Last year, Councils used court action 2.3 million times and bailiffs 1.4 million times to collect council tax debt. The bailiff fees added £200 million to people’s debts. Over 1.3 million households are estimated to have built up council tax debts because of coronavirus. When the Covid restrictions on debt collection end on 23 August, the day on which bailiffs can arrive—or debt D-day, as the coalition charities have called it— there need to be pre-action protocols in place to prevent people finding themselves on the streets.

Last year, Councils used court action 2.3 million times and bailiffs 1.4 million times to collect council tax debt. The bailiff fees added £200 million to people’s debts. Over 1.3 million households are estimated to have built up council tax debts because of coronavirus. When the Covid restrictions on debt collection end on 23 August, the day on which bailiffs can arrive—or debt D-day, as the coalition charities have called it— there need to be pre-action protocols in place to prevent people finding themselves on the streets.

Last year, Councils used Court action 2.3 million times and bailiffs 1.4 million times to collect council tax debt. The bailiff fees added £200 million to people’s debts. Over 1.3 million households are estimated to have built up council tax debts because of...

Lord David Alton

For 18 years David Alton was a Member of the House of Commons and today he is an Independent Crossbench Life Peer in the UK House of Lords.

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For the Uyghurs, Genocide is a word which dares not speak its name. For the sake of women like Rahima Mahmut, Gulzira Auelkhan, Sayragul Sauytbay, and Ruqiye Perhat – whose heart-breaking, shocking, stories are recorded here – it’s time that the crime of genocide was given definition in the UK. On January 19th Parliament can use its voice and speak that name – insisting on justice for victims of Genocide and refusing to make tawdry trade deals with those responsible for the crime above all crimes.

For the Uyghurs, Genocide is a word which dares not speak its name. For the sake of women like Rahima Mahmut, Gulzira Auelkhan, Sayragul Sauytbay, and Ruqiye Perhat – whose heart-breaking, shocking, stories are recorded here – it’s time that the crime of genocide was given definition in the UK. On January 19th Parliament can use its voice and speak that name – insisting on justice for victims of Genocide and refusing to make tawdry trade deals with those responsible for the crime above all crimes.

For the Uyghurs Genocide is a word which dares not speak its name ================================================= Extract: What word comes into your mind when you hear evidence of  a State  complicit in the destruction of a people’s identity; complicit in...

Stop Organ Harvesting In China

Stop Organ Harvesting In China

As the Medicines and Medical Devices Bill Bill comes to be discussed in Parliament, at its Report Stage in the House of Lords these speeches on forced organ harvesting were made by members from all sides of the House. Second Reading: ...

Christmas 2020 – Listen to T.S.Eliot and Hugh Laurie reading “Journey of the Magi”, Read J.R.R.Tolkien’s, Noel, and G.K.Chesterton’s “The House of Christmas” and Liverpool poet, Stewart Henderson’s ,new 2020 Christmas poem, What did you get for Christmas?

Christmas 2020 – Listen to T.S.Eliot and Hugh Laurie reading “Journey of the Magi”, Read J.R.R.Tolkien’s, Noel, and G.K.Chesterton’s “The House of Christmas” and Liverpool poet, Stewart Henderson’s ,new 2020 Christmas poem, What did you get for Christmas?

Christmas 2020 - Listen to T.S.Eliot and Hugh Laurie reading "Journey of the Magi", Read J.R.R.Tolkien's, Noel, and G.K.Chesterton's "The House of Christmas" and Liverpool poet, Stewart Henderson's ,new 2020 Christmas poem, What did you get for Christmas? The...

The Place In Which We Work

The Place In Which We Work

The Houses of Parliament We all see the place where we work very differently. At the end of another very long day, at 8.30 pm tonight, I was alone in the House of Lords cafeteria - where the wonderful (mainly Polish) staff were living out Napoleon‘s maxim that armies...

The World Must Not Forget Andy Li And The Hong Kong 12

The World Must Not Forget Andy Li And The Hong Kong 12

With Andy Li During The Hong Kong Elections In the U.K. Parliament I have again asked the U.K. Government what information they have on the wellbeing of the 12 young prodemocracy activists from Hong Kong, arrested by China. I asked whether the U.K. has asked China to...

A series of stories in national newspapers underline the importance of the Inquiry into Abduction, Forced Marriage, and Forced Conversion of Girls and Young Women in Pakistan. A Call Evidence has a deadline for submissions of February 15th. Details here:

https://www.davidalton.net/2021/01/21/all-party-parliamentary-group-inquiry-into-abduction-forced-marriage-and-forced-conversion-of-girls-and-young-women-in-pakistan-call-for-evidence-deadline-february-15th-2021/ All Party Parliamentary Group Inquiry into Abduction,...