To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 27 April 2007, Official Report, column 1513W, on Valuation Office: manpower, what the reasons are for the change in staff numbers between 2000 and 2007. (145344)

Staff numbers have varied between 2000 and 2007 for operational and efficiency reasons. The VOA staffing policy is to predict, where possible, peaks and troughs of work and to plan for staff numbers accordingly.