Tag: Julian Knight

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Knight on 2016-01-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Government will take steps to assist with the backlog of Disclosure and Barring Service applications.

Karen Bradley

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) aims to process all certificates within 56 calendar days and nationally DBS meets this target. The vast majority of applicants do receive their certificates in a timely manner and in December the average processing time for DBS applications was 15.3 days.

It is important that checks undertaken are thorough and sometimes the DBS needs to refer an application to one or more local police forces as part of the enhanced certificate checking process. Unfortunately, a small number of forces have been experiencing difficulties in completing their checks within expected timescales.

DBS has been working closely with forces who are not meeting performance targets to ensure that their performance improves as quickly as possible. The Home Office is taking a keen interest in this work.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Knight on 2016-03-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to provide funding for the modernisation of infrastructure on the Falkland Islands.

Penny Mordaunt

As my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence (Michael Fallon) told the House on 24 March 2015, (Official Report, columns 1302-1303) we have put in place a programme of infrastructure improvements worth £180 million over the next decade designed to deliver enhanced operational effectiveness and an improved quality of life for our personnel based in the Falkland Islands. He was able to see the first stage of construction work on that programme for himself when he visited the Islands recently.

This programme will ensure that our enduring commitment to the defence of the Islands is sustained effectively for the long term.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Knight on 2016-04-18.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment (a) his Department and (b) the Financial Conduct Authority has made of the effect that the GC16/2 proposal, published in February 2016, to require lenders to issue default notices before collecting from guarantors would have on (i) the number of borrower defaults subsequently reported to the Credit Reference Agencies, (ii) borrowers’ credit scores and (iii) levels of financial exclusion.

Harriett Baldwin

These are matters for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and relate to FCA Guidance Consultation (GC16/2) issued on the interpretation of provisions in the Consumer Credit Act 1974, regarding whether a default notice should be given to a guarantor before payment is taken from them when a borrower defaults. The FCA is currently considering responses to the consultation and will publish a response after considering the complex issues raised.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Knight on 2016-06-14.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will discuss with the banking sector steps to ensure that individuals seeking to switch their current account are able to access their historical transaction data to better enable them to secure a similar overdraft to their existing one with a new provider.

Harriett Baldwin

The Government is committed to increasing competition in banking to ensure banks have to work hard to offer the best possible products and services to their customers. A key part of that is making the process for customers switching their current accounts as easy and as effective as possible, to ensure customers are able to hold their banks to account by voting with their feet.

The Government has already undertaken a lot of work to improve the process for customers switching their current accounts, including helping to deliver the Current Account Switch Service to enable customers to switch banks simply, quickly and reliably, and delivering midata, to enable customers to compare which bank is best for them based on how they use their current account.

As part of its retail banking market investigation, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is considering what additional improvements could be made to the process of customers switching current accounts, including requiring banks to make historical transaction data available and making it easier for customers to switch their overdraft when they move banks. The CMA is also considering other additional measures designed to support overdraft users.

The Government welcomes the CMA’s investigation, and stands ready to take action as necessary once it publishes its final report in the summer.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Knight on 2016-10-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will consider the potential merits of introducing legislative proposals to reduce the notice period for a landowner who has secured a court order to evict travellers from 48 to 12 hours.

Sir Oliver Heald

The accelerated procedure for obtaining a possession order to evict trespassers (which may include travellers) is set out in the Civil Procedure Rules, Part 55.

There is no notice period once a landowner has obtained an order to evict. The standard order for a successful claim for possession would be an order for immediate possession.

The Government does not consider that the process requires change.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Knight on 2016-01-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if the Government will take steps to prevent insurance companies increasing premiums for owners of Volkswagen vehicles affected by the emissions scandal.

Andrew Jones

Motor insurers base their decision on whether to insure drivers and their vehicles, along with what premium to charge, by making an assessment of the risk involved. However, vehicle emissions are not regarded by insurers as a material factor they would normally take into consideration when setting a premium.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Knight on 2016-03-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what measures are in place to ensure that child support awarded by tribunals under the pre-2012 Child Support Agency system are upheld under the post-2012 system.

Priti Patel

Tribunals do not award Child Maintenance, they direct on individual decisions.

If an individual chooses to apply to the new 2012 scheme after their case on one of the legacy schemes is closed, the rules of the 2012 scheme will apply. Clients are able to provide evidence of prior Tribunal decisions when requesting, or contesting, a new decision which will be taken into consideration where appropriate.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Knight on 2016-04-18.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to his Department’s consultation on enforcing guarantor loans, GC16/2, published in February 2016, whether his Department has received representations from the (a) Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and (b) any other organisation on the consistency of the FCA’s proposed interpretation of the word enforce in section 87(1)(e) of the Consumer Credit Act.

Harriett Baldwin

These are matters for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and relate to FCA Guidance Consultation (GC16/2) issued on the interpretation of provisions in the Consumer Credit Act 1974, regarding whether a default notice should be given to a guarantor before payment is taken from them when a borrower defaults. The FCA is currently considering responses to the consultation and will publish a response after considering the complex issues raised.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Knight on 2016-06-14.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether any of the successor organisations to the Money Advice Service will have a specific remit to promote financial education amongst young people.

Harriett Baldwin

The government is committed to improving financial capability among the public and recognises that increased financial capability for consumers will lead to better outcomes for both individuals and the wider economy. Helping hard-working people achieve their aspirations at every stage of their lives is at the heart of our long term plan. That is why we launched the Public Financial Guidance consultation in Budget 2016 to seek input on what role the government should play in promoting financial capability, and how the public provision of free-to-client, impartial financial guidance should be structured to give consumers the information they need to make financial decisions. The consultation closed on 8 June. The government is currently considering the responses and will respond in the Autumn. The government recognises the importance of giving young people the skills they need to make financial decisions, which is why financial education has been on the national secondary school curriculum in England since September 2014.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Knight on 2016-10-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the Government plans to introduce a cap on care bills for the elderly.

David Mowat

The Government is committed to ensuring that those in old age can access care that is both affordable and dignified. The position on the care cost cap has not changed. The 2015 Spending Review reaffirmed our commitment to implementing these reforms in April 2020, making funding available in 2019/20 to help local authorities prepare for implementation.

Until then, financial support remains available on the basis of the current means test to help people pay for care to meet their eligible needs.