Asked by: Olivia Blake (Labour - Sheffield Hallam)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) on steps to help reduce investigation times by the SRA.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The legal profession in England and Wales, together with its regulators, operates independently of government. The responsibility of regulating the sector sits with approved regulators, overseen by the Legal Services Board (LSB). This framework is set out in the Legal Services Act 2007. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is responsible for regulating the professional conduct of solicitors and Law firms in England and Wales.
As part of its role, the SRA investigates consumers’ complaints when allegations of solicitor misconduct are made. It has a number of disciplinary powers, including the power to issue fines and refer an individual to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT), which can suspend or strike a solicitor off the roll. If someone wishes to complain about the conduct of a solicitor to the SRA, they can do so via the following link: https://www.sra.org.uk/consumers/problems/report-solicitor.
The SRA aims to complete 93% of investigations within 12 months, 95% within 18 months and 98% within 24 months. A small number of more complex investigations, especially those leading to prosecution before the SDT, may take longer. The SRA have confirmed that they are generally meeting or exceeding these targets. The SRA has seen a rise in reports of solicitors’ misconduct and is taking steps to manage this increase though increasing resource in its investigation teams. It is also continuing to seek improvements in both the quality and timeliness of its investigation work.
Given the independence of the regulators, it would not be appropriate for the Ministry of Justice to interfere with the process of the SRA’s investigations. However, the Ministry of Justice maintains regular dialogue with the legal regulators in respect of their statutory functions. This ensures that regulatory independence is respected while also supporting the wider objective of protecting consumers and maintaining public confidence in the justice system. Within this context, I will raise whether investigation timeframes could be made more ambitious at my next meeting with the SRA.
Asked by: Olivia Blake (Labour - Sheffield Hallam)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of prohibiting freeholders from seeking financial redress for breaches of leasehold covenants that occurred prior to their acquisition of the freehold.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Leaseholders who receive notice that they are in breach of their lease should look at the terms of their lease and take independent legal advice. They can also access advice and guidance from the government supported Leasehold Advisory Service.
Where a leaseholder considers that they have been subject to improper or unfair practices then they should also consider contacting their local authority trading standards team.
Landlords cannot force leaseholders to pay for breaches of covenant or take their property without getting an Order from the County Court or First-tier Tribunal. Freeholders should give the leaseholder opportunity to rectify any breach before taking formal action. By law, claims for most individual breaches can only go back 6 years (or 12 years if the lease was created by deed).
Under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, property listings must not omit information that the average consumer needs to make an informed transactional decision. We would strongly advise prospective buyers and their legal representative to check that all relevant information has been provided to understand the ongoing costs and obligations involved in purchasing their home. If this information was not provided at the time of purchase, a legal representative could advise on possible options.
I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement published on 21 November (HCWS244) which sets out further detail on the steps the government intends to take to implement the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 and to progress the wider set of reforms necessary to end the feudal leasehold system for good; the proposals set out in the consultation on strengthening leaseholder protections over charges and services published on 4 July 2025 which can be found on gov.uk here; and the Commonhold White Paper published on 3 March 2025 which can be found on gov.uk here.
We will publish an ambitious draft Leasehold and Commonhold reform Bill later this year.
Asked by: Olivia Blake (Labour - Sheffield Hallam)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of a statutory time limit within which freeholders may seek financial redress for alleged breaches of leasehold covenants.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Leaseholders who receive notice that they are in breach of their lease should look at the terms of their lease and take independent legal advice. They can also access advice and guidance from the government supported Leasehold Advisory Service.
Where a leaseholder considers that they have been subject to improper or unfair practices then they should also consider contacting their local authority trading standards team.
Landlords cannot force leaseholders to pay for breaches of covenant or take their property without getting an Order from the County Court or First-tier Tribunal. Freeholders should give the leaseholder opportunity to rectify any breach before taking formal action. By law, claims for most individual breaches can only go back 6 years (or 12 years if the lease was created by deed).
Under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, property listings must not omit information that the average consumer needs to make an informed transactional decision. We would strongly advise prospective buyers and their legal representative to check that all relevant information has been provided to understand the ongoing costs and obligations involved in purchasing their home. If this information was not provided at the time of purchase, a legal representative could advise on possible options.
I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement published on 21 November (HCWS244) which sets out further detail on the steps the government intends to take to implement the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 and to progress the wider set of reforms necessary to end the feudal leasehold system for good; the proposals set out in the consultation on strengthening leaseholder protections over charges and services published on 4 July 2025 which can be found on gov.uk here; and the Commonhold White Paper published on 3 March 2025 which can be found on gov.uk here.
We will publish an ambitious draft Leasehold and Commonhold reform Bill later this year.
Asked by: Olivia Blake (Labour - Sheffield Hallam)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to introduce legislative measures to prevent freeholders from demanding disproportionate payments from leaseholders for historic breaches of leasehold covenants.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Leaseholders who receive notice that they are in breach of their lease should look at the terms of their lease and take independent legal advice. They can also access advice and guidance from the government supported Leasehold Advisory Service.
Where a leaseholder considers that they have been subject to improper or unfair practices then they should also consider contacting their local authority trading standards team.
Landlords cannot force leaseholders to pay for breaches of covenant or take their property without getting an Order from the County Court or First-tier Tribunal. Freeholders should give the leaseholder opportunity to rectify any breach before taking formal action. By law, claims for most individual breaches can only go back 6 years (or 12 years if the lease was created by deed).
Under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, property listings must not omit information that the average consumer needs to make an informed transactional decision. We would strongly advise prospective buyers and their legal representative to check that all relevant information has been provided to understand the ongoing costs and obligations involved in purchasing their home. If this information was not provided at the time of purchase, a legal representative could advise on possible options.
I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement published on 21 November (HCWS244) which sets out further detail on the steps the government intends to take to implement the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 and to progress the wider set of reforms necessary to end the feudal leasehold system for good; the proposals set out in the consultation on strengthening leaseholder protections over charges and services published on 4 July 2025 which can be found on gov.uk here; and the Commonhold White Paper published on 3 March 2025 which can be found on gov.uk here.
We will publish an ambitious draft Leasehold and Commonhold reform Bill later this year.
Asked by: Olivia Blake (Labour - Sheffield Hallam)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill will include provisions to grant leaseholders of houses the same Right of First Refusal as leaseholders of flats.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Leaseholders who receive notice that they are in breach of their lease should look at the terms of their lease and take independent legal advice. They can also access advice and guidance from the government supported Leasehold Advisory Service.
Where a leaseholder considers that they have been subject to improper or unfair practices then they should also consider contacting their local authority trading standards team.
Landlords cannot force leaseholders to pay for breaches of covenant or take their property without getting an Order from the County Court or First-tier Tribunal. Freeholders should give the leaseholder opportunity to rectify any breach before taking formal action. By law, claims for most individual breaches can only go back 6 years (or 12 years if the lease was created by deed).
Under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, property listings must not omit information that the average consumer needs to make an informed transactional decision. We would strongly advise prospective buyers and their legal representative to check that all relevant information has been provided to understand the ongoing costs and obligations involved in purchasing their home. If this information was not provided at the time of purchase, a legal representative could advise on possible options.
I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement published on 21 November (HCWS244) which sets out further detail on the steps the government intends to take to implement the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 and to progress the wider set of reforms necessary to end the feudal leasehold system for good; the proposals set out in the consultation on strengthening leaseholder protections over charges and services published on 4 July 2025 which can be found on gov.uk here; and the Commonhold White Paper published on 3 March 2025 which can be found on gov.uk here.
We will publish an ambitious draft Leasehold and Commonhold reform Bill later this year.
Asked by: Olivia Blake (Labour - Sheffield Hallam)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to increase legal aid fees.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
We have confirmed we will be uplifting fees for housing and immigration legal aid, the first increase since 1996, and worth £20 million when implemented.
We have also recently consulted on funding of up to £92 million a year for criminal legal aid and prison solicitors to help address the ongoing challenges in the criminal justice system. This money is in addition to the £24 million uplift the Government introduced to the criminal duty solicitor scheme.
Following the cyber security incident, our focus has been on restoring Legal Aid Agency services, ensuring access to justice through business continuity, including delegating authority to providers and offering weekly average civil payments. These contingency measures have supported providers to continue to operate and support the public. However, we are committed to implementing the significant fee uplifts in civil and criminal legal aid as soon as operationally possible.
Asked by: Olivia Blake (Labour - Sheffield Hallam)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department will take steps to (a) review and (b) increase the powers available to (i) the RSPCA and (ii) other animal welfare organisations to intervene in cases of suspected neglect.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
There are no current plans to review or increase the powers the RSPCA or other animal welfare organisations have. The RSPCA has strong working relationships with the Police and Local Authorities who support them in protecting animals where needed.
The Government recognises the valuable work the RSPCA and other animal welfare organisations do to improve the welfare of animals. The Government remains committed to working with the RSPCA, and other animal welfare organisations, so that our high animal welfare standards are maintained and offenders are subject to appropriate penalties.
Asked by: Olivia Blake (Labour - Sheffield Hallam)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has assessed the potential merits of building more driving test centres to meet demand.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times.
On the 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport appeared before the Transport Select Committee and announced that DVSA will take further actions to reduce waiting times for all customers across Great Britain.
These actions include incentivised additional testing offers for driving examiners, doubling permanent training capacity for new driving examiners, and a call for volunteers from those currently in other roles (but qualified to examine) to carry out practical driving tests. DVSA continues to run recruitment campaigns for new driving examiners.
DVSA has no current plans to open any further practical driving test centres. DVSA is committed to providing its customers with the best service possible and continually reviews its estate to ensure it represents good value for money and is efficient.
Asked by: Olivia Blake (Labour - Sheffield Hallam)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to tackle the impact of covid-19 on driving test backlogs.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times.
On the 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport appeared before the Transport Select Committee and announced that DVSA will take further actions to reduce waiting times for all customers across Great Britain.
These actions include incentivised additional testing offers for driving examiners, doubling permanent training capacity for new driving examiners, and a call for volunteers from those currently in other roles (but qualified to examine) to carry out practical driving tests. DVSA continues to run recruitment campaigns for new driving examiners.
DVSA has no current plans to open any further practical driving test centres. DVSA is committed to providing its customers with the best service possible and continually reviews its estate to ensure it represents good value for money and is efficient.
Asked by: Olivia Blake (Labour - Sheffield Hallam)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to (a) increase statutory paternity pay and (b) extend the duration of protected paternity leave.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The standard rate of Statutory Pay, including Statutory Paternity Pay, is reviewed annually at the discretion of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. From April 2025, the rate increased from £184.03 to £187.18 per week.
When considering calls to increase entitlements for parents, the Government must balance the needs of parents, the impact on employers, and affordability for taxpayers. However, we recognise that more can be done to support working families. On 1 July we launched the Parental Leave and Pay Review, which will consider all existing and upcoming parental leave entitlements, including paternity leave and pay.