§ Sir Terence HigginsTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 17 February,Official Report, column 890, why in carrying out the national 879W revaluation 1995, hotels and boarding houses' district valuers required a detailed breakdown for each of the items requested to establish rental values; if he will give respondents more than 21 days to carry out the work involved; and if he will introduce a simplified form.
§ Mr. NelsonForms requesting the supply of information served by valuation officers on the occupiers or owners of hereditaments have been designed to enable those officers to obtain the information they require in order to compile and maintain rating lists.
A general form requiring rental details is used in most cases but for some types of business information is required about receipts because rental details are scarce. Hotels and boarding houses fall within this category.
The law requires that the form seeking information is returned to a valuation officer within 21 days. However, where there are particular difficulties in complying with this time limit, a longer period may be agreed.
It is not considered appropriate to introduce a further simplified form. Any ratepayer who is having difficulty with the form should approach his or her local valuation officer who will offer guidance on its completion.