Mr. C. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Health whether the Government have instructed local authorities to raise the level of assessments in certain parts of the country, and whether Government officials are employed for the purpose?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThere is no foundation for such statements. No Government Department has any power to give directions to local authorities in regard to the valuations to be put upon rateable hereditaments. The full responsibility for making the valuations rests with the local rating and assessment authorities, and no Government official, outside London, is concerned with valua- 727W tions for rating purposes, except in connection with the compilation of the special lists on which rate relief will depend. In connection with that work Revenue officers have power to challenge the valuations on properties which come within the scope of the de-rating scheme, but this power is expressly limited to cases in which they consider that the value proposed by the local authority is too high.