Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to extend eligibility to Help to Save to people of pension age and in receipt of (a) carers allowance, (b) pension credit and (c) housing benefit after 2027.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Help to Save scheme supports financial resilience for working people on low incomes by encouraging consistent, long-term saving and helping them build a financial buffer to plan and prepare for the future.

In April 2025, the government widened the eligibility criteria for the Help to Save scheme to all Universal Credit claimants in work, rather than only those earning above a specified threshold. This expansion means around 550,000 additional people can benefit from the scheme, increasing the eligible population to approximately 3 million.

The government recognises that further groups may also benefit from Help to Save. Any future changes would need to be carefully assessed to ensure the scheme continues to be well targeted and deliverable.

The government has recently consulted on reforms to the delivery of Help to Save after 2027 and we continue to engage with a range of third-party financial institutions, including credit unions, as part of this process.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether credit unions will be allowed to offer Help to Save accounts from 2027.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Help to Save scheme supports financial resilience for working people on low incomes by encouraging consistent, long-term saving and helping them build a financial buffer to plan and prepare for the future.

In April 2025, the government widened the eligibility criteria for the Help to Save scheme to all Universal Credit claimants in work, rather than only those earning above a specified threshold. This expansion means around 550,000 additional people can benefit from the scheme, increasing the eligible population to approximately 3 million.

The government recognises that further groups may also benefit from Help to Save. Any future changes would need to be carefully assessed to ensure the scheme continues to be well targeted and deliverable.

The government has recently consulted on reforms to the delivery of Help to Save after 2027 and we continue to engage with a range of third-party financial institutions, including credit unions, as part of this process.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will ask the Prudential Regulation Authority to ease the rules on credit unions being able to lend to other credit unions.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

According to Section 11 of the Credit Unions Act 1979, credit unions are able to lend to other credit unions.

Credit unions are regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in a way that ensures the stability and soundness of the sector. The PRA and FCA are independent regulators and take decisions on the regulation of credit unions in line with their statutory objectives.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to help prevent (a) products or (b) services produced in illegal settlements in the West Bank from entering the UK.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I provided on 15 October 2025 to Question 77510.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he expects the Court of Appeal to consider the 1998 conviction of former subpostmistress Patricia Owen.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The case of Patricia Owen has been referred to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) under section 9 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1995.

Following approval for her daughter to act on her behalf, solicitors have been directed to lodge Grounds of Appeal by 3 December 2025.

Once these are received, and the Respondent’s Notice is filed, the case will be prepared for listing before the Court.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will require NHS Trusts to offer payroll savings schemes for staff.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Local employers across the National Health Service are best placed to understand their staff’s needs and circumstances. NHS staff have access to a range of support for financial wellbeing including credit union membership, savings schemes, and access to discount schemes such as the ‘Blue Light Card’.

NHS Employers has also published guidance for employers on salary sacrifice arrangements and tax-free childcare, which is available at the following link:

https://www.nhsemployers.org/articles/salary-sacrifice-schemes

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has commissioned research from National Institute of Economic and Social Research in the last three years on (a) international lending rates and (b) levels international lending to SMEs.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department for Business and Trade has commissioned research on the alternatives to commercial lending in the SME Business Market. The research, undertaken by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, intends to study the characteristics of debt finance and lending markets within and outside the UK to identify market failures in the UK system and potential changes that could support businesses, especially SMEs.

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he plans to discuss concerns about the former legal firm WW&J McClure Ltd with the Law Society of Scotland and Police Scotland.

Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)

The Secretary of State is aware that the closure of WW & J McClure Limited has caused anguish and worry to many of its clients, and hopes the matter can be brought to a satisfactory conclusion. As crime and justice are devolved in Scotland, it would not be appropriate for the Secretary of State to discuss this matter with the Law Society of Scotland as the regulator and Police Scotland as the investigating authority.

I am aware however that the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Legal Ombudsman have been responding to the implications for clients in England and Wales of the firm’s closure.

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether Police Scotland has had discussions with his Department on its investigation into McClures Solicitors asset protection trusts.

Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)

Police Scotland has not had discussions with the Scotland Office regarding its investigation into McClures Solicitors' asset protection trusts. It would not be appropriate for the Secretary of State or Scotland Office officials to discuss this matter with Police Scotland as the investigating authority. I am aware however that the relevant authorities have been considering any implications for the firm’s clients in England and Wales.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the cost of business loans offered by IWOCA.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

I refer my honourable friend to the answers I provided on the topic of SME lending on 23 October, and more recently in relation to the rate of short-term lending to small and medium sized businesses in the UK.

Interest rates, including those offered by individual providers, are a commercial matter decided by the lender concerned, reflecting the base rate, the risk of the applicant, and a margin to make the loan commercially viable given the cost of underwriting and broader funding costs. The Government does not intervene in commercial decisions, and SMEs should should shop around to find the product that best suits their needs when choosing finance, which in turn helps drives competition, improves choice, and may support pricing.

More widely, case complaints are a matter for the Financial Ombudsman Service rather than the Government, where the Treasury receives correspondence across a wide variety of subjects including financial services. While we are not able to measure the number of complaints the department receives in relation to high-cost credit for business loans (or in relation to an individual provider), the volume of correspondence on the cost of credit in relation to business loans, is generally low.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many complaints her Department has received on the cost of loans offered by IWOCA to small and medium sized businesses.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

I refer my honourable friend to the answers I provided on the topic of SME lending on 23 October, and more recently in relation to the rate of short-term lending to small and medium sized businesses in the UK.

Interest rates, including those offered by individual providers, are a commercial matter decided by the lender concerned, reflecting the base rate, the risk of the applicant, and a margin to make the loan commercially viable given the cost of underwriting and broader funding costs. The Government does not intervene in commercial decisions, and SMEs should should shop around to find the product that best suits their needs when choosing finance, which in turn helps drives competition, improves choice, and may support pricing.

More widely, case complaints are a matter for the Financial Ombudsman Service rather than the Government, where the Treasury receives correspondence across a wide variety of subjects including financial services. While we are not able to measure the number of complaints the department receives in relation to high-cost credit for business loans (or in relation to an individual provider), the volume of correspondence on the cost of credit in relation to business loans, is generally low.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will meet with representatives of the UK chemical industry to discuss an estimate of the potential cost of being out of the Single Market.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Government Ministers regularly meet with businesses and business representation organisations from a range of sectors, including the chemical sector. They remain open to further engagement with the sector including on ways to bolster growth, trade and investment.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Police Scotland has had discussions with her Department on its investigation into McClures Solicitors asset protection trusts.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Public Safety Group has no role in data collection on trustee mismanagement, or in any police investigations which may or may not be going on.

Matters relating to solicitor regulation or misgivings are for Ministry of Justice’s Arms Lengths Bodies.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information her Department holds on the highest rate of short-term lending to small and medium sized businesses in the UK.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Interest rates are a commercial matter decided by lenders, reflecting the base rate, the risk of the applicant, and a margin to make the loan commercially viable given the cost of underwriting and broader funding costs. Rates vary across the market and even significantly within the SME sector – dependent on the trading history, credit position, security, and other factors of the individual business applicant.

The UK also benefits from a broad lending market, enabling a diverse range of finance providers to facilitate access to finance for a wide range of SMEs. SMEs should shop around to find the product that best suits their needs when choosing finance.

The Bank of England’s ‘bankstats’ data provides insights into business and household credit, including the effective interest rates for SMEs on new and outstanding loans. The monthly average of UK resident banks’ sterling weighted loans for new advances to SMEs now stands at 6.35%, as of 31st August 2025, a figure that has tracked down as the base rate has fallen.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with the International Olympic Committee on the inclusion of netball in the Olympic Games.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

I have not had discussions with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) about the inclusion of netball, or any other sport, in the Olympic Games.

The Olympic sports programme is determined by the IOC. The British Olympic Association, as the National Organising Committee for Great Britain and Northern Ireland, is the domestic representative to the IOC and does so operating independently of the Government.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to update (a) the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012 and (b) the Insurance Act 2015 to strengthen statutory consumer protections in the insurance market.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

On 23 September 2025 Which? made a supercomplaint to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) that makes recommendations on relevant matters, including that the FCA and Government should review consumer protection legislation in insurance. The FCA and the Government are considering the issues raised. The FCA will respond to the supercomplaint in due course.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she will conduct a post-legislative review of (a) the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012 and (b) the Insurance Act 2015.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

On 23 September 2025 Which? made a supercomplaint to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) that makes recommendations on relevant matters, including that the FCA and Government should review consumer protection legislation in insurance. The FCA and the Government are considering the issues raised. The FCA will respond to the supercomplaint in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many cases of trustee mismanagement of asset protection trusts were investigated by his Department in each of the last three years.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The trustees of a trust hold assets for the benefit of others (the beneficiaries of the trust) under the terms of the trust document.

The general law of trusts enables the beneficiaries of a trust to hold the trustees to account to the extent permitted by the trust instrument or in legislation. In appropriate cases, it may be possible for the beneficiaries to have the trustees removed and replaced.

The decision as to whether to take action against the trustees is, in the absence of a crime, for the beneficiaries affected, and disputes are determined by the courts rather than investigated by Government.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases of alleged trustee mismanagement of asset protection trusts were recorded in the last three years by Action Fraud in a) Scotland b) London c) Suffolk and d) In total.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The capturing of fraud reports is recorded in line with the Home Office Crime Counting Rules for fraud, which breaks fraud down into a range of codes. The information requested does not currently align to the crimes recorded in the Action Fraud data set.

The Home Office is working with City of London Police to replace Action Fraud with a new and improved national police reporting service for fraud and cybercrime. The new service will include capabilities to better track threat trends and enhanced search features for the report database.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many complaints the a) Financial Ombudsman Service, b) Financial Conduct Authority and c) Prudential Regulation Authority received about i) the cost of loans to SMEs, ii) debt recovery behaviour by those offering to lend to SMEs and iii) fees charged by lenders when lending to SMEs in each of the last three years for which data is available.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

I refer my honourable friend to the answers I provided on the topic of SME lending on 23 October.

Complaints are the remit of the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), which publishes regular data on complaint trends. In its latest quarterly report, it noted that complaints about unaffordable lending had halved, though this figure does not distinguish between household and business credit, and complaint patterns can fluctuate each quarter. Over the past five years, credit card complaints have consistently ranked among the top five issues, while business lending has generated relatively few FOS disputes compared to personal and household credit.

The Bank of England’s ‘Bankstats’ data tracks business and household credit, including average interest rates for SMEs. As of 31 August 2025, the average rate for new SME loans from UK banks is 6.35%, reflecting a decline in line with base rate reductions.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many complaints the British Business Bank received about a) the cost of loans to SMEs, b) debt recovery behaviour by people offering to lend to SMEs and c) fees charged by lenders when lending to SMEs in each of the last three years for which data is available.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Where the British Business Bank receives complaints about lenders' actions on debt recovery, cost of lending and fees charged by lenders, these are referred to the relevant lender. While all complaints are logged, the current system does not include a specific category for debt-recovery-related issues. No fees were charged under the COVID-19 loan schemes, and there are no fees for Start Up Loans other than interest payments.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he will make an assessment of the potential benefits of the mutual recognition of professional qualifications by the UK and European Union.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

DBT is continually assessing benefits of opportunities to improve recognition of professional qualifications with the EU. Improvements would reduce market access barriers, address skills gaps, and promote growth.

The UK Government is committed to improving recognition of professional qualifications with the EU. At the 2025 UK-EU Summit we agreed to establish dedicated dialogues with the Commission on the relevant provisions in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. HMG is encouraging and supporting UK regulators to work with their EU counterparts, including through guidance and targeted funding.