HC Deb 15 February 1995 vol 254 cc672-3W
Mrs. Maddock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total cost to date of processing appeals against council tax bandings.

Mr. Robert B. Jones

The cost of work undertaken by the Valuation Office agency on council tax banding proposals and appeals in England between 1 April 1993 and 31 December 1994 was £56.2 million.

During the same period, the running costs of the valuation tribunals in dealing with all types of appeal, including non-domestic rating, council tax liability and valuation, were £18 million. Non-domestic rating cases accounted for a majority of this figure, but no exact breakdown is available.

Mrs. Maddock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many properties currently have exemption from council tax under each category of exemption.

Mr. Robert B. Jones

The latest information on the number of properties in England under each class of exemption is as follows:

As at 7 June 1994 000s
A. Empty dwellings where works are required, under way or recently completed 89.5
B. Empty dwellings owned by charities 1.5
C. Dwellings left empty and unfurnished 201.5
D. Dwellings left empty by prisoners 1.0
E. Dwellings left empty by patients in hospitals and care homes 31.6
F. Dwellings left empty by deceased persons 57.5
G. Dwellings which are unfit etc. 10.4
H. Empty clergy dwellings 1.2
I. Dwellings left empty by people receiving care 5.9
J. Dwellings left empty by people providing care 0.7
K. Dwellings left empty by students 2.1
L. Repossessed dwellings 31.9
M. Halls of residence 9.2
N. Dwellings occupied solely by students or school leavers 98.5
O. Armed forces' accommodation 61.9
P. Visiting forces' accommodation 14.0
Q. Dwellings left empty by bankrupts 0.6
R. Vacant caravan sites and moorings 0.5
Total 620.0

The number of dwellings on the valuation list, including the 620,000 listed was 20,216,303.