To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what external consultancies the Valuation Office Agency has commissioned (a) to conduct research and (b) to provide advice in relation to council tax valuations or revaluations since 2000. (104098)

The information is as follows.

(a) ORC International was commissioned to conduct research to test taxpayers’ understanding of council tax and council tax revaluation for the now postponed revaluation in England. This work was discontinued following the postponement of the revaluation.

(b) I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 6 July 2005, Official Report, column 432W.