New Clause 1 - Annual report
Council Tax (New Valuation Lists for England) Bill
11:30 am
David Howarth (Shadow Minister, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister; Cambridge, Liberal Democrat)
I use “puzzle” in its rhetorical sense.
It would be advantageous for the Government to make an annual report, not just for the reason that the hon. Member for Poole gives, which is to find out whether preparation is being made for a sneaking revaluation, but because people would like to know what work is being done, and to be able to question the Government about it.
I fear that one underlying purpose of the motion is to further the extraordinary campaign of fear, with Government inspectors entering people’s bedrooms to carry out revaluations. Although I am opposed to the council tax and therefore to revaluations, it is not one of the reasons that I should give for opposing the tax and the possibility of revaluation. Nevertheless, because the new clause gives the process a certain degree of transparency, I support it.