§ Mr. RookerTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any proposals to bring forward a tax on residential property.
§ Mr. Norman Lamont[holding answer 5 November 1987]: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has no such proposals.
§ Mr. RookerTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present cost to central Government of maintaining lists of rateable values.
§ Mr. Norman Lamont[holding answer 5 November 1987]: Inland Revenue valuation officers are charged with the statutory duty of maintaining valuation lists of the rateable values of properties for each rating authority in England and Wales. This function involves them in all the valuation aspects of current rating and the running costs are about £56 million annually at current prices (Supply Estimates 1987–88, Class XIX, Vote 7).