§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 2 June,Official Report, column 400, why neither the Members with constituencies affected, nor the local authority concerned, were consulted prior to or informed subsequent to the closure of the Wakefield valuation office.
§ Mr. DorrellThe former Wakefield valuation office covered the local authorities of City of Wakefield metropolitan district council and Barnsley metropolitan borough council. The end of domestic rating caused a reduction of about one fifth of the work of the VO and a reduced network was necessary in order to protect costs.
Both authorities were advised in advance of the closure and arrangements made for the transfer of work to Doncaster valuation office with effect from 30 September 1991.
While the respective Members of Parliament were not directly informed of the closure, a copy of the "Valuation Office Address Book", held in the House of Commons Library, was updated in October 1991 and indicated the transfer of the above local authorities to the Doncaster valuation office.