HC Deb 14 July 1913 vol 55 cc892-3W
Mr. NEWMAN

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many provisional valuations for urban and rural hereditaments, respectively, have been issued in Ireland as on 31st March, 1913, or, if more convenient, as on any subsequent date up to the 30th ultimo?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

I am informed that up to 30th June, 1913, 75,000 provisional valuations had been issued, of which about 1,500 were in rural districts.

Mr. NEWMAN

asked what is the percentage of rural hereditaments in respect of which he has been informed by the Irish Land Commission that they are in a position to, without the issue of Form IV. or personal inspection, supply the information necessary to enable provisional valuations, including fixed charges, to be served on the owners of such herditaments; and whether this percentage is identical with the percentage of hereditaments sold under the Land Purchase Acts?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

The information requested by the hon. Member could not be given without an altogether disproportionate expenditure of time and labour. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

Mr. NEWMAN

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many original provisional valuations, valuations on occasion, gross values, and full site values have been made by the permanent rating valuers of the Valuation Office, Ireland, since the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, passed; and whether he has read the evidence given by the representatives of those valuers on 24th February before the Royal Commission on the Civil Service, to the effect that the making of these Finance Act valuations has compelled them to work nearly one and a half hours per day longer on the average, and that their subsistence allowance when doing this Finance Act work was, generally speaking, of no financial advantage to them?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

I understand that the officers referred to have been engaged on some 6,000 valuations. If they have had any extra work during the few weeks they were so employed, they have been fully compensated by the increase in their pay and prospects given on account of it.