§ Mr. Geoffrey Finsbergasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average delay between the lodging of a rating assessment appeal and its hearing by a valuation panel in the Camden area; how long is the longest delay; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Guy BarnettAn average figure is not available, but I understand that most of the rating appeals now being heard in the Camden area were made about two and a half years ago. A few exceptional cases are up to six months older than that. A local valuation court sits in Camden every week and 4,400 appeals out of 10,800 made since 1973 have now been settled.