Mr. EDMUND HARVEY:

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government will make provision for the re-establishment of the work of the Land Valuation Department, with a view to completing the land register at the earliest practicable date?

Mr. ATHOLL ROBERTSON:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can see his way to re-establishing the Land Valuation Department at an early date?

I assume that the hon. Members have in mind the statutory provisions repealed by Section 38 of the Finance Act of last year, under which particulars of sales and of certain leases of land were required to be delivered to the Commissioners of Inland Revenue. The repeal of those provisions, while it has deprived the Valuation Office of the Inland Revenue of a valuable source of information, has not limited the activities nor seriously impaired the efficiency of the Office, the work of which consists of making valuations of land and buildings for various Revenue purposes, and of making valuations and carrying out transactions in land on behalf of various Government Departments and of other bodies where Exchequer funds are involved. The reintroduction of an obligation to present particulars of sales and leases would neither authorise the making, nor provide the necessary material for the completion, of a comprehensive land register. At the same time my right hon. Friend fully recognises the importance of the issues underlying this question and will make it his business to examine them in due course.

Captain BENN:

May we take it that the Budget of this year will re-enact the Sections which were repealed in the Budget of last year?

My hon. and gallant Friend knows very well that I dare not anticipate the Budget statement.