§ Mr. Matthew BanksTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the three-year review of the Valuation Office as a next steps agency is now complete; and if he will make a statement. [36342]
§ Mrs. Angela KnightFollowing the decision earlier this year that the Valuation Office should continue as a next steps agency in the public sector and within the Inland Revenue, the second and final stage of the three year review of the Valuation Office has been concerned with an evaluation of its performance to date, of the framework within which it operates and of the appropriate senior management structure for it.
The review is now complete. It has found that the Valuation Office has established an impressive track record since its formation as an agency in 1991. successfully completing a number of important operational tasks. The review has identified a number of areas where further improvements would be possible and proposes a comprehensive set of measures to enhance standards of customer service and increase the Valuation Office's overall efficiency and value for money. Details of these are described in an Inland Revenue press release published today.
I congratulate the Valuation Office on its work to date and I welcome and endorse the review's recommendations.
1251WThe review has also examined the potential for greater involvement of the private sector in the Valuation Office's work. In the light of this, it is proposed to undertake some carefully controlled experiments to use the private sector on rating and council tax work. The first pilots will take place during the early part of 1996–97. Details of the pilots will be developed in consultation with representatives of the valuation profession, and of other organisations and bodies directly interested.
As a result of a number of recent changes the senior management structure of the Valuation Office has been reduced from 25 posts at 1 January 1994 to 18 now. No further changes are currently proposed but it is planned to invite a non-executive member to join its management board. An appointment will be announced later this year.
No immediate changes to the Valuation Office's financial framework are proposed—but its suitability for establishment as a trading fund will be further considered.
No fundamental changes are proposed to the Valuation Office's operating framework, but some updating of its framework document is desirable. A new edition, together with a summary of the review, will be published later this summer.
There will be a period of consultation with staff and the trade unions to consider the detailed implementation of the proposals.