The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Ward on 2014-06-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases in Bradford are (a) pending and (b) being processed through his Department’s mandatory reconsideration mechanism.
Esther McVey
The information requested is not available.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Ward on 2014-06-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his Department’s key performance indicators are for decisions that require mandatory reconsideration.
Esther McVey
There is no statutory time limit. We deliberately do not have one because each case will be considered on its merits.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Ward on 2014-04-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to better protect the rights of private sector tenants from irresponsible landlords.
Kris Hopkins
The Government is committed to a better private rented sector that offers security, stability and decency. We are already changing the law to require all letting agents to join Government approved redress schemes which will allow tenants to seek compensation where they are the victims of bad practice, such as being charged hidden fees.
To encourage greater understanding of tenants’ rights, we will shortly publish a new How to Rent guide for tenants. We are also developing a model tenancy agreement to help tenants achieve greater security of tenure when needed, and a code of practice on property management.
The Government has provided £6.7 million to a number of local authorities to help them tackle rogue landlord activity.
We are also encouraging local authorities to use their existing powers to improve standards. They already have wide powers to tackle rogue landlord activity and poor property conditions and to encourage their use.
Through the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 the current £5,000 cap on fines for certain housing and planning offences will be removed and rogue landlords will be liable to potentially unlimited fines. Where the fine is currently capped at less than £5,000, the maximum fine will be quadrupled
Finally, we published a discussion document on 24 February, inviting views on how property conditions in the private rented sector could be improved. Closing date for comments was 28 March. We are now considering the proposals we have received. We will announce the outcome of our review in the summer.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Ward on 2014-05-01.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of Government policy on the level of car insurance premiums.
Mr Robert Goodwill
The Government continues to monitor the publically available sources of data on motor insurance premiums. The Government’s reforms to civil litigation costs and funding will result in unnecessary and excessive costs being removed from the system. However, the level and timing of any reduction in such premiums is a matter for the insurance industry itself.
We are working with insurers to mitigate fraud, excessive whiplash claims and young drivers risk to reduce premiums further.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Ward on 2014-06-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of how many claim management companies operated in each region since 2008.
Mr Shailesh Vara
With rigorous new measures being brought in across the board, we are taking strong action to rein in the rogue firms operating in this sector.
Continued action to remove licenses from companies with poor practices alongside forthcoming Claims Management Regulation reforms, proves just how much work is going on to get tough on companies that defy the rules and bombard the public with unwelcome calls and misleading information.
We are changing the law to further toughen the regime, including introducing fines, and ensuring firms cannot buy in any contact details which have been gathered unlawfully.
The number of claims management companies (CMCs) operating in each region between April 2008 and April 2014 were as follows:
|
Regional Analysis |
Apr-08 |
Apr-09 |
Apr-10 |
Apr-11 |
Apr-12 |
Apr-13 |
Apr-14 |
|
East |
107 |
134 |
165 |
173 |
146 |
138 |
114 |
|
East Midlands |
56 |
97 |
131 |
139 |
152 |
137 |
120 |
|
London |
253 |
378 |
545 |
531 |
524 |
444 |
340 |
|
Northern Ireland |
0 |
0 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
6 |
4 |
|
North East |
30 |
71 |
95 |
98 |
76 |
68 |
49 |
|
North West |
514 |
685 |
784 |
803 |
775 |
706 |
576 |
|
Overseas |
6 |
11 |
9 |
6 |
3 |
16 |
13 |
|
Scotland |
21 |
26 |
30 |
32 |
28 |
29 |
33 |
|
South East |
193 |
294 |
358 |
370 |
361 |
326 |
267 |
|
South West |
62 |
81 |
100 |
113 |
113 |
100 |
93 |
|
Wales |
61 |
73 |
95 |
81 |
101 |
88 |
66 |
|
West Midlands |
206 |
321 |
408 |
404 |
358 |
292 |
208 |
|
Yorkshire & Humbers |
230 |
316 |
366 |
387 |
329 |
245 |
176 |
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Ward on 2014-06-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many instances of car insurance fraud have been reported in each of the last five years.
Karen Bradley
I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Home Department.
This information is not held centrally.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Ward on 2014-06-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many instances of car insurance fraud in Yorkshire and the Humber have been reported in each of the last five years.
Karen Bradley
I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Home Department.
This information is not held centrally.