Family Courts (Hansard, 11 November 2003)

§ Mr. Goodman
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what representations he has received on the legal provisions which apply in relation to the division of property in family courts; and if he will make a statement. [137086]
277W

§ Mr. Lammy
[holding answer 10 November 2003]Under current legislation, the courts are empowered to make a number of orders in relation to the division of family property and must consider a range of issues in each case. They have the discretion to make the orders that they see as appropriate and fair with regard to the specific circumstances of a case. The representations I receive are by way of correspondence from right hon. and hon. Members on behalf of their constituents and from members of the public. In the main they relate to general queries or complaints about the way the legislation will be or has been applied in particular cases.

£ 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

50,001 100,000 770 806 932 1,056 1,060 1,193

100,001 200,000 261 332 385 437 579 845

200,001 500,000 16 29 39 39 73 168

500–001 600,000 0 1 0 0 0 2

600,001 800,000 0 0 1 1 0 5

800,001 1 million 0 0 0 0 0 0

Over 1 million 0 0 0 0 0 1

§ Mr. Gordon Prentice
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many house sales of less than £20,000 in east Lancashire took place in each year since 1997. [136732]

§ Keith Hill
I have been asked to reply.

Calendar year Sales below £20,000 in the area of east Lancashire as defined in note 1 below Sales below £20,000 in the east Lancashire pathfinder area

1997 1,340 1,452

1998 1,461 1,482

1999 1,372 1,382

2000 1,683 1,702

2001 1,953 1,881

2002 2,821 2,463

1. The area of "east Lancashire" referred to in the first column of sales figures has been interpreted as comprising the districts of Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Ribble Valley, Rossendale.

2. Sales are taken to mean the transfer of ownership for value of freehold and long leasehold residential properties, whether or not the purchase was supported by a mortgage.

Source:
Land Registry

£	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
50,001	100,000	770	806	932	1,056	1,060	1,193
100,001	200,000	261	332	385	437	579	845
200,001	500,000	16	29	39	39	73	168
500–001	600,000	0	1	0	0	0	2
600,001	800,000	0	0	1	1	0	5
800,001	1 million	0	0	0	0	0	0
Over 1 million	0	0	0	0	0	1

Calendar year	Sales below £20,000 in the area of east Lancashire as defined in note 1 below	Sales below £20,000 in the east Lancashire pathfinder area
1997	1,340	1,452
1998	1,461	1,482
1999	1,372	1,382
2000	1,683	1,702
2001	1,953	1,881
2002	2,821	2,463
1. The area of "east Lancashire" referred to in the first column of sales figures has been interpreted as comprising the districts of Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Ribble Valley, Rossendale.
2. Sales are taken to mean the transfer of ownership for value of freehold and long leasehold residential properties, whether or not the purchase was supported by a mortgage.