FURTHER PROVISION AS TO VALUATION IN SCOTLAND (Hansard, 12 June 1991)

§ Mr. Dewar
I beg to move amendment No. 9, in page 5, leave out line 6.
I wish to speak briefly to the amendment, for limited technical reasons. This will be a Scottish equivalent of the earlier debate about the position in England, which dealt with the question of employing private sector valuers to aid the assessors in their task. I do not want to push the debate to any great length, but perhaps the Minister could say a word or two on that subject.
I realise that the Under-Secretary of State for Wales, the hon. Member for Pembroke (Mr. Bennett), poured scorn on the idea that some sort of professional qualification would be expected. The implication was that experienced estate agents, even without qualifications as valuers, might be used.
It would also be helpful if the Minister said a word or two about the position of regional councils. People who will be involved have raised a technical question with me. At present, the assessor is independent and presumably the assessor will be responsible for hiring the private sector valuers. If a problem arose with the private sector valuers' work—there could be a legal dispute, for example—would the regional council be responsible for the actions of the private sector figures, even though there is no direct contract between those people and the council? Presumably the contract will be between the assessor and the private sector valuers. Would the regional council be bound by that contract and therefore liable for those people's actions?

§ Mr. Allan Stewart
I shall answer the hon. Gentleman's two questions, one of which was general and the other particular.
Our previous debate showed that the House is agreed that the Scottish assessors are well equipped, both with information and with computer systems, to enable them to carry out their task of valuation. Nevertheless, we do not wish to rule out the possibility that the private sector will be able to assist the assessors in certain circumstances.
For example, private sector valuers could provide effective input on new properties in some areas. It would be perverse to deny the assessors that option. Moreover, sometimes it may be more cost-effective for the private sector to participate. We would not want legislation to prevent its participation in such circumstances.
With regard to the more detailed legal point, I do not believe that there is a problem, but I shall take legal advice and perhaps write to the hon. Gentleman.

§ Mr. Dewar
I thank the Minister. I did not intend to start a lengthy debate and I find the tone of what he said reassuring, on the whole. Paragraph 2.29 of the Government's consultation paper contains a reference to the new system's requiring in addition the fullest possible involvement of private sector professionals. I take that to refer to the difficulties south of the border, and that it does not represent the spirit in which the Scottish Office would expect the assessors to approach the matter.
I take the Minister's point that there may be special cases in which it is sensible to use outside help, when there is particular expertise in the private sector. I agree that it 1004 would be silly to rule that out, but I take it the Minister is not adopting the spirit of paragraph 2.29, which portrays the private sector as taking a major role in support of the Inland Revenue valuation officers. If that is a correct interpretation—I believe that it is—I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.