§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was(a) the average waiting time for appeals going to the council tax valuation tribunals and (b) the cost of valuation appeals for each English valuation tribunal area.
§ Mr. BaldryIt is not yet possible to say what is the average length of time taken to hear appeals, since a great many cases are being settled by agreement between the taxpayer and the Valuation Office Agency, and only a small proportion have been heard and determined by valuation tribunals.
556WThe estimated average cost of processing a council tax appeal in the current financial year in England is£115. This estimate includes Valuation Office Agency and valuation tribunal costs.
§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many households in Rochdale have appealed against their council tax banding; and how many of these appeals have been accepted;
(2) how many households in Rochdale are still waiting to hear the results of their appeals against wrong council tax banding.
§ Mr. BaldryI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond), on 17 February, column967. Details of the outcome of appeals are not collected centrally.