To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Valuation Office Agency treats bedsits (a) with and (b) without self-contained toilet and washroom facilities separately for the purposes of council tax valuations. (291335)

In deciding whether a property should have a single assessment or several, the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) will consider whether the property contains self-contained units “constructed or adapted for use as separate living accommodation”.

Individual flats or bedsits may be allocated their own council tax band, even though some of the facilities and accommodation may be shared with other residents of the same building. The VOA’s judgment will depend on the specifics of the property in question and the nature of the occupation.

Further guidance on the treatment of bedsits for council tax is available at:

http://www.voa.gov.uk/council_tax/multiple_property.htm

and

http://www.voa.gov.uk/publications/public_fact_sheets/self-contained-units.html

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer of 6 February 2006, Official Report, column 1036W, on Valuation Office Agency, how many reports of convictions and related offences the Valuation Office Agency has received from the Cabinet Office in respect of its staff each of the last three years. (291339)

The Valuation Office Agency has received fewer than five reports of convictions and related offences from the Cabinet Office. All reports have been received within the period April to September 2009.