Council Tax (Hansard, 4 December 1991)

§ 7. Mr. John Evans
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what method he will use to value domestic properties for council tax purposes.

§ Mr. Heseltine
The principles and assumptions to be used for valuations were set out in regulations laid on 2 September.

§ Mr. Evans
How long does the Secretary of State expect that it will take to complete the valuations and how long will it take to deal with householders' objections to those valuations? Will not local authorities, which will still be wrestling with the poll tax in 1992, be in a state of total chaos in April 1993? Will those householders whose properties are valued through the use of aerial photographs be informed of that?

§ Mr. Heseltine
The hon. Gentleman will be aware that responsibility for the detailed exercise of the valuation measurements is the responsibility of my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury. I can help the hon. Gentleman by saying that we believe that we are on schedule for the introduction of the council tax in April 1993.

§ Mr. Bowis
Will my right hon. Friend confirm that he has listened to hon. Members and representatives of people with disabilities who are worried that the additional room or larger property that they need to accommodate their disabilities might take them into a higher band and that he has decided that any such people should fall within one band lower than would otherwise be the case?

§ Mr. Heseltine
I am extremely grateful to my hon. Friend for reminding the House of our special announcements to ensure that special features of properties adapted for the disabled should be disregarded.