There is no regulation in place that specifically covers the way probate researchers operate or the fees they charge beneficiaries.<\/p>
<\/p>
Relationships between probate researchers and their clients are normally contractual arrangements and subject to contract law.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
The Government is planning to introduce regulation of the activity of conducting private investigations, surveillance or inquiries, which could bring some probate and asset researchers into scope for statutory licensing by the Security Industry Authority.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4262", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Deighton"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Deighton"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-26T15:17:01.2324443Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "CaTreasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Succession"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there is any regulation of heir hunters in the way they operate or the fees they charge beneficiaries; if not, whether they have plans to introduce such regulations; and, if not, why not.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1000", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hoyle"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hoyle"} ], "uin" : "HL303"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61538", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61538/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The OBR publish figures for household debt, GDP and disposable income on their website alongside their Economic and Fiscal Outlook. <\/strong><\/p> <\/p> In 2010-11 total lending to households in the United Kingdom or debt liabilities was estimated to be £1.53 trillion in the National Accounts produced by the Office for National Statistics, this is equivalent to 102% of annual Gross Domestic Product and 152% of household disposable income in that year. In 2011-12 the figure was 1.53 trillion (99% and147% respectively), and in 2012-13 the figure was 1.54 trillion (98% and 143%). These data are not yet available for 2013-14. In their March 2014 Economic and fiscal outlook the Office for Budget Responsibility forecast these figures to be 1.66 trillion in 2014-15 (97% and 144% respectively).<\/strong><\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4262", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Deighton"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Deighton"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-26T15:13:23.5823152Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "CaTreasury"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Debts"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what figures for household debt in the United Kingdom were provided by the Office for Budget Responsibility in each year from 2010\u201311 to 2013\u201314 and estimated for 2014\u201315; and what is the percentage represented by such debt of (1) national income, and (2) disposable income, in each year.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/693", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Kinnock"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Kinnock"}
], "uin" : "HL307"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61584", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61584/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Region <\/strong><\/p><\/td> Number of Self-employed North East <\/strong><\/p><\/td> 158 <\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> North West and Merseyside <\/strong><\/p><\/td> 497 <\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> Yorkshire and the Humber <\/strong><\/p><\/td> 402 <\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> East Midlands <\/strong><\/p><\/td> 352 <\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> West Midlands <\/strong><\/p><\/td> 418 <\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> East of England <\/strong><\/p><\/td> 556 <\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> London <\/strong><\/p><\/td> 883 <\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> South East <\/strong><\/p><\/td> 844 <\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> South West <\/strong><\/p><\/td> 559 <\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> Wales <\/strong><\/p><\/td> 240 <\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> Scotland <\/strong><\/p><\/td> 368 <\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> Northern Ireland <\/strong><\/p><\/td> 177 <\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> Address abroad <\/strong><\/p><\/td> 34 <\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> All UK <\/strong><\/p><\/td> 5,490<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> <\/p> These estimates are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes for 2011-12 which is the latest year available.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1529", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr David Gauke"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Hertfordshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr David Gauke"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-17T15:01:36.8447337Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "CaTreasury"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Self-employed"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people are registered as self-employed in each region and constituent part of the UK.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/163", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Ham"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Stephen Timms"}
], "uin" : "200518"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61586", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61586/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Budget 2014 cut the tax on a typical pint of beer by one penny. This will support pubs as the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) estimate nearly two thirds of the alcohol sold in pubs is beer. After the beer duty cut at Budget 2013, a BBPA survey suggested 76% of their members increased their investment and 61% employed more staff.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Some pubs have diversified away from beer and these pubs will benefit from the duty on ordinary cider and spirits being frozen this year, as well as from ending the wine duty escalator.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4027", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Morgan of Cotes"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Loughborough"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Nicky Morgan"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-18T09:23:51.7797342Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "CaTreasury"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Beer: Excise Duties"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimates have been made for the net financial benefit to the pub industry of the reduction in beer duty in the 2014 Budget.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Nigel Evans"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ribble Valley"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Nigel Evans"}
], "uin" : "200569"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61587", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61587/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government is committed to effective anti-avoidance rules to ensure that profits arising on UK activities are not artificially diverted to low tax jurisdictions. At the same time, it needs to ensure that the tax system is competitive for all companies and has set out its plans to make the UK an attractive place to do business while retaining proportionate anti-avoidance protection.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> UK resident PFI contractors regardless of their shareholders' registered jurisdiction will be charged UK corporation tax on profits earned within the UK. To limit the freedoms properly available to investors would be anti-competitive and contrary to European Union law. These points are not unique to the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) but apply equally to non-PFI companies and investors.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1535", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Danny Alexander"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Danny Alexander"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-17T15:16:51.7993588Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "CaTreasury"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Private Finance Initiative"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to introduce a clause into private finance initiative contracts to limit the ability of contractors to move offshore.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3971", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Charlie Elphicke"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Dover"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Charlie Elphicke"}
], "uin" : "200422"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61588", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61588/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " None.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4117", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrea Leadsom"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Northamptonshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Andrea Leadsom"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-19T14:57:37.7261441Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "CaTreasury"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Written Questions"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many parliamentary questions tabled to his Department in the last parliamentary Session did not receive a substantive answer by the time of the 2014 prorogation; and when each such question was first tabled.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1552", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alison Seabeck"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Plymouth, Moor View"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Alison Seabeck"}
], "uin" : "200449"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61589", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61589/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Section 41(3) of the VAT Act 1994 applies to Government departments and health authorities. It is governed by a Treasury Direction. Any extension of the provisions is a matter for Treasury Ministers.<\/strong><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1529", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr David Gauke"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Hertfordshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr David Gauke"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-17T14:59:46.2845596Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "CaTreasury"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Highways Agency"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answer of 8 May 2014, Official Report, column 298W, on Highways Agency, what the (a) criteria and (b) procedures are for considering the extension of the provisions of section 41(3) of the VAT Act 1994 to a new body.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/301", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Richard Burden"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birmingham, Northfield"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Richard Burden"}
], "uin" : "200463"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61590", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61590/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Estimates of the numbers of individuals with self employment sources are published in HMRC's National Statistics table 3.6 which is available at the following internet address:<\/p> <\/p>
(thousands)<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr>