§ Mr. Edward DaveyTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the cost to(a) the Valuation Office Agency, (b) the valuation tribunals and (c) central government of administering council tax and council tax benefit in financial year 2003–04. [164486]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Valuation Office Agency (VOA) budget for council tax work in 2003–04 is about £29 million. The part of the Valuation Tribunals budget for 2003–04 relating to council tax work is approximately £1 million. The Government is responsible for the policy and legislation rather than the administration of council tax and council tax benefit.