§ 91. Wing Commander Bullusasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he has yet considered the Report of the Pritchard Committee on the Rating of Charities and Kindred Bodies; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. H. BrookeI have it under consideration. Amongst other relevant matters, universities and colleges constitute some 30 per cent, of the whole field reviewed by the Committee, and it will be essential to know the outcome of current appeals against their present 27W assessments before reaching any conclusion in regard to them. Meantime, the safeguard for all charities and kindred bodies in Section 8 of the Act of 1955, and also the relief of 20 per cent, provided by the Act of 1957 where applicable, are guaranteed by law till 1963, unless in the meantime Parliament otherwise determines.
§ Mr. Corfieldasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he has yet completed his consideration of the Report of the Committee on the Rating of Charities and Kindred Bodies; and, in view of the recent decision of the Lands Tribunal with regard to the rating of premises occupied for the purposes of Dr. Barnardo's Homes, if he will now introduce legislation on the lines of the recommendations of the Committee.
§ Mr. H. BrookeI would refer my hon. Friend to replies which I have given to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Hale) on 17th November and to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Wembley, North (Wing Commander Bullus) today.
In the case mentioned, the Home has and retains the benefit of relief as a charity under Section 8 of the Rating and Valuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1958, and also relief under Section 1 of the Rating and Valuation Act, 1957. The claim rejected by the Lands Tribunal was a claim to secure further relief by being assessed as a private house and, therefore, at 1939 value.