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99791

registered interest
date	20/10/2014
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	Shared Ownership Schemes
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that part-owners do not face above-inflation increases to service charges under shared ownership schemes.
tabling member constituency	Dudley North
tabling member printed	Ian Austin
uin	211086
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2014 answer text <p>Shared owners have a full repairing lease and are financially responsible for all maintenance charges and outgoings, in the same way as any other leaseholder or homeowner.</p><p>The Government has no power to intervene in how housing associations, which are private, non-profit making organisations, carry out their maintenance or repair works. However, the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 requires that service charges are only payable where the costs incurred are reasonable.<br><br>Where they believe that the service charges they are being asked to pay are unreasonable, leaseholders - including those who have purchased under a shared ownership scheme - have a number of statutory rights and protections in respect of those service charges, and the management of their property. These include:<br><br><br>- The right to apply to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) to determine the liability to pay and reasonableness of service charges.<br>- The right to write to their landlord to request a written summary of the costs which make up the service charges, and to require the landlord to provide reasonable facilities to inspect the accounts, receipts and other documents supporting the summary.<br>- Where new or extended services are introduced and where an additional charge may need to be made, landlords are expected to consult appropriately with tenants before introducing these services and associated charges.<br><br>Free initial advice and information on leaseholders' rights can be obtained from the Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE). This is a specialist body, funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government, to provide initial advice and information on a wide range of residential leasehold issues.<br><br></p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 27/10/2014 14:35:55 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
tabling member	1511 label Biography information for Lord Austin of Dudley

93872

registered interest
date	16/10/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: Disability
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the difference in the average proportion of income paid in tax annually by claimants of (a) employment and support allowance, (b) disability living allowance and (c) incapacity benefit.
tabling member constituency	Dudley North
tabling member printed	Ian Austin
uin	210948
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/12/2014 answer text <p>There are no published estimates of the tax paid by claimants of the three benefits.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke question first answered 05/12/2014 14:39:01 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
tabling member	1511 label Biography information for Lord Austin of Dudley

93661

registered interest
date	15/10/2014
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Employment and Support Allowance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he made of the effect of the introduction of contribution-based employment and support allowance on the income of people previously receiving disability living allowance or incapacity benefit.
tabling member constituency	Dudley North
tabling member printed	Ian Austin
uin	210661
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2014 answer text <p /> <p>The Department is currently reassessing most people on old-style incapacity benefits (Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance, and Income Support where paid on the grounds of incapacity), to see if they are fit for work or eligible for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).</p><p>The structure of ESA and its rates of benefit and additions vary significantly from those of the incapacity benefits it is replacing. We have therefore given a commitment that no existing incapacity benefit claimant whose award qualifies for conversion to ESA will see a reduction in the level of their benefit entitlement at the point of change.</p><p>Where on conversion to ESA a claimant receives more by way of their existing incapacity benefit award than they otherwise would via ESA, the rate of their existing award will be frozen and they will be awarded a transitional addition on top of their ESA award, equivalent to the shortfall between the two rates. Where a claimant's ESA award includes such a top-up payment, the amount of benefit they get thereafter will not normally rise until the standard amount of ESA payable at the point of conversion increases (most commonly by virtue of annual up-ratings) by an amount equal to the amount of the top-up payment.</p><p>Where, on conversion to ESA, a claimant is entitled to less by way of their existing incapacity award than they are via ESA, their benefit will immediately be increased to the ESA rate payable.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 21/10/2014 11:21:20 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
tabling member	1511 label Biography information for Lord Austin of Dudley

93385

registered interest
date	14/10/2014
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Employment and Support Allowance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with disability groups on replacing tax-free disability living allowance and incapacity benefit with taxable contribution-based employment and support allowance.
tabling member constituency	Dudley North
tabling member printed	Ian Austin
uin	210385
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2014 answer text <p /> <p>No recent discussions have taken place between the Department and disability groups on this specific issue.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 21/10/2014 11:11:32 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
tabling member	1511 label Biography information for Lord Austin of Dudley

93003

registered interest
date	13/10/2014
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Vetting
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of (a) how many and (b) what proportion of Disclosure and Barring Service applications took longer than 60 days in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Dudley North
tabling member printed	Ian Austin
uin	210178
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2014 answer text <p>The number and proportion of Disclosure applications that took longer than 60 days to process is provided in the table below. The Disclosure and Barring Service was established in December 2012. Data prior to this date relates to the Criminal Records Bureau.</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Financial Year</p></td><td><p>Total Despatched</p></td><td><p>Number issued over 60 days</p></td><td><p>% issued over 60 days</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014-15 year to date</p></td><td><p>2,046,233</p></td><td><p>60,249</p></td><td><p>2.9%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013-14</p></td><td><p>3,948,733</p></td><td><p>83,299</p></td><td><p>2.1%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012-13</p></td><td><p>4,066,605</p></td><td><p>42,839</p></td><td><p>1.1%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011-12</p></td><td><p>4,074,241</p></td><td><p>105,260</p></td><td><p>2.6%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010-11</p></td><td><p>4,311,816</p></td><td><p>454,065</p></td><td><p>10.5%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009-10</p></td><td><p>4,299,496</p></td><td><p>354,150</p></td><td><p>8.2%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>22,747,124</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>1,099,862</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>4.8%</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Staffordshire Moorlands answering member printed Karen Bradley question first answered 20/10/2014 14:18:18 answering member 4110 label Biography information for Dame Karen Bradley
tabling member	1511 label Biography information for Lord Austin of Dudley

93004

registered interest
date	13/10/2014
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Vetting
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the time targets are for the return of Disclosure and Barring Service applications.
tabling member constituency	Dudley North
tabling member printed	Ian Austin
uin	210116
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2014 answer text <p>The current Disclosure and Barring Service service standard is to issue 88% of all Disclosures within 40 working days.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Staffordshire Moorlands answering member printed Karen Bradley question first answered 20/10/2014 14:18:54 answering member 4110 label Biography information for Dame Karen Bradley
tabling member	1511 label Biography information for Lord Austin of Dudley

93005

registered interest
date	13/10/2014
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Vetting
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of Disclosure and Barring Service applications are referred to police forces for verification.
tabling member constituency	Dudley North
tabling member printed	Ian Austin
uin	210117
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/11/2014 answer text <p>Applications for an enhanced criminal record certificate are referred to police forces under certain circumstances, including where there is a match against the Police National Computer (PNC) or a match against a national database of <br>local police intelligence, known as PLX (Police Local Crosschecking). Between 1 April 2014 and 30 September 2014, 34.9% of applications for a DBS enhanced check were referred to local police forces as part of the Disclosure process.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Staffordshire Moorlands answering member printed Karen Bradley question first answered 26/11/2014 15:21:03 answering member 4110 label Biography information for Dame Karen Bradley
tabling member	1511 label Biography information for Lord Austin of Dudley

93006

registered interest
date	13/10/2014
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Magistrates' Courts
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many hearings have taken place in each magistrates' court in England in each of the last four years.
tabling member constituency	Dudley North
tabling member printed	Ian Austin
uin	210222
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2014 answer text <p>Magistrates’ courts hear criminal, civil and enforcement cases. Family matters are dealt with under the jurisdiction of the Single Family Court, although they may be heard in a magistrates’ courts building. Criminal, civil and enforcement matters are recorded on the Libra case management system and total hearings for those are provided in the attached table. Family hearings are recorded on a separate system and to extract and validate which family hearings took place in magistrates’ courts would incur disproportionate costs.</p> answering member constituency North West Cambridgeshire answering member printed Mr Shailesh Vara question first answered 24/10/2014 12:43:04 answering member 1496 label Biography information for Shailesh Vara attachment 1 file name 210222 Table.xls title Hearings at Magistrates' Courts 2010-11 to 2013-14
tabling member	1511 label Biography information for Lord Austin of Dudley

93007

registered interest
date	13/10/2014
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Magistrates' Courts
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent discussions he has had with magistrates regarding delays at magistrates' courts.
tabling member constituency	Dudley North
tabling member printed	Ian Austin
uin	210223
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2014 answer text <p>HM Courts &amp; Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is committed to the continuous improvement of performance in Magistrates’ Courts; this includes minimising delays in hearing cases. The performance of Magistrates’ Courts depends upon the performance of the criminal justice system as a whole, and HMCTS works closely with other agencies in the criminal justice system, including the police and the CPS, in order to keep delays to a minimum.</p><p> </p><p>My officials have had regular discussions with magistrates. The Chief Executive and HMCTS Directors meet on a quarterly basis with the Chairs of the Magistrates’ Association (MA) and the National Bench Chairmen’s Forum (NBCF) to discuss various issues, which include performance in the Magistrates’ Courts. The performance of the Magistrates’ Courts has also recently been discussed at meetings of the Senior Presiding Judge’s Magistrates’ Liaison Group (MLG) the membership of which includes both the judiciary and senior officials from HMCTS. At a regional level, Judicial Business Groups (JBG) and, more locally, Judicial Leadership Groups ( (JLG) provide a f<ins></ins>urther forum where the judiciary and my officials can discuss the performance of local Magistrates’ Courts and, where necessary, the judiciary can put in place local listing arrangements to tackle delay.</p> answering member constituency North West Cambridgeshire answering member printed Mr Shailesh Vara question first answered 24/10/2014 13:15:42 answering member 1496 label Biography information for Shailesh Vara
tabling member	1511 label Biography information for Lord Austin of Dudley

90578

registered interest
date	03/09/2014
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Personal Independence Payment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2014, Official Report, column 278W, on personal independence payment, what progress he has made since that Answer on ensuring that no applicant for personal independence payment waits more than 16 weeks for an assessment.
tabling member constituency	Dudley North
tabling member printed	Ian Austin
uin	207994
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>We have been working with the providers to agree PIP performance improvement plans with the aim of speeding up all parts of the process and eliminating backlogs. These improvements are having an effect and we are making good progress.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 10/09/2014 13:29:43 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
tabling member	1511 label Biography information for Lord Austin of Dudley