COMPARISON WITH HEREDITAMENTS IN ENGLAND AND WALES (Hansard, 20 June 1984)

§ Mr. Ancram
I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said amendment.

§ Mr. Deputy Speaker
With this we are to discuss Lords amendments Nos. 7 to 10.

§ Mr. Ancram
Certain doubts have been expressed as to the effects of clause 15, and these amendments are intended to aid clarity for the avoidance of doubt.
The first of these amendments specifically provides that comparisons may be made in two circumstances—the first where there is no evidence available and the second where available evidence is not adequate. The amendments also make clearer that English valuations cited in Scottish cases are to be treated as rents as at the date at which the valuations were struck. Perhaps more important, they make clear that any relevant actual English rents may continue to be cited as at present, in addition to the new evidence which will now be allowable
The hon. Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) will recall that those were all points that he raised in Committee.
I commend the amendments to the House.

§ Mr. Dewar
I am delighted to agree with the other place on this matter. I am grateful to the Minister for his support for what seem to be minor but sensible changes. I am sure that he will not take it amiss if I say that it is an area where party politics does not normally intrude—and it does not on this occasion. However, it is also an area where there is an enormous amount of anxiety and where there was more controversy in some ways and more widespread public interest than in many other parts of the Bill. I remember with great clarity the complicated discussions about the likely impact of clause 15 on the rating of football grounds, racecourses and several other facilities in Scotland, and the deep feeling that there was injustice compared with what happened south of the border.
I know that the Minister holds firm to the view that the contractors' principle has died with this set of provisions — [Interruption.] It is no longer relevant. In any case, where the contractors' principle could be prayed in aid under current practice, there will now be an opportunity of having recourse to the English comparators that are introduced into Scottish valuation law under the new provisions. I doubt how effective this will be and how far 449 we have pushed Scottish law beyond its present frontiers of the Portland Cement case. Obviously, we shall watch this with care in future.
I assure the Minister that we shall not be closing the book when the Bill is enacted. Many people will wish to ensure that the Minister's hopes—I am sure that they are genuine — will be realised. If they are not, we reserve the right to bring the matter back before the House to see whether we can do better on another occasion.