§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what timetable guidance he has given to local valuation officers in respect of setting council tax appeals. [17681]
(2) if he will take measures to accelerate the processing and settlement of council tax appeals. [17669]
§ Mr. NelsonTargets for settling council tax appeals in England were announced by the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Urban Regeneration on 31 January 1995,Official Report, column 580.
Referring to initial appeals, he said that it was hoped that all but a handful would be settled by the summer. By 28 February, the last date for which statistics are available, 88 per cent. had been cleared. When the bulk of initial appeals have been settled it is expected that any further new appeals will generally be settled within 12 months of their being received.
Local valuation offices are expected to deal with appeals within these targets, having regard to when the appeal was made and giving priority to cases where hardship is identified.
Given these arrangements, I do not intend to take any further measures to accelerate the processing and settlement of council tax appeals but will continue to keep the matter under review.
§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many council tax appeals submitted from the borough of Basingstoke and Deane in(a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95 are outstanding. [17668]
(2) how many council tax appeals were submitted from the borough of Basingstoke and Deane in (a) 1993–94 (b) 1994–95; and what percentage has been settled. [17682]
§ Mr. NelsonThe number of council tax appeals submitted from the borough of Basingstoke and Deane in(a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95, and the numbers outstanding and the percentages settled are as follows. The figures for 1994–1995 are for the period from 1 April 1994 to 28 February 1995, the last date for which statistics are available.
Year Appeals submitted Appeals outstanding Percentage settled 1993–94 2,940 634 78 1994–95 285 230 19