§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many valuers he estimates will be freed by the postponement of the 1978 rating valuation; and how many of these he estimates could be transferred to valuation in connection with the public acquisition of development land.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonNo valuers will become free for transfer. The number of valuers now in post falls considerably short of present requirements. The primary effect of postponing the rating revaluation will be to enable the Valuation Office temporarily to devote more resources to the current work which is in arrear and to take on new work resulting from e.g. the introduction of a capital transfer tax and the new arrangements for disposals of land with development value.