Bailiffs Debate

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Lord Christopher

Main Page: Lord Christopher (Labour - Life peer)

Bailiffs

Lord Christopher Excerpts
Tuesday 14th May 2013

(11 years, 7 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Hanham Portrait Baroness Hanham
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My Lords, the guidance on the fees will make that pretty clear.

Lord Christopher Portrait Lord Christopher
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My Lords, the first Question from the Minister’s own Benches was very apt. The Financial Times reported a couple of days ago that there had already been a significant rise in the scale of unpaid rent to local authorities because of the changes in housing benefit. What advice will the Government give to local authorities, since if bailiffs turn up people will not only have no home but no furniture either?

Baroness Hanham Portrait Baroness Hanham
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My Lords, the changes to housing benefit are relatively new so I am not sure what the article was about. I can say no more, other than that local authorities will be expected to work closely and sensibly with bailiffs in a proper way.