be answering the right hon. Gentleman. With his permission—he is acting on behalf of his constituent—I am sure that it would be helpful if this matter could be published.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIn order to facilitate the right hon. Gentleman's public discussion of the details of the matter, Mr. Speaker, I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.
§ Mr. SpeakerAdjournment notice must be given in the conventional way.