Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Gareth Thomas Excerpts
Tuesday 22nd March 2022

(2 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Kit Malthouse Portrait Kit Malthouse
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I had a useful and informative meeting with my hon. Friend and his constituent. As he knows, we have in place an action plan for IPP sentences that we are prosecuting with, I hope, some verve and energy to drive down the numbers. My hon. Friend will know that the Justice Committee held an inquiry into IPP sentences; we await its conclusions before we look at the next steps.

Gareth Thomas Portrait Gareth Thomas (Harrow West) (Lab/Co-op)
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My constituent Huw Davies is struggling to regain control of a home that he has owned for many years and is wondering when there will be tougher action to prevent lasting powers of attorney from being taken out fraudulently. Will Ministers set out what they are doing to toughen up the law and to toughen up the enforcement activity in respect of lasting powers of attorney?

Tom Pursglove Portrait Tom Pursglove
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I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for raising an issue of which we are mindful. He will know that we are soon to embark on a process to reform lasting powers of attorney, to make sure that all the processes are fit for the modern world, that incidents of abuse and fraud are tackled robustly and that all the right checks and mechanisms are there.