To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of new valuations of British ports for business rates by the Valuation Office Agency (a) have been completed and (b) remain incomplete. (245992)

Initial reviews of all 55 major ports in England and Wales have now been completed. The rating list has been updated for 50 of these. In the remaining five ports, the Valuation Office notified the ratepayers of its conclusions by 28 November, inviting them to discuss the proposed changes in advance of the rating list being formally amended—which it would expect to do no later than 31 January.

The Valuation Office must continue to maintain the rating lists throughout their five-year life to reflect changes affecting properties or their manner of occupation included within ports. As changes are identified which necessitate a revision of individual assessments, port ratepayers, like as any other business ratepayer, will again be notified of the Valuation Office's intentions and invited to discuss proposed changes in advance of the rating lists being formally amended.