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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Scots call for repossession move | Scots call for repossession move |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Opposition parties are calling for Scottish homeowners to receive the same protection from repossession as householders in England and Wales. | Opposition parties are calling for Scottish homeowners to receive the same protection from repossession as householders in England and Wales. |
| The prime minister has introduced rules to ensure courts south of the border only take homes as a last resort. | The prime minister has introduced rules to ensure courts south of the border only take homes as a last resort. |
| The proposals do not apply in Scotland because of its separate legal system. | The proposals do not apply in Scotland because of its separate legal system. |
| However, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the Mortgage Rights (Scotland) Act 2001 already made sure repossessions were a last resort. | However, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the Mortgage Rights (Scotland) Act 2001 already made sure repossessions were a last resort. |
| Speaking on BBC radio's Good Morning Scotland programme, she said:"The Mortgage Rights Bill already allows owners to ask for time to pay or to look at alternatives. | Speaking on BBC radio's Good Morning Scotland programme, she said:"The Mortgage Rights Bill already allows owners to ask for time to pay or to look at alternatives. |
| "A sheriff will look at all the circumstances, including the conduct of the lender." | "A sheriff will look at all the circumstances, including the conduct of the lender." |
| It is not the case that homeowners in Scotland will somehow have less protection than south of the border and I don't think it's right for anybody to make that suggestion Nicola SturgeonDeputy First Minister | It is not the case that homeowners in Scotland will somehow have less protection than south of the border and I don't think it's right for anybody to make that suggestion Nicola SturgeonDeputy First Minister |
| In England and Wales the tougher rules are to be brought in through a "pre-trial protocol". | In England and Wales the tougher rules are to be brought in through a "pre-trial protocol". |
| This will state what the courts should expect of lenders bringing repossession cases. | This will state what the courts should expect of lenders bringing repossession cases. |
| The aim is to ensure lenders have demonstrated to the courts that they had exhausted every avenue before resorting to repossession. | The aim is to ensure lenders have demonstrated to the courts that they had exhausted every avenue before resorting to repossession. |
| The process would not work north of the border where pre-trial protocols do not exist. | |
| Scottish Labour and the Scottish Liberal Democrats called for Scottish law to be changed to allow the prime minister's plan to go ahead north of the border. | Scottish Labour and the Scottish Liberal Democrats called for Scottish law to be changed to allow the prime minister's plan to go ahead north of the border. |
| However, Ms Sturgeon said: "It is not the case that homeowners in Scotland will somehow have less protection than south of the border and I don't think it's right for anybody to make that suggestion." | However, Ms Sturgeon said: "It is not the case that homeowners in Scotland will somehow have less protection than south of the border and I don't think it's right for anybody to make that suggestion." |
| Banks' role | Banks' role |
| The UK Government is also proposing that firms involved in sale-and-rent back schemes should be regulated by the Financial Services Authority. | The UK Government is also proposing that firms involved in sale-and-rent back schemes should be regulated by the Financial Services Authority. |
| Labour's Cathy Jamieson said banks should also play a greater role in preventing repossessions by setting up home ownership schemes. | Labour's Cathy Jamieson said banks should also play a greater role in preventing repossessions by setting up home ownership schemes. |
| She said: "The banks could take a stake in homes and if, at a later date, those homes were sold they would recoup the money." | She said: "The banks could take a stake in homes and if, at a later date, those homes were sold they would recoup the money." |
| The Lib Dem's Ross Finnie said: "I think there is a question about making an absolute requirement on banks that they've taken every possible step to try and do some alternative structuring to the loan before they have a recourse to repossession." | The Lib Dem's Ross Finnie said: "I think there is a question about making an absolute requirement on banks that they've taken every possible step to try and do some alternative structuring to the loan before they have a recourse to repossession." |
| Publicity campaign | Publicity campaign |
| The Scottish Conservatives said there should be more dialogue between borrowers and lenders. | The Scottish Conservatives said there should be more dialogue between borrowers and lenders. |
| Shadow Scottish Secretary David Mundell said: "Both the government and the banks do have a role in helping people get through this situation." | Shadow Scottish Secretary David Mundell said: "Both the government and the banks do have a role in helping people get through this situation." |
| The Scottish Government said it had programmes in place to help people experiencing mortgage difficulties. | The Scottish Government said it had programmes in place to help people experiencing mortgage difficulties. |
| This included a £25m home owner support fund which aims to allow home owners in serious financial difficulties to retain ownership of their house. | This included a £25m home owner support fund which aims to allow home owners in serious financial difficulties to retain ownership of their house. |
| It is also planning to launch a publicity campaign urging people to seek help through Citizen's Advice Bureaux and Debtline. | It is also planning to launch a publicity campaign urging people to seek help through Citizen's Advice Bureaux and Debtline. |
| Scottish Government officials are to meet the Council of Mortgage Lenders to discuss the prime minister's new guidance. | Scottish Government officials are to meet the Council of Mortgage Lenders to discuss the prime minister's new guidance. |