Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what training Valuation Office staff receive on assessing business rates.

All Valuation Office Agency (VOA) staff are entitled to take five days of learning and development each year and have learning and development considered as part of performance discussions with their managers. Each team prepares individual and team learning plans, to meet their development needs. All professional staff have to complete the required continuing professional development each year.

All property valuations for business rates are undertaken by staff with specialist training. Some cases will be dealt with by qualified chartered surveyors and others by trained caseworkers. The VOA has a comprehensive control and assurance system in place to ensure that quality of valuations is of an appropriate level.