To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what broad timetable he has now agreed with the Valuation Office agency for resolving the council tax appeals which have already been received.
We are still discussing this matter with the Valuation Office agency and representatives of the valuation tribunals. We are anxious that appeals should be dealt with as quickly as is compatible with the right of taxpayers to have their appeals considered thoroughly and carefully, including where necessary or where they so wish by an independent tribunal.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the average cost of dealing with a council tax appeal in (a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95.
The estimated average cost of dealing with council tax appeals is £.112 in 1993–94 and £111 in 1994–95.
These estimates include Valuation Office agency and valuation tribunal costs and are based on planning assumptions made at the beginning of the financial year.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, if he will consider an increased use of the private sector in order to speed up the processing of council tax appeals.
I do not consider that this would be appropriate, or would in practice secure faster processing of appeals within available resources.