§ Mr. SandersTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact on the rated enfranchisement of the establishment of the Leasehold Enfranchisement Advisory Service. [25779]
§ Mr. RaynsfordIt is difficult to assess what impact the Leasehold Enfranchisement Advisory Service, and its successor organisation, the Leasehold Advisory Service have had on the rate of enfranchisement. In many cases enfranchisement is achieved by agreement, even where statutory rights are invoked, and no central record of such transactions exists. However, in the period from February 1994 until June 1997 the Leasehold Advisory Service responded to 11,399 queries relating to enfranchisement.
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§ Mr. SandersTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what has been the cost of the Leasehold Enfranchisement Advisory Service in each year since its inception. [25780]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Leasehold Enfranchisement Advisory Service received funding from my Department through the special grants programme from April 1993 to December 1996. Grant paid to them in each year was as follows:
£ 1993–94 27,575 1994–95 75,000 1995–96 78,711 1996 (April-December) 83,748 In January 1997 the Leasehold Enfranchisement Advisory Service was relaunched as the Leasehold Advisory Service with a remit extended to providing advice on any aspect of residential long leasehold. Since January 1997 they have received grant of £269,537 under section 94 of the Housing Act 1996.
§ Mr. SandersTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to evaluate the effectiveness of the Leasehold Enfranchisement Advisory Service; and if he will make a statement. [25781]
§ Mr. RaynsfordA programme of work, with performance indicators where appropriate, is agreed with the Leasehold Advisory Service each year to assist in evaluating their effectiveness against their objectives.
§ Mr. SandersTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on Government policy towards leasehold enfranchisement. [25782]
§ Mr. RaynsfordWe are committed to simplifying the rules governing the purchase of freeholds by leaseholders and we intend to bring forward a new package of reforms to assist leaseholders. We are currently considering the scope and practicability of possible new measures. We expect to make an announcement about our proposals and invite comments from interested parties in the Spring.