Mr. James Sharp

HC Deb 12 November 2001 vol 374 c536W

Mr. Edwards

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will refer the case of Mr. James Sharp, a constituent, to the Treasury Solicitor. [14005]

Dawn Primarolo

The Inland Revenue Solicitor, not the Treasury Solicitor, advises the Valuation Office Agency on rating litigation and he has been instructed in this case.

Mr. Edwards

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the decision of the East Wales Valuation Tribunal in the case of Sharpv. Valuation Office. [14006]

Dawn Primarolo

The Treasury does not assess decisions of the Valuation Tribunal. Valuation Tribunals are independent bodies set up to deal with disputes in connection with, inter alia, non-domestic rating matters. Appeals against their decisions lie to the Lands Tribunal. It would be inappropriate for the Treasury to intervene with these independent bodies.