To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Valuation Office Agency's council tax banding support tool became operational for the whole of England; what the cost of the project to develop the tool was; and which external organisations were engaged to support the development process. (280015)

The Valuation Office Agency's (VOA) council tax banding support tool was developed with assistance from CapGemini, SAS and Cole Layer Trumble/Tyler Technologies and delivered within budget, at £995,000. It was first made available within the VOA on 27 March 2008. After this date, it was brought into use on a phased basis, following appropriate training.