§ Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what was the aggregate rateable value of property upon which local taxation was levied in England and Wales in the financial years 1877–8, 1887–8, 1897–8, and 1907–8, respectively; and what proportion thereof in each case represents the rateable value of agricultural land as distinct from other species of real property?
§ Mr. BURNSMy right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. Prior to the year 1896, when the Agricultural Rates Act came into operation, the rateable value of all agricultural land was not shown separately in the valuation lists or Poor Rates, and consequently it cannot be stated for the years 1877–8 and 1887–8. The required particulars for the years 1897–8 and 1907–8 are set out in the following table:—
Year. Rateable value at the commencement of the year, of the rateable property in England and Wales together with the annual value assigned to non-rateable Government property in respect of which contributions in lieu of rates were received by rating authorities. Rateable value of agricultural land as defined by the Agricultural Rates Act. 1896. 1. 2. 3. 1897–8 … 168,664,993 24,342,620 1907–8 … 209,891,680 23,662,160