To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes the Valuation Office Agency has made to its methodology for valuing properties for the purposes of stamp duty land tax in the last 24 months; and whether further changes have been planned. (270429)

The Valuation Office Agency has not changed its methodology for valuing properties for the purposes of stamp duty land tax. It has, however, together with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, issued guidance on the valuation approach that should be adopted when it is necessary to apportion the price paid for certain businesses when they are sold as a going concern. If any further alterations to this guidance are considered appropriate, then further changes will be made.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff are employed by the Valuation Office Agency. (270430)

The numbers of full-time equivalent staff employed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is 4,096 at 21 April 2009. This figure includes staff from the former Rent Service whose functions transferred to the VOA on 1 April 2009.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2009, Official Report, column 1191W, on the Valuation Office, on what dates the project board overseeing the (a) electronic capture of hard copy records and (b) installation of a geographical information system met in the last 12 months. (270497)

The project boards overseeing (a) the electronic capture of hard copy records and (b) the installation of a geographical information system have held regular meetings over the last 12 months.

The dates of the respective project board meetings were:

(a) electronic capture of hard copy records:

16 April 2008;

13 May 2008;

21 July 2008;

29 September 2008;

30 October 2008;

27 November 2008;

28 January 2009;

19 February 2009;

26 March 2009.

(b) installation of a geographical information system:

3 April 2008;

28 April 2008;

13 May 2008;

8 September 2008;

14 October 2008;

4 November 2008;

10 December 2008;

14 January 2009;

25 February 2009;

22 April 2009.