Asked by: Mark Garnier (Conservative - Wyre Forest)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Government maintains a database of complaints levelled against general building firms operating within the repair, maintenance and improvement sector; and how many complaints have been made by subcontractors against general building firms that have engaged their services over the last three years.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
The Government is committed to ensuring that we have a high-quality and professional construction industry in the UK, and to strengthening consumers’ rights and access to redress in the domestic construction sector. We have recently consulted on proposals to reform competition and consumer policy. This includes proposals for mandatory alternative dispute resolution in the home improvements sector.
At present, the Government does not maintain a database of complaints levelled against general building firms operating within the repair, maintenance and improvement sector in England.
There are also several market-led mechanisms, including online forums and public reviews, that highlight those in the sector who are not doing the right thing.
Asked by: Mark Garnier (Conservative - Wyre Forest)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Government maintains a database of complaints levelled against general building firms operating within the repair, maintenance and improvement sector in England; and how many customer complaints have been made against general building firms for work that has failed building control inspections in each of the last three years.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
The Government is committed to ensuring that we have a high-quality and professional construction industry in the UK, and to strengthening consumers’ rights and access to redress in the domestic construction sector. We have recently consulted on proposals to reform competition and consumer policy. This includes proposals for mandatory alternative dispute resolution in the home improvements sector.
At present, the Government does not maintain a database of complaints levelled against general building firms operating within the repair, maintenance and improvement sector in England.
There are also several market-led mechanisms, including online forums and public reviews, that highlight those in the sector who are not doing the right thing.
Asked by: Mark Garnier (Conservative - Wyre Forest)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Government maintains a database of complaints levelled against general building firms operating within the repair, maintenance and improvement sector in England; and how many customer complaints have been made against general building firms for unsafe work over the last three years.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
The Government is committed to ensuring that we have a high-quality and professional construction industry in the UK, and to strengthening consumers’ rights and access to redress in the domestic construction sector. We have recently consulted on proposals to reform competition and consumer policy. This includes proposals for mandatory alternative dispute resolution in the home improvements sector.
At present, the Government does not maintain a database of complaints levelled against general building firms operating within the repair, maintenance and improvement sector in England.
There are also several market-led mechanisms, including online forums and public reviews, that highlight those in the sector who are not doing the right thing.
Asked by: Mark Garnier (Conservative - Wyre Forest)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Government maintains a database of complaints levelled against general building firms operating within the repair, maintenance and improvement sector in England; and how many customer complaints have been made against general building firms for substandard work over the last three years.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
The Government is committed to ensuring that we have a high-quality and professional construction industry in the UK, and to strengthening consumers’ rights and access to redress in the domestic construction sector. We have recently consulted on proposals to reform competition and consumer policy. This includes proposals for mandatory alternative dispute resolution in the home improvements sector.
At present, the Government does not maintain a database of complaints levelled against general building firms operating within the repair, maintenance and improvement sector in England.
There are also several market-led mechanisms, including online forums and public reviews, that highlight those in the sector who are not doing the right thing.
Asked by: Mark Garnier (Conservative - Wyre Forest)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Government maintains a database of complaints levelled against general building firms operating within the repair, maintenance and improvement sector in England; and how many disputes have been registered between general building firms and customers in each of the last three years.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
The Government is committed to ensuring that we have a high-quality and professional construction industry in the UK, and to strengthening consumers’ rights and access to redress in the domestic construction sector. We have recently consulted on proposals to reform competition and consumer policy. This includes proposals for mandatory alternative dispute resolution in the home improvements sector.
At present, the Government does not maintain a database of complaints levelled against general building firms operating within the repair, maintenance and improvement sector in England.
There are also several market-led mechanisms, including online forums and public reviews, that highlight those in the sector who are not doing the right thing.
Asked by: Mark Garnier (Conservative - Wyre Forest)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Government maintains a database of complaints levelled against general building firms operating within the repair, maintenance and improvement sector in England.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
The Government is committed to ensuring that we have a high-quality and professional construction industry in the UK, and to strengthening consumers’ rights and access to redress in the domestic construction sector. We have recently consulted on proposals to reform competition and consumer policy. This includes proposals for mandatory alternative dispute resolution in the home improvements sector.
At present, the Government does not maintain a database of complaints levelled against general building firms operating within the repair, maintenance and improvement sector in England.
There are also several market-led mechanisms, including online forums and public reviews, that highlight those in the sector who are not doing the right thing.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether there will be an appeal system in the Alternative Disputes Resolution process for the Post Office Horizon scandal; and whether the Government has made an estimate of the cost of resolutions.
Answered by Paul Scully
Alternative Dispute Resolution is a consensual process, through which those making claims (and their advisors) can question and challenge how their claims have been assessed. It is a fundamental tenet of Alternative Dispute Resolution that questions and challenges are addressed in good faith so as to obtain a comprehensive and consensual resolution of all claims. As participants in the process are not obliged to accept any offers made by Post Office, there is no need for an appeals process.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Post Office Horizon scandal, how those conducting the Alternative Dispute Resolution process will be advised to calculate quantum.
Answered by Paul Scully
Claims will be assessed by applying the specific facts of the individual cases to established legal principles and any other factors which support reaching a fair outcome. Those making claims (and their advisors) can question and challenge those assessments, and it is a fundamental tenet of Alternative Dispute Resolution that questions and challenges are addressed in good faith so as to obtain a comprehensive and consensual resolution of the claims.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether friends, family and employees of subpostmasters will be permitted to take part in the Alternative Dispute Resolution process proposed in response to the Post Office Horizon scandal.
Answered by Paul Scully
Alternative Dispute Resolution is a consensual process, through which those making claims (and their advisors) can question and challenge how their claims have been assessed. The Terms of Reference for the Historical Shortfall Scheme explain its Dispute Resolution procedure. Processes for those with quashed convictions will be agreed between the Post Office and a claimant’s legal representatives.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps will be taken to ensure consistency is maintained in the processing of disputes in response to the Post Office Horizon scandal.
Answered by Paul Scully
Claims will be assessed by applying the specific facts of the individual cases to established legal principles and any other factors which support reaching a fair outcome. Those making claims (and their advisors) can question and challenge those assessments, and it is a fundamental tenet of Alternative Dispute Resolution that questions and challenges are addressed in good faith so as to obtain a comprehensive and consensual resolution of the claims.