§ Mr. Cantasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will indicate how many valuations of council houses which have been sold to date have been valued by (a) local authority valuers and (b) by district valuers.
§ Mr. StanleyThe information requested is not available.
§ Mr. Cantasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on any problem which has arisen in the valuation of council houses sold by local authorities, as a consequence of the division of responsibility between local authority valuers and district valuers.
§ Mr. StanleyI am not aware of any such problem. For the initial valuation of dwellings to be sold under the right to buy local authorities may use their own valuation staff, private valuers or the district valuer. Any dispute between landlord and tenant on the initial valuation falls to be decided by the district valuer by virtue of section 11 of the Housing Act 1980. If the hon. Member has any particular problem in mind I will be ready to consider any detailed information he cares to send me.