Oral Answers to Questions

Theresa Villiers Excerpts

Tuesday 14th May 2024 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Secretary of State, this is topicals. I have to get your colleagues in, and I am sure you would not want them to miss out.

[Theresa Villiers (Chipping Barnet) (Con)]

T5. A number of my constituents in Chipping Barnet tell me that they continue to have problems with delays in getting court judgments implemented by bailiffs. Will the Secretary of State do everything he can to tackle delays in the courts and bailiff system, especially for possession proceedings, where there continue to be real problems, causing delays and costs?

[Alex Chalk]

I thank my right hon. Friend for that important point. Fewer than 1% of tenancies required court action in 2019, but for difficult cases that do escalate to the courts, the Government recognise the importance of making sure that the process is smooth and efficient. Nearly 90% of county courts are currently listing possession hearings within four to eight weeks after a claim is received. On bailiff recruitment issues, we are running recruitment campaigns and have reduced administrative burdens to free up resources for bailiffs to focus on enforcement activity.