Contributions
1,648 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDCommercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill (Third sitting)I thank the Minister for his remarks. Clause 5 defines what is meant by the protected period and specific coronavirus restrictions for the purposes of the Bill. He has outlined…09 Dec 2021HANSARDCommercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill (Third sitting)I thank the Minister for his opening comments on clause 3, which defines “protected rent debt”. Rent is protected if the tenant was adversely affected by coronavirus within the…09 Dec 2021HANSARDCommercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill (Third sitting)I thank the Minister for his opening comments on the clause. Clause 2 defines the key terms that are central to the operation of this legislation, notably rent and business…09 Dec 2021HANSARDCommercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill (Third sitting)It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship today, Mrs Murray. I am grateful to the Minister for his opening remarks, in which he set out why the Bill is needed. Indeed, some…09 Dec 2021HANSARDCommercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill (First sitting)Q Could I ask one final question? Do you have any views about how the fee system structure should be put in place in order to make the arbitration affordable and accessible? Do…07 Dec 2021HANSARDCommercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill (First sitting)Q Thank you very much. We really appreciate you both coming to give evidence today. I will ask Ms Nicholls a question first, if I may. Do you feel that the Government have engaged…07 Dec 2021HANSARD Nationality and Borders BillI want first to acknowledge my support for new clause 8, which my hon. Friend the Member for Streatham (Bell Ribeiro-Addy) tabled, and to congratulate her on a very powerful…07 Dec 2021HANSARDCommercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill (Second sitting)Q I think it is important—in the context of increased business costs next April, whether from business rates or the jobs tax—that your view is that those six months may not be…07 Dec 2021HANSARDCommercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill (Second sitting)Q Do you mean the six months after the start? Martin McTague: Yes. In other words, that is a hard cut-off. We all know that the current situation is changing rapidly.07 Dec 2021HANSARDCommercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill (Second sitting)Q I have a final, very quick question. Do you have any concerns that any part of the scheme would make it less likely to work, not in theory but in practice? Martin McTague: My…07 Dec 2021HANSARDCommercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill (Second sitting)Q Was that alluding to adverse costs as well in cases of making it difficult? Jack Shakespeare: Yes. Andrew Goodacre: On the cost side, I agree with what Jack is saying: the lower…07 Dec 2021HANSARDCommercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill (Second sitting)Q That is helpful. Mr Shakespeare, I wonder whether you could come back on that point. I would also be interested in your view about how much arbitrators should be able to charge…07 Dec 2021HANSARDCommercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill (Second sitting)Q Do you have any concerns or suggestions about what the skills and experience of arbitrators should be? That is a slightly open question at the moment. What perspectives do you…07 Dec 2021HANSARDCommercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill (Second sitting)Q You may not have come across the same ones. Mr Shakespeare? Jack Shakespeare: I would support that notion. I think this comes in two parts. I think it comes back to that notion…07 Dec 2021HANSARDCommercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill (Second sitting)Q That is interesting, because some other witnesses have suggested that they would want to go further and see a greater incentive to use the scheme and to be treated more fairly…07 Dec 2021HANSARDCommercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill (Second sitting)Q Thank you for coming in to give evidence. Perhaps I could start with Mr McTague. On the 10 November cut-off date, we have had some evidence of concerns about landlords who have…07 Dec 2021HANSARDCommercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill (First sitting)Q What is your view on how arbitrators should be guided in going through the process? What needs to be in place, in terms of guidance or otherwise, to make their role clear, so…07 Dec 2021HANSARDCommercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill (First sitting)Q Thank you for that. I want to pick up on a point you made about the number of those who may be qualified and have the relevant skills and experience, which may come forward in…07 Dec 2021HANSARDCommercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill (First sitting)Q There has been some discussion about fee structures and the fact that the Secretary of State may be able to make regulations in this area. What would be an appropriate way to…07 Dec 2021HANSARDCommercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill (First sitting)Q Thank you, Mr Johnston, for coming to give evidence today. In relation to the scheme being set up and the assessments that will be made, what key skills and experience will…07 Dec 2021