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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

1220624

	registered interest
	date	03/07/2020
	answering body	Attorney General
	answering dept id	88
	answering dept short name	Attorney General
	answering dept sort name	Attorney General
	hansard heading	Administration of Estates
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Attorney General, how many estates of people who died without known entitled relatives and left a will were referred to the Bona Vacant Division of the Government Legal Department in (a) March, (b) April and (c) May in (i) 2019 and (ii) 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	68760
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2020 answer text <p>The Bona Vacantia Division (BVD) of the Government Legal Department (GLD) deals with the solvent estates of people domiciled in England &amp; Wales who appear to have died <strong>without</strong> leaving a valid will or relatives entitled to share in their estates in priority to the Crown. It therefore does not generally deal with estates where there is a valid will.</p><p> </p><p>If the referral contains information which suggests the deceased has left a valid will disposing of their entire estate, it will be returned to the person who referred it. The Division does not keep a record of these estates.</p><p> </p><p>If the deceased does not appear to have left a valid will or entitled relatives, the estate will be advertised on the Division’s website.</p><p> </p><p>Occasionally the Division determines that the deceased has left a valid will which disposes of the entire estate after it has been advertised. There were two such estates referred in March 2019; two in April 2019; none in May 2019; one in March 2020; one in April 2020 and one in May 2020.</p><p> </p><p>Estates where the deceased has left a valid will but it does not dispose of the entire estate are sometimes referred to the Division because the undisposed residue passes by intestacy to the Crown. One such estate was referred to the Division in March 2019 and one in April 2019. There have been no other referrals in the months concerned.</p><p> </p><p>During the corresponding period, the number of estates referred to the Division where there was no will or no will has subsequently come to light were: March 2019 = 296; April 2019 = 187; May 2019 = 160; March 2020 = 192; April 2020 = 204; May 2020 = 81.</p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 10/07/2020 12:47:20 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1725667

	registered interest
	date	30/08/2024
	answering body	Attorney General
	answering dept id	88
	answering dept short name	Attorney General
	answering dept sort name	Attorney General
	hansard heading	Attorney General: Redundancy Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Solicitor General, what the cost to her Department was of ministerial severance payments in each year from 19 December 2019 to 30 May 2024; which Ministers received a severance payment in that period; and how much each Minister received.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	3028
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2024 answer text <p>Details of ministerial severance payments are published in the HM Procurator General and Treasury Solicitor Annual Report and Accounts. These can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/search/transparency-and-freedom-of-information-releases?parent=government-legal-department&amp;organisations%5B%5D=government-legal-department&amp;order=updated-newest" target="_blank">Transparency andfreedom of information releases - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a>.</p><p>I confirm that over the period 19 December 2019 to 30 May 2024, the following payments were made:</p><p>The Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Cox KC MP – £23,612 (February 2020)</p><p>The Rt Hon Alex Chalk KC – £14,490 (August 2022)</p><p>Edward Timpson CBE KC – £14,490 (October 2022)</p><p>The Rt Hon Sir Michael Ellis KC – £23,612 (November 2022)</p><p>Information on any payments from 31 May 2024 will be released in due course.</p><p>All severance payments were made under the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991, which provides for severance payments to ministers who cease to hold office and are not re-appointed to government within three weeks. This reflects the lack of any notice period when ministers leave government.</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Sarah Sackman question first answered 09/09/2024 13:58:31 answering member 5204
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1226138

	registered interest
	date	20/07/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Local Government Finance: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What steps the Government is taking to tackle the risk of local authorities becoming insolvent as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	904970
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/07/2020 answer text <p>We recognise the additional costs and pressures councils are facing as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak. We have made £3.7 billion available to councils through an un-ringfenced grant so they can address these pressures. We will continue to work with local government to ensure they are managing as the pandemic progresses.</p> answering member constituency Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland answering member printed Mr Simon Clarke question first answered 20/07/2020 16:28:45 answering member 4655 label Biography information for Sir Simon Clarke
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1226870

	registered interest
	date	21/07/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Local Government Finance: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to allocate funding to local authorities to (a) meet losses in income from rents and other commercial payments and (b) reimburse losses arising from outsourced leisure contracts during the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	77743
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/09/2020 answer text <p>On 2 July, the Government announced a co-payment scheme to compensate local councils for relevant, unforeseen sales, fees and charges losses that are irrecoverable. Councils will absorb the first 5 per cent of all relevant, irrecoverable losses compared to budgets, with government compensating councils for 75p in every pound of loss thereafter.</p><p>This scheme is designed to compensate for transactional income losses that are truly irrecoverable. This will include transactional income from customer and client receipts which are generated from the delivery of goods and services and which were budgeted for in 2020/21, including leisure centres, but excluding rents and commercial investment income.</p><p>Commercial income losses are more complicated in nature, and the Government recognises that there are a complex set of variables relating to commercial income sources including recoverability.</p><p>We are also aware of instances where councils are currently experiencing cost pressures by supporting local services, such as leisure, which are delivered through contracted arrangements. We will continue to work with DCMS and councils over the coming weeks to ensure they are managing as the pandemic progresses.  The Government stands ready to support any local authority with particular financial concerns.</p> answering member constituency Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland answering member printed Mr Simon Clarke question first answered 01/09/2020 12:41:54 answering member 4655 label Biography information for Sir Simon Clarke
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1037112

	registered interest
	date	07/01/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Brexit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much his Department is spending on a public information campaign to prepare people for the potential effects of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	206011
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/01/2019 answer text <p>The Government has a duty to inform people and businesses about how leaving the EU might affect them, and to advise on the steps they may need to take to prepare for Brexit. <br> <br> Over the coming weeks, we will be using a range of channels to direct UK citizens, businesses, EU citizens living in the UK and UK nationals living in the EU to a dedicated area on GOV.UK at Gov.uk/euexit. <br> <br> Information on the costs associated with this campaign will be released in due course as part of normal data transparency releases.</p> answering member constituency Rossendale and Darwen answering member printed Jake Berry question first answered 10/01/2019 14:50:01 answering member 4060 label Biography information for Sir Jake Berry
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

818848

	registered interest
	date	08/01/2018
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Reorganisation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential cost to the public purse of the renaming of his Department; and which new policy responsibilities his Department will discharge after it is renamed.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	121612
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/01/2018 answer text <p>Building the homes our country needs is an absolute priority for this government. The name change for the department reflects this government’s renewed focus to deliver more homes and build stronger communities across England.</p><p>Any necessary will be done in a cost-efficient way with expenditure being kept to a minimum.</p><p>This would be a fraction of the cost of splitting up the Ministry as proposed by the opposition.</p> answering member constituency Rossendale and Darwen answering member printed Jake Berry grouped question UIN 121624 question first answered 11/01/2018 17:50:54 answering member 4060 label Biography information for Sir Jake Berry
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

822975

	registered interest
	date	15/01/2018
	answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Reorganisation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 January 2018 to Question 121612, what the cost to the public purse is of renaming of his Department.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	122658
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/01/2018 answer text <p>As set out in response to 121612, any necessary changes will be done in a cost-efficient way with expenditure being kept to a minimum.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rossendale and Darwen answering member printed Jake Berry question first answered 22/01/2018 16:27:02 answering member 4060 label Biography information for Sir Jake Berry previous answer version 35209 answering member constituency Rossendale and Darwen answering member printed Jake Berry answering member 4060 label Biography information for Sir Jake Berry
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

937783

	registered interest
	date	10/07/2018
	answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Living Wage
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has plans for his Department to be accredited by the National Living Wage Foundation in relation to paying the real living wage; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	162606
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/07/2018 answer text <p>The Department has no immediate plans to seek accreditation from the National Living Wage Foundation in relation to paying the real living wage. However, the Department does qualify to apply for the referenced accreditation as we do not employ anyone, either nationally or in London, that earns less than the hourly living wage rate for the respective areas as defined by the National Living Wage Foundation. A table highlighting the Department’s lowest hourly rate of pay in comparison to the current National Living Wage hourly rate is shown below.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Real Living Wage</p></td><td><p>MHCLG Min Hourly Rate (Net Contractual Hours)</p></td><td><p>MHCLG Min Hourly Rate (Gross Contractual Hours)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>London</p></td><td><p>£10.20ph</p></td><td><p>£13.16ph</p></td><td><p>£11.59</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>National</p></td><td><p>£8.75ph</p></td><td><p>£11.30ph</p></td><td><p>£9.95</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p> answering member constituency Rossendale and Darwen answering member printed Jake Berry question first answered 16/07/2018 14:46:33 answering member 4060 label Biography information for Sir Jake Berry
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse