Contributions
1,195 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Eighth sitting)I thank my hon. Friend the Minister. Perhaps he would like to ask whether, given his extensive history and detailed knowledge on the subject, the hon. Member for Brent North knows…25 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Eighth sitting)In the same evidence session, we also heard Amanda Gourlay’s concern about the nature of the accounts being mandated, and she said that it is not something that she would…25 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Fifth sitting)May I ask the Minister to confirm that clause 2(2) refers to schedule 7 to the Bill? In our evidence sessions last week, we heard from certain leaseholders who were concerned that…23 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Fifth sitting)May I throw the general issue of collective enfranchisement into the mix? The Minister may wish to come back on it at a later point if it suits him better. Many people in this…23 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Fifth sitting)I rise briefly to add my support for some of the comments and, most importantly, for the ability of leaseholders to extend their leases. As we know, this is one of the most…23 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Fifth sitting)I will not detain the Committee for long. In response to those comments from the Opposition, I observe only that when they were last in government— in 2002, if I am correct—they…23 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Fifth sitting)The hon. Gentleman is a very persuasive orator in this Committee, as he is in many other fora, and I will definitely listen to those arguments when they are made. We all work in…23 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Sixth sitting)If it is the case that I can speak to schedule 7 at a later time, I will defer my comments till then.23 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Sixth sitting)I ask the Minister to clarify a couple of points. It is extremely unusual for me ever to find anything in his comments to disagree with or depart from. If I heard him correctly,…23 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Sixth sitting)I am listening with interest to the shadow Minister’s comments. He is making a valid point and advancing a logical argument for the setting of these rates, which we all agree is…23 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Sixth sitting)Does my hon. Friend not agree that the concept of ground rent itself is “gouging”, to use his word, because it is a payment for nothing? Clearly, the freeholders are receiving…23 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Sixth sitting)I add my words of appreciation to those of the shadow Front-Bench spokesman for the Minister’s explanation. I want to add one brief point of clarity on marriage value, which was…23 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Second sitting)Q Thank you for all your work. Can you remind the Committee how many recommendations you made in total? Professor Hopkins: Across enfranchisement, right to manage, and commonhold,…16 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Second sitting)Q That is really helpful, although it was not quite what I was trying to get at. If you are a freeholder, you may also be an insurer. A lot of big freeholders are insurers, and…16 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (First sitting)Q Have you ever acted for freeholders against leaseholders? Have you ever found that the leaseholders have been egregious, rather than the other way round? Amanda Gourlay: I…16 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Second sitting)Q Okay, but do you recognise that as an issue, if I can put it that way? It is a fact that in the past some leaseholders have been able to buy out their freeholds, so the…16 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Second sitting)Q And how many did you make on commonhold? Professor Hopkins: I think we made around 120.16 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Second sitting)Q Mr Brewis, thank you for coming here. Is it within your remit or do you have any helpful information for the Committee to understand a point that has been put to me and that I…16 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Second sitting)Q Thank you. I will ask a second question, if I may. You mentioned the issue of the pump room. Can you explain very briefly what the issue of the pump room is? Is this for a…16 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Second sitting)Q Thank you for that clarification. As a follow-up, if any Government adopted a policy on commonhold such as has been talked about sometimes, but without doing the legal fixes,…16 Jan 2024