§ Mr. HendersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many appeals there have been against council tax valuations since the council tax was introduced in Scotland.
§ Mr. Stewart[holding answer 25 March 1994]: By 30 November 1993, 95,966 proposals to change the valuation list were lodged with assessors' departments in Scotland.
§ Mr. HendersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the average waiting time for appeals against valuation to be heard since the introduction of the council tax in Scotland.
§ Mr. Stewart[holding answer 25 March 1994]: For proposals to change the valuation list and consequential appeals settled by 30 November 1993, the average time from lodging the proposal to settlement was four months.
§ Mr. HendersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many appeals against council tax valuations are still waiting to be heard in Scotland.
§ Mr. Stewart[holding answer 25 March 1994]: At 30 November 1993, the latest date for which information is available centrally, 66,329 proposals to change the valuation list and appeals were still to be dealt with.
§ Mr. HendersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many appeals against valuation have resulted in a change in the banding of a property since the introduction of the council tax.
§ Mr. Stewart[holding answer 25 March 1994]: Information is not collected centrally on the number of proposals to change the valuation list which have resulted in a change in the banding of a property. The table shows the recorded outcomes of the 29,637 proposals settled up to 30 November 1993.
708W
Number Settled before citation by the Valuation Appeals Committee: Withdrawn by appellant 6,995 List adjusted by assessor 21,699 Settled after citation and prior to Valuation Appeals Committee hearing: Withdrawn by appellant 415 List adjusted by assessor 496 Decisions by the Valuation Appeal Committee: Number dismissed 29 Number allowed 3
§ Mr. HendersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the total cost of the valuation exercise in Scotland, including the appeals process, since the introduction of the council tax.
§ Mr. Stewart[holding answer 25 March 1994]: No information is held centrally relating to the cost of the appeals process or to costs of valuation work other than the initial preparation of valuation lists. The additional costs incurred by valuation authorities on the initial valuation exercise, which are reimbursed by my Department through the council tax valuation grant, amount to an estimated £9 million. Not all final claims have yet been received in respect of work in 1992–93.