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Non-domestic Rates: Valuation

Volume 486: debated on Thursday 15 January 2009

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment has been made of the effect on the economy of the changes to business rates in ports made by the Valuation Office Agency. (245977)

I have been asked to reply.

It is not the Government's practice to make any specific assessment of the overall effect on the British economy of particular tax bills issued in the normal course of business under existing legislation. The legislation under which the VOA is operating is designed to ensure fairness in the tax system, so that businesses using similar properties face equivalent tax liabilities regardless of their location.