§ 11. Mr. Doigasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many appeals to Scottish valuation appeal committees have been successful for house occupiers; and in how many of these the assessor has asked for a stated case since the last revaluation.
§ Dr. Dickson MabonI regret that my right hon. Friend does not have this information, and could not readily obtain it.
§ Mr. DoigIs the Minister of State aware that it is becoming a common practice every time a decision of a valuation committee goes against the assessor for him automatically to ask for a case to be staled? This is becoming almost a form of intimidation of valuation appeal committees. Will my hon. Friend look into this?
§ Dr. MabonI congratulate my hon. Friend on his own successful appeal. According to information at our disposal so far, noting that the time for appeal has been extended to 15th August, the assessor exercises this right very sparingly and only when an important principle is at stake. I shall look into this when the cases building up have been completed after the middle of August.
§ Mr. EadieDoes not my hon. Friend agree that the time is probably now opportune for him to re-examine the legacy he inherited from the Sorn Committee proposals and the Rating and Valuation Act, 1956? Does he not agree that the whole matter should be examined to bring it more within a state of reality?
§ Dr. MabonMy hon. Friend will recollect the debates we had on the Local Government (Scotland) Bill in 1966 and the statements made by my right hon. Friend in connection with the establishment of the Royal Commission on Local Government. He will see that we are very much alive to the defects of the valuation system in Scotland. Once the Royal Commission has reported we shall be able to see our way more clearly on what to do about that.