§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take action to increase the staff at the district valuer's office so that appeals against Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council lodged in 1973 can be heard as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Robert Sheldon, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 29th January 1975; Vol. 885, c. 182.], gave the following information:
My hon. Friend will be aware of the general shortage of professional valuers, but the level of staffing of the district valuer's office at St. Helens is comparable to that of other offices in the region, and there do not appear to be any substantial delays in that office in dealing with rating appeals relating to the Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council area which could be attributed to staff shortages. If my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind, perhaps he will write to me.