The Ministry of Justice strongly supports the creation of the independent oversight body for enforcement agents and firms that has been proposed by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ). Officials have met regularly with the CSJ and the working group that is establishing the body to support its development. We will undertake a review of the body within two years of its operation to see if any legislative changes are necessary to place it on a statutory footing.<\/p>
The publication of the response to our call for evidence about the enforcement agent reforms, which closed in February 2019, has been delayed as a result of the department\u2019s response to the pandemic. That allowed us to refocus our priorities, which resulted, for example, in MoJ and DLUHC introducing an extended ban on enforcing evictions to prevent people being made homeless during Covid, so protecting public health and easing the burden on the NHS and local authorities.<\/p>
We remain committed to raising standards in this sector and will publish the response as soon as possible.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4519", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for James Cartlidge"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Suffolk"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "James Cartlidge"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-12-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-12-20T16:23:33.21Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2021-12-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Enforcement"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps the Government has taken to support the establishment of the Enforcement Conduct Authority proposed by Centre for Social Justice; and when his Department plans to publish the results of its 2018 call for evidence on enforcement agent reforms.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4034", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Yvonne Fovargue"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Makerfield"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Yvonne Fovargue"} ], "uin" : "91951"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1235083", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1235083/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Ministry of Justice is reviewing the implementation of reforms, contained in the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 and introduced in 2014, which govern how enforcement agents take control of goods. This includes considering complaints handling and regulation in the sector.<\/p>
We have been focusing on our response to the Covid-19 pandemic, but we will provide a response to the review as soon as we are able.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4481", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alex Chalk"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Cheltenham"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alex Chalk"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-09-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-09-21T15:28:09.553Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2020-09-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Debt Collection: Regulation"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has to introduce independent regulation of bailiffs to tackle (a) harmful and unnecessary bailiff visits and (b) bailiffs breaking the rules.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4034", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Yvonne Fovargue"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Makerfield"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Yvonne Fovargue"} ], "uin" : "91021"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/750255", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/750255/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Information on the number of staff directly employed at HM Prison and Young Offender Institution Hindley can be found in table 12 in the latest workforce bulletin at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-offender-management-service-workforce-quarterly-march-2017<\/a><\/p> <\/p> We do not hold information regarding people employed in support of Hindley prison.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3980", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Sam Gyimah"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Surrey"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Sam Gyimah"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-07-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-07-13T15:41:33.977Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-07-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Prisons: Wigan"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the number of (a) directly employed staff and (b) people employed in support of Hindley Prison is.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4034", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Yvonne Fovargue"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Makerfield"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Yvonne Fovargue"}
], "uin" : "3884"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/750263", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/750263/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The following are the current 1,300-capacity category C prisons:<\/p> Latest figures on the number of staff directly employed at HMP Highpoint (which is a public sector prison) can be found in HM Prison and Probation Service annual workforce statistics bulletin in table 12 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/614643/noms-workforce-tables-march-2017.xlsx<\/a>.<\/p> <\/p> Latest figures on the number of staff employed at HM Prison Oakwood, and HM Prison Northumberland (which are privately operated prisons) are as follows:<\/p> <\/p><\/td> Full-time equivalent staff in post, June 2017<\/p><\/td><\/tr> HM Prison Oakwood<\/p><\/td> 504.4<\/p><\/td><\/tr> HM Prison Northumberland<\/p><\/td> 429.2<\/p><\/td><\/tr> HM Prison and Young Offender Institution Parc<\/p><\/td> 682.1<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> We do not hold figures on the number of staff employed as part of a supply chain.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3980", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Sam Gyimah"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Surrey"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Sam Gyimah"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-07-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-07-18T15:49:01.773Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-07-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Prisons: Staff"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate his Department has made of how many staff are employed in a 1,300-capacity category C prison (a) directly and (b) in the supply chain.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4034", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Yvonne Fovargue"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Makerfield"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Yvonne Fovargue"}
], "uin" : "3730"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/750264", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/750264/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The proposed redevelopment of Hindley prison is part of the £1.3 billion investment to reform and modernise the prison estate by replacing ageing and ineffective prisons with up to 10,000 modern prison places. The oldest and most inadequate local prisons will be considered for closure and the receipts will be used to fund this transformation programme.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3980", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Sam Gyimah"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Surrey"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Sam Gyimah"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-09-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-09-25T14:07:38.913Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-07-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Prisons: Wigan"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, where the funding will come from for the building of the proposed prison at Hindley.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4034", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Yvonne Fovargue"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Makerfield"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Yvonne Fovargue"}
], "uin" : "3731"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/693354", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/693354/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Leading insurers have already, following publication of the Government\u2019s consultation in November, committed to pass on savings from the reforms to consumers through lower premiums.<\/p> <\/p> Motor insurance is intensely competitive and insurance companies will have little choice but to pass on savings or risk being priced out of the market. The Government will monitor the industry\u2019s reaction to the reforms announced on 23 February and will consider further action if required.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/69", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Oliver Heald"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North East Hertfordshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Sir Oliver Heald"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-02-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-02-27T16:00:52.633Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-02-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Insurance: Fees and Charges"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans she has to require insurers to pass on to consumers the potential savings arising from the proposed reform to whiplash and small claims; and whether she plans to impose penalties on those insurers that do not comply.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4034", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Yvonne Fovargue"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Makerfield"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Yvonne Fovargue"}
], "uin" : "65094"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/47375", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/47375/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " <\/p> <\/p> The First-tier Tribunal - Social Security and Child Support (SSCS), administered by HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), hears appeals against Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) decisions on a range of benefits including Job Seeker's Allowance (JSA).<\/p> <\/p> (1) The following table shows (i) the proportion of appeals against JSA which were represented and (ii) the proportion of those appeals which were found in favour of the appellant for the period (a) 1 April 2012 \u2013 31 March 2013 and (b) 1 April \u2013 31 December 2013 (the latest period for which figures have been published).<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Job Seeker's Allowance (JSA) Appeals<\/strong><\/p> <\/p><\/td><\/tr> April 2012 \u2013 March<\/strong>2013<\/strong><\/p><\/td> April \u2013December 2013<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> 1Number of JSA appeals disposed of at Tribunal Hearing<\/p><\/td> <\/p> 33,976<\/p><\/td> <\/p> 32,635<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2Proportion attended by representative (%)<\/p><\/td> <\/p> 2%<\/p><\/td> <\/p> 3%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Proportion attended by representative where the decision is in favour of the appellant (%)<\/p><\/td> <\/p> <\/p> 60%<\/p><\/td> <\/p> <\/p> 64%<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> 1 includes Oral & Paper hearings<\/p> 2 Oral appeal hearings attended by a representative.<\/p> <\/p> A combination of reasons can lead to a decision being overturned on appeal. For example a hearing may generate additional evidence, in particular oral evidence provided by the appellant at the hearing.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> (2) Information on appeals received by the Tribunal against decisions made about claims for JSA is published by the Ministry of Justice in Tribunal Statistics Quarterly. The most recent report, which includes the number of appeals received in the periods (a) 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013 and (b) 1 April to 31 December 2013, can be viewed at<\/p> Job Seeker's Allowance (JSA) Appeals<\/strong><\/p> <\/p><\/td><\/tr> April 2012 \u2013 March<\/strong>2013<\/strong><\/p><\/td> April \u2013December 2013<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> 1Number of JSA appeals disposed of at Tribunal Hearing<\/p><\/td> <\/p> 33,976<\/p><\/td> <\/p> 32,635<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2Proportion attended by representative (%)<\/p><\/td> <\/p> 2%<\/p><\/td> <\/p> 3%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Proportion attended by representative where the decision is in favour of the appellant (%)<\/p><\/td> <\/p> <\/p> 60%<\/p><\/td> <\/p> <\/p> 64%<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> 1 includes Oral & Paper hearings<\/p> 2 Oral appeal hearings attended by a representative.<\/p> <\/p> A combination of reasons can lead to a decision being overturned on appeal. For example a hearing may generate additional evidence, in particular oral evidence provided by the appellant at the hearing.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> (2) Information on appeals received by the Tribunal against decisions made about claims for JSA is published by the Ministry of Justice in Tribunal Statistics Quarterly. The most recent report, which includes the number of appeals received in the periods (a) 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013 and (b) 1 April to 31 December 2013, can be viewed at<\/p> <\/td> <\/td>