§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to prevent the directors and shareholders of Shreeveport Ltd., or any of their associates, as defined by section 435 of the Insolvency Act 1986, from bidding for any of the contracts for privatising any of the functions of the official receiver.
§ Mr. Jonathan EvansThe terms of the contract between Shreeveport Ltd. and the Insolvency Service prevent directors and shareholders of Shreeveport, or any of their associates, from bidding for any of the functions of the official receiver.
Mr. AustinTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what consideration he is giving to the recommendation of Stoy Hayward Consulting on using a pilot scheme to evaluate whether the contracting out 251W of the functions of the official receiver will give increased value for money. [32605]
§ Mr. EvansThe recommendation of Stoy Hayward Consulting was carefully considered, but it was concluded that a pilot scheme would not provide a sufficiently reliable indication of the likely value for money of contracting out across all official receiver's offices.
§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the President of the Board of Trade in what circumstances he will be prepared to contract out the investigatory function of the official receiver following the enabling order. [32598]
§ Mr. EvansThere is no intention to contract out any functions of the official receiver other than those currently being considered.
§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his policy in respect of the Stoy Hayward Consulting recommendation that the functions of the official receiver should be contracted out only to insolvency practitioners. [32586]
§ Mr. EvansStoy Hayward Consulting concluded from its work that insolvency practitioners were the most likely candidates for contracting out of official receivers' functions, but the invitation for expressions of interest was not restricted to insolvency practitioners.
§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement as to the likely benefits he expects if the work of the official receiver is contracted out. [32582]
§ Mr. EvansThe decision to explore the viability of contracting out the functions of the official receiver was based on the potential for increased value for money and advice that contracting out would allow official receivers to concentrate more on their investigative effort.
§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, when a contractor becomes insolvent, the official receiver awarding the contract will become personally liable for any losses incurred, in the event of part of the function of the official receiver being contracted out. [32590]
§ Mr. EvansPursuant to the provisions of section 72 of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994, official receivers will remain liable at law for the proper discharge of their function.
§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the President of the Board of Trade how he intends to inform Insolvency Service staff of the developments towards contracting out functions of official receivers. [32507]
§ Mr. EvansA communications strategy is in place within the Insolvency Service with the aim of keeping staff up to date with the progress of the contracting out exercise.
§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if contractors will be required to purchase or lease the LOIS computer system in the event of the functions of the official receiver being contracted out. [32511]
§ Mr. EvansNo, but there will be minimum mandatory requirements as to compatibility and interfacing between any office systems which providers propose to use and the Insolvency Service's system.
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§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if indemnity, required from contractors awarded the work of official receivers, will include provision for any losses incurred by official receivers as a result of fraudulent behaviour by the contractor or a member of his staff. [32602]
§ Mr. EvansAny form of indemnity required from contractors undertaking the functions of the official receivers would need to provide for all liabilities, however arising, falling on the official receiver in relation to those functions.
§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what contingency plans he will have in place if, in the event of the privatisation of parts of the Insolvency Service, a contractor responsible for carrying out the functions of the official receiver becomes insolvent. [32604]
§ Mr. EvansAny contracting out of official receivers' functions will proceed only where value for money is assured and any such calculation will take into account the financial standing of potential contractors. Contracting out to a number of contractors would enable alternate providers to be used in the event of one becoming insolvent.
§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the addresses of each official receiver's office or sub-office, showing whether the properties leasehold, rented or freehold and, where appropriate, the length of any remaining issue. [32581]
§ Mr. EvansThe addresses of the offices of official receivers, including sub-offices showing lease/freehold details are:
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Office Address Status Remaining lease Birmingham Commercial Union House, Martineau Square, Birmingham B2 4UP Leasehold 24 June 2018 Due to move later this year to Ladywood House, 45–46 Stephenson Street, Birmingham B2 4DQ Leasehold 24 June 2018 Bournemouth (sub-office of Southampton) 3rd Floor, Bristol and West House, Post Office Road, Bournemouth BH1 1LH Leasehold 28 September 1998 Brighton 69 Middle Street, Brighton East, Sussex BN1 1BE Leasehold 27 July 2013 Bristol 3rd and 4th Floors, Intercity House, Mitchell Lane, Bristol BS1 6BD Leasehold 24 December 2001 Cambridge (sub-office of Northampton) 2nd Floor, Abbeygate House, 164–167 East Road, Cambridge CB1 1DB Leasehold 24 March 2012 Canterbury (sub-office of Rochester) 50 New Dover Road, Canterbury CT1 3DT Leasehold 23 June 1995 Cardiff 3rd Floor, Hayes House, The Hayes, Cardiff CF1 2UG Leasehold 28 September 2008 254W
Office Address Status Remaining lease Chester (sub-office of Stoke) Dee Hills Park, Chester CH3 5AR Freehold — Croydon 5th Floor, Sunley House, Bedford Park, Croydon CR9 1TX Leasehold 18 September 2005 Exeter (sub-office of Plymouth) 3rd Floor, Finance House, Barnfield Road, Exeter EX1 1QR Leasehold 28 August 2001 Gloucester (sub-office of Bristol) 21–23 London Road, Gloucester GL1 3HB Leasehold 30 April 2017 Hull Suite J, Anchor House, The Mailings, Silvester Street, Hull HU1 3HA Leasehold 19 September 2016 Ipswich (sub-office of Norwich) St. Clare House, Greyfriars, Ipswich IP1 1LX Leasehold 31 July 2013 Leeds 2nd Floor, Savile House, Trinity Street Arcade, Leeds LS1 6QP Leasehold 24 December 1995 Leicester 5th Floor, Haymarket House, Haymarket Centre, Leicester LE1 3YS Leasehold 28 September 2004 Liverpool 2nd Floor, Cunard Building, Pier Head, Liverpool L3 1DS Leasehold 30 September 2005 London 21 Bloomsbury Street, London WC1B 3SS Leasehold 24 December 2013 London Support Unit 4th Floor, Somerset House, 37 Temple Street, Birmingham B2 5DV Leasehold 30 September 2000 Manchester Townbury House, 11 Blackfriars Street, Salford M3 5AB Leasehold 26 July 2000 Newcastle 3rd Floor, Westgate House, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1TU Leasehold 24 March 2000 Northampton 90 Abington Street, Northampton NN1 2BX Leasehold 28 September 1996 Norwich Emmanuel House, 2 Convent Road, Norwich NR2 1PA Leasehold 28 February 2021 Nottingham (sub-office of Leicester) Severns House, 20 Middle Pavement, Nottingham NG1 7EP Leasehold 23 June 1995 Plymouth 1st Floor, Prudential Building, 115 Armada Way, Plymouth PL1 1HW Leasehold 29 September 1995 Reading 1st Floor, 47 Friar Street, Reading RG1 1RY 23 March 2000
Office Address Status Remaining lease Rochester Gordon House, 15 Star Hill, Rochester ME1 1TX Freehold — St. Albans 1st Floor, Trident House, 42–48 Victoria Street, St. Albans AL1 3HR Leasehold 28 February 2016 St. Annes Petros House, St. Andrews Road, North Lytham St. Annes FY8 2JB Leasehold 24 May 2014 Sheffield 6th Floor, Don House, 20–22 Hawley Street, Sheffield S1 2EA Leasehold 31 December 1997 Southampton Western Range, 83–85 London Road, Southampton SO15 2SH Freehold — Southend 2nd Floor, Tylers House, Tylers Avenue, Southend on Sea, Essex SS1 2AX Freehold — Stockton (sub-office of Newcastle) Bayheath House, Prince Regent Street, Stockton on Tees TS18 1DF Leasehold 28 September 2001 Stoke London House, Hide Street, Stoke on Trent ST4 1QN Leasehold 24 March 1999 Swansea 5th Floor, Sun Alliance House, 166–167 St. Helens Road, Swansea SA1 5DL Leasehold 24 March 2006 None of the leaseholds are currently held by the Insolvency Service: the freeholds are held by the Crown.
§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the President of the Board of Trade how many expressions of interest he has received after advertising the contracting out of the functions of the official receiver, distinguishing those received from insolvency practitioners and those received from other interested parties. [32585]
§ Mr. EvansSome 149 expressions of interest were received, of which 117 were from insolvency practitioners.