HC Deb 06 March 1951 vol 485 cc32-3W
Mr. Houghton

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what classes of rateable property the work of valuation for rating purposes is being put out to valuers in private practice; whether an assurance has been given to professional valuers that this method of assessment will continue until 1958; what amount has been already paid in fees and what is the total estimated cost.

Mr. Jay

The following is the list of classes:

Certain industrial hereditaments; mineral producing hereditaments (excluding coal mines); certain football and other sports grounds; cinemas and theatres; certain schools and other educational establishments; water undertakings; certain dock undertakings; pleasure piers and holiday camps; racecourses and totalisators; greyhound race tracks; certain tram and trolley bus undertakings.

The contracts operate until 31st March, 1958. The fees so far paid amount to £25,263. It is impossible to give any accurate estimate of the total amount of fees which may be payable under the contracts because that amount depends largely on the rateable values which emerge on the revaluation in 1953.

Mr. Houghton

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether valuers in private practice who are undertaking rating valuation work for the Valuation Office of the Inland Revenue on a fee basis are permitted also to act for ratepayers in appeals against assessments made by the district valuer or other private valuers on other property in the same area.

Mr. Jay

Yes.

Mr. Houghton

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why it is necessary to employ valuers in private practice to undertake rating assessment work which was previously done by the rating and valuation officers of local authorities and which should now be undertaken by the staff of the valuation office.

Mr. Jay

My hon. Friend's assumption that all rating valuation work was formerly done by local authority staff is wrong. The Inland Revenue have had to employ private firms because the staff available to the Valuation Office from the local authorities and by recruitment was inadequate to complete the revaluation by the statutory date of 1953.