§ Lord Shutt of Greetlandasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the answer by the Lord Filkin on 8 September 2004 (Official Report, col. 559 ), whether the promised consultation on intestacy took place last autumn; and, if so, who was consulted and with what result; and [HL758]
Further to the answer by the Lord Filkin on 8 September 2004 (Official Report, col. 559) that the priority with regard to intestacy is "to look at the current statutory levels and see if, as I think is self- evident, they require adjustment upwards", whether it is now time to introduce an order to raise these levels. [HL759]
§ Baroness Ashton of UphollandThe consultation paper on the levels of the statutory legacy in intestacy cases was not published in autumn as originally intended. The consultation paper is now in the final stages of drafting and should be published before the end of March. Any adjustment to the levels of the statutory legacy will take place after consideration of responses to the consultation paper.