§ Baroness Greengrossasked Her Majesty's Government:
What additional income is expected by the Public Guardianship Office in 2002–03 and 2003–04 arising from the changes to fees for (a) enduring powers of attorney and (b) receivers. [HL4075]
§ The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (Baroness Scotland of Asthal)The additional income arising from changes to enduring power of attorney fees is estimated to be £1.9 million in 2002–03 and £2 million in 2003–04, although it is estimated that up to £0.3 million of the overall income from enduring power of attorney fees may be remitted in each year. The additional income from changes to receivership fees is estimated to be £2.3 million in 49WA 2002–03 and £3.1 million in 2003–04, although it is estimated that around £1.5 million of overall receivership income will be remitted through the public subsidy for receivership of last resort cases and remission of other fees.
§ Baroness Greengrossasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the difference between the work that is undertaken by the Public Guardianship Office in relation to the registration of an enduring power of attorney at a cost of £220 and the application to become a receiver at a cost of £65. [H14076]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThe appliction fee of £65 covers the cost of processing a first application to the Court of Protection, up to the point where a hearing date is set to consider the appointment of a receiver. For clients with net assets below £16,000, it covers work to the point where the applicant is given authority to manage the finances under a short order. The application fee is one of a range of fees payable by private receivership clients where the Public Guardianship Office is involved in the management of their financial affairs. These clients also pay an appointment fee to cover setting up a case management regime with the receiver, and other support and advice services in the first year, including a visit, and an annual administration fee to cover ongoing support.
The fee of £220 for registering an enduring power of attorney covers the cost of registration, handling any disputes or technical problems and correspondence during or after registration, helping and advising attorneys or their legal representatives, investigating allegations of financial abuse against the donor and cancelling registration on the death of the donor. The registration fee covers this work over the life of the case.
§ Baroness Greengrossasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the cost to the Public Guardianship Office of registering (a) an uncontested enduring power of attorney and (b) a contested enduring power of attorney. [HL4077]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThe cost to the Public Guardianship Office of registering an uncontested power of attorney and associated work, not including the resolution of disputes, is £140. The average cost of dealing with a dispute that arises in an enduring power of attorney case is £1,260. The average cost of registering an enduring power of attorney and associated work, including the Resolution of disputes is £220. These costs include direct costs and overheads, including support service and accommodation costs.
§ Baroness Greengrossasked Her Majesty's Government:
When the former office of the Public Trust Office/ Public Guardianship Office at Stewart House in Kingsway was sold; at what price it was sold; and how the sale proceeds have been used. [HL4078]
50WA
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalStewart House has not yet been sold, although negotiations with a prospective purchaser are currently underway.