§ Mrs. LaitTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions to what extent the Leasehold Valuation Tribunals Service is understaffed; and how many staff have(a) left the Leasehold Valuation Tribunals Service, (b) been redeployed and (c) been made redundant in the last year. [58443]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe provision of Leasehold Valuation Tribunals is one of the functions of Rent Assessment Panels. The workload of a number of Panels has reduced over the last 12 months and adjustments have been made to staffing numbers as a result. The current staffing levels are considered sufficient to carry out the administration of the tribunals but we are keeping the position under review. The administrative staff are civil servants from my Department and, of the 21 staff who have left the Panels over the last 12 months, 7 have transferred to other posts in the Department, 3 have resigned, 10 have taken
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New jurisdiction cases (Service charges/Appointment of a manager/Insurance) Panel 1996–971 1997–981 1998–99(to date) Wales n/a No cases received No cases received North Western n/a No cases heard 11 months Chilterns, Thames and Eastern n/a No cases heard No cases London n/a No cases heard 8 months Merseyside and Cheshire n/a No cases heard No cases received West Midland n/a 4 months 6 months North Eastern n/a No cases received 4 months East Midland n/a No cases heard No cases heard South Western n/a No cases heard 7.5 months Southern and South Eastern n/a No cases heard 9 months 1An application to a leasehold valuation tribunal could be made only on or after 1 September 1997. early retirement and 1 member of staff was dismissed. No staff have been made redundant and 17 new staff have been recruited to the Panel in the same 12 month period.
§ Mrs. LaitTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many appeals have been notified in respect of leasehold valuation tribunal decisions in the past year; what assessment he has made of the quality of the work of the tribunals; and if he will make a statement. [58442]
§ Mr. RaynsfordIn the 12 months ending on 31 October, the Leasehold Valuation Tribunals (LVTs) have been asked for leave to appeal gainst 7 of their decisions in respect of service charge disputes. In total, 58 appeals against LVT decisions have been received by the Lands Tribunal during the same period—this latter figure includes both service charge cases and decisions on other matters for which leave to appeal is not required.
The Leasehold Valuation Tribunals have provided an effective means of resolving a variety of disputes relating to leasehold property without the risks of high and uncertain costs associated with court proceedings. They have recently been given a new role in hearing service charge disputes and applications for the appointment of a manager under which they have, as yet, decided only a few cases. We are commissioning research to examine the effectiveness of the new regime, both directly and indirectly, in dealing with service charge disputes and we will continue to monitor their operation closely.
§ Mrs. LaitTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the budget for the leasehold valuation tribunals in each financial year since 1995; and what it will be for the year 1999–2000. [58444]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe cost of leasehold valuation tribunals is not separately identifiable within the overall cost of Rent Assessment Panels. The cost of the Panels in 1997–98 was £5.5 million. The resources allocated to the Panels in 1998–99 and 1999–2000 have been increased to £11.1 million in both years in anticipation of an increase in the volume of applications to leasehold valuation tribunals arising from the provisions in the Housing Act 1996.
§ Mrs. LaitTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the average length of time before the cases of applicants to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunals were heard(a) in the present financial year to date, (b) in 1997–98 and (c) in 1996–97. [58437]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe average length of time before the cases of applicants to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunals were heard was as follows:
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Old jurisdiction cases—(Enfranchisement/lease extensions) Panel 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 (to date)) Wales 7 months 7.5 months 9 months North Western None heard 10 months 12 months Chilterns, Thames and Eastern 8 months 8 months 9 months London 8 months 8 months 8 months Merseyside and Cheshire No cases received No cases received No cases received West Midland 4 months 7 months 6 months North Eastern 8.5 months All cases withdrawn or no jurisdiction No cases heard East Midland No cases received No cases heard No cases received South Western 4.5 months No cases heard 11 months Southern and South Eastern 4 months 4 months 4.5 months
§ Mrs. LaitTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will provide a breakdown of the backgrounds of the members of the leasehold valuation tribunals; what expertise is sought for appointments; and what training is given(a) on appointment and (b) subsequently. [58445]
§ Mr. RaynsfordLeasehold valuation tribunals comprise qualified lawyers and valuers, and lay people, all drawn from the members appointed to the 9 Rent Assessment Panels in England. I have arranged for a copy of the current list of Panel members, which includes details of their backgrounds, to be placed in the Library. My Department is looking to recruit more lay people and to attract members from a broader constituency. The qualities looked for in members include relevant professional expertise, intellectual grasp, sound judgment, analytical skills, ability to work as a team member and, in the case of a chairman of a tribunal, the ability to control proceedings. On appointment, new members are subject to an induction programme, which includes the provision of guidance on the legislation and procedures relevant to tribunal work, attendance at tribunal hearings as an observer, ad hoc meetings on specific subjects and attendance on suitable courses where appropriate. This is supplemented by regular seminars for all members and the supply of guidance notes on legal, technical and procedural issues as they arise.