HC Deb 22 April 2004 vol 420 cc653-4W
Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs in how many county court judgments enforcement agents have been used to recover debts where the ium of money to be recovered is(a) £125 or less and (b) more than £125 in each year since 1997. [166806]

Mr. Leslie

My Department is responsible for county court bailiffs only.

Statistical data by value of the debt enforcement process that county court bailiffs have dealt with, is not collected. The number of county court warrants of execution issued since 1997 is as follows:

Number
1998 543,848
1999 538,337
2000 470,270
2001 394,611
2002 372,505
2003 355,476

Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the proceeds of sales of goods by enforcement agents employed by the county courts was for the payment of(a) council tax and (b) all other debts in each year since 1997. [166807]

Mr. Leslie

My Department is responsible for county court bailiffs only. Unpaid council tax is not recoverable through the county courts. It is pursued through the magistrates courts. Certificated Bailiffs are authorised under the Distress for Rent Rules 1988 to enforce nonpayment of council tax on instruct ion from the relevant magistrates court.

In the county court the most common method of enforcement, where payment of the court order is in arrears, is a warrant of execution. County court bailiffs may remove a debtor's goods for sale to satisfy the amount of the warrant, if payment otherwise is not forthcoming.

Statistical data is not collected to show the amount recovered from the proceeds of sale of goods for debt.

Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs in how many county court judgments letters were prepared and sent advising clients that a warrant for the recovery of a debt was with a court-employed enforcement agent in each year since 1997. [166811]

Mr. Leslie

If the defendant in a debt case defaults under the terms of the court order, it will be for the creditor to instruct the court to enforce the judgment. The most common form of enforcement for debt is a warrant of execution.

As soon as the bailiff receives the warrant the defendant will be notified, in writing, that enforcement action has been instigated. The notice tells the defendant, among other things, when the amount of money should be paid to prevent any further action by the bailiff.

The number of warrants of execution issued since 1997 is as follows:

Number
1998 543,848
1999 538,337
2000 470,270
2001 394,611
2002 372,505
2003 355,476

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