§ Mr. Gourlayasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the total number of members in each valuation appeal committee; and how many members of each committee were, on appointment, members of local authorities.
§ Mr. MaclayUnder Section 5 of the Valuation and Rating (Scotland) Act, 1956, each valuation appeal committee may consist of not less than 15 and not more than 20 persons who shall be persons residing or engaged in business or employed in the committee's area. The members are appointed by the sheriff. I have no information, therefore, of the actual numbers appointed to each committee or how many members were, on appointment, members of local authorities.
§ Mr. Gourlayasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state which valuation appeal committees have, as members, persons who were formerly employed by local authorities as assessors; and which committees have such persons as their secretaries.
§ Mr. MaclayI do not have the information asked for in the first part of the Question. As to the second part, I understand that the secretary to the valuation appeal committee for the County of Fife is a former assessor, but I do not know of any other cases.