To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield of 7 July 2008, Official Report, column 1361W, on non-domestic rates: valuation, how sub-location is quantified; and what geo-spatial datasets and neighbourhood modelling is used for (a) business rate valuations and revaluations and (b) the new Automated Valuation Model for business rates. (221157)

A sub-location for a class of property for non-domestic rating is an area within which values are related and a valuation scheme can be applied. They vary in size depending on class of property and locality. The geo-spatial datasets used for non-domestic rating and revaluations are (i) Property Address and Postcode and (ii) Sublocation.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 18 December 2007, Official Report, column 1301W. A new automated valuation (AVM) model is not being used by the VOA for business rate valuations or revaluations.