Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1202419

registered interest
date	10/06/2020
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Intestacy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, whether she has made a recent assessment of levels of compliance among local authorities with the guidance issued by the Government Legal Department on the referral to the Bona Vacantia Division of estates of people who have died without (a) known entitled relatives and (b) leaving a will and instead passing the details directly to a single heir hunting firm.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	58045
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2020 answer text <p>The Bona Vacantia Division (BVD) of the Government Legal Department (GLD) deals with the estates of people domiciled in England &amp; Wales who appear to have died without leaving a valid will or relatives entitled to share in their estates in priority to the Crown. Estates which potentially fall to be dealt with as bona vacantia may be referred to BVD by a variety of routes, for example, banks, other financial institutions, solicitors or members of the public.</p><p> </p><p>There is no statutory obligation to refer estates to BVD but guidance on the referral process and the circumstances in which a referral will be accepted are published on BVD’s website (<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/bona-vacantia" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/bona-vacantia</a>). It is for local authorities to determine whether an estate should be referred to BVD.</p><p> </p><p>In 2017-2018, 2768 estates were referred to BVD of which 909 were referred by local authorities. In 2018-2019, 1971 estates were referred to BVD of which 575 were referred by local authorities.</p><p>In 2019-2020, 2336 estates were referred to BVD of which 561 were referred by local authorities</p><p> </p><p>GLD has no responsibility for overseeing local authorities or their compliance with guidance issued by GLD about the handling of estates. Such information – including whether an estate has been referred to the Bona Vacantia Division of GLD, or whether the local authority has instructed an heir hunter – will be held by the particular local authority concerned.</p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 24/06/2020 16:20:38 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1202420

registered interest
date	10/06/2020
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Intestacy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, if she will make it her policy to strengthen the guidance issued by the Government Legal Department to local authorities on handling the estates of people who have died without (a) known entitled relatives and (b) leaving a will to ensure that they refer all eligible estates as soon as possible after death to the Bona Vacantia Division and do not pass the details directly to a single heir hunting firm.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	58046
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2020 answer text <p>The Bona Vacantia Division of the Government Legal Department (GLD) handles the estates of people who die without known entitled relatives, and without leaving a will. There is no statutory obligation to refer estates to GLD. However, GLD publishes guidance on the matter. In addition, local authorities can and do seek advice from GLD about the referral of specific cases.</p><p> </p><p>GLD does not provide advice to local authorities on the use of heir hunters.</p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 24/06/2020 16:23:59 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1182888

registered interest
date	04/03/2020
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Intestacy
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many estates of people that died (1) without known entitled relatives, and (2) without leaving a will, were referred to the Bona Vacantia Division of the Government Legal Department in (a) 2017–18, and (b) 2018–19; and how many of those were referred by local authorities.
tabling member printed	Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
uin	HL2211
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/03/2020 answer text <p>In 2017-2018 there were 2768 estates referred to the Bona Vacantia Division of the Government Legal Department of estates where people died without leaving known entitled relatives or a valid will of which 909 were referred by local authorities. There were 2 referrals of estates where the deceased died leaving a valid will which did not dispose of the entire of estate but without leaving known entitled relatives entitled to share in the undisposed residue, neither of which were referred by local authorities.</p><p> </p><p>In 2018-2019 there were 1971 estates referred to the Bona Vacantia Division of the Government Legal Department of which 575 were referred by local authorities. There were 3 referrals of estates where the deceased died leaving a valid will which did not dispose of the entire of estate but without leaving known entitled relatives entitled to share in the undisposed residue, none of which were referred by local authorities.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 17/03/2020 11:35:14 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	4159 label Biography information for Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town

1182889

registered interest
date	04/03/2020
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Intestacy
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) how many, and (2) what proportion of, referrals to the Bona Vacantia Division of the Government Legal Department have come from (a) local authorities, (b) hospital trusts, (c) coroners, and (d) other organisations and individuals, in (i) 2017–18, and (ii) 2018–19.
tabling member printed	Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
uin	HL2212
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/03/2020 answer text <p>In 2017-2018 there were 2770 estates referred to the Bona Vacantia Division of the Government Legal Department of which 33% were referred by local authorities, 4% were referred by hospital trusts, 63% by other organisations and individuals. There was one referral by a Coroner’s Office.</p><p> </p><p>In 2018-2019 there were 1974 estates referred to the Bona Vacantia Division of the Government Legal Department of which 29% were referred by local authorities, 3% were referred by hospital trusts, 68% by other organisations and individuals. There were no referrals by Coroners.</p><p /><p /><p><br></p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 17/03/2020 11:30:14 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	4159 label Biography information for Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town

1077268

registered interest
date	25/02/2019
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Intestacy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General , how many and what proportion of referrals to the Bona Vacantia Division of the Government Legal Department have come from (a) local authorities, (b) hospital trusts, (c) coroners and (d) other organisations and individuals in each year since 2012.
tabling member constituency	West Lancashire
tabling member printed	Rosie Cooper
uin	225445
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2019 answer text <p>The following table provides the number of referrals received from (a) local authorities, (b) hospital trusts, (c) coroners and (d) other organisations and individuals in each financial year since 2012:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Local Authorities</p></td><td><p>Hospital Trusts</p></td><td><p>Coroners</p></td><td><p>Other Organisations and Individuals</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011-2012</p></td><td><p>850</p></td><td><p>167</p></td><td><p>7</p></td><td><p>731</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012-2013</p></td><td><p>848</p></td><td><p>151</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>659</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013-2014</p></td><td><p>827</p></td><td><p>155</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>980</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014-2015</p></td><td><p>684</p></td><td><p>79</p></td><td><p>7</p></td><td><p>4155</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015-2016</p></td><td><p>653</p></td><td><p>101</p></td><td><p>4</p></td><td><p>2372</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016-2017</p></td><td><p>568</p></td><td><p>89</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>984</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017-2018</p></td><td><p>909</p></td><td><p>108</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>1752</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018-to date</p></td><td><p>438</p></td><td><p>61</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>1158</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>These figures relate to intestate estates only and do not include companies.</p><p> </p><p>The following table provides the breakdown by percentage of total number of referrals in the same period:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Total Number of Referrals</p></td><td><p>Local Authorities</p></td><td><p>Hospital Trusts</p></td><td><p>Coroners</p></td><td><p>Other Organisations and Individuals</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011-2012</p></td><td><p>1755</p></td><td><p>48.4%</p></td><td><p>9.5%</p></td><td><p>0.4%</p></td><td><p>41.7%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012-2013</p></td><td><p>1660</p></td><td><p>51.1%</p></td><td><p>9.1%</p></td><td><p>0.1%</p></td><td><p>39.7%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013-2014</p></td><td><p>1964</p></td><td><p>42.1%</p></td><td><p>7.9%</p></td><td><p>0.1%</p></td><td><p>49.9%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014-2015</p></td><td><p>4925</p></td><td><p>13.9%</p></td><td><p>1.6%</p></td><td><p>0.1%</p></td><td><p>84.4%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015-2016</p></td><td><p>3130</p></td><td><p>20.9%</p></td><td><p>3.2%</p></td><td><p>0.1%</p></td><td><p>75.8%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016-2017</p></td><td><p>1643</p></td><td><p>34.6%</p></td><td><p>5.4%</p></td><td><p>0.1%</p></td><td><p>59.9%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017-2018</p></td><td><p>2770</p></td><td><p>32.8%</p></td><td><p>3.9%</p></td><td><p>0.05%</p></td><td><p>63.25%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018-to date</p></td><td><p>1657</p></td><td><p>26.4%</p></td><td><p>3.7%</p></td><td><p>0%</p></td><td><p>69.9%</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Robert Buckland question first answered 05/03/2019 13:27:08 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland
tabling member	1538 label Biography information for Rosie Cooper

1058908

registered interest
date	11/02/2019
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Intestacy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, how many estates of people that die without (a) known entitled relatives and (b) leaving a will were referred to the Bona Vacantia Division of the Government Legal Department in each year since 2012.
tabling member constituency	Scarborough and Whitby
tabling member printed	Mr Robert Goodwill
uin	219364
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>The number of estates referred to the Bona Vacantia Division of the Government Legal Department in each financial year since 2012 is:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>2012/13</p></td><td><p>1794</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013/14</p></td><td><p>2027</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014/15</p></td><td><p>1855</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015/16</p></td><td><p>1914</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016/17</p></td><td><p>1639</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017/18</p></td><td><p>1698</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018/19</p></td><td><p>1455*</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>*to date</p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Robert Buckland question first answered 18/02/2019 09:23:28 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland
tabling member	1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill