Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking with policing partners to help ensure that allegations that a person has falsely claimed to hold power of attorney in order to obtain or exercise control over a vulnerable person's finances are appropriately identified and investigated as potential fraud.

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

The Government recognises fraud by abuse of position is a serious and often hidden threat, where someone in a position of trust abuses their position for financial personal gain. Allegations that an individual has falsely claimed to hold, or has abused, a power of attorney in order to obtain or exercise control over a vulnerable person’s finances may constitute fraud and should be reported to Report Fraud, the national fraud and cyber crime reporting service.

Report Fraud uses the latest technology to improve the reporting experience for victims, provide case updates and improve the speed and quality of information shared with police to boost the chances of successful prosecutions. Where there is sufficient evidence and a viable lead, reports are referred to the appropriate police force or law enforcement partner to determine whether investigation or other enforcement activity should take place.

Through the Fraud Strategy 2026-2029, the Government is strengthening its response to fraud, including through a dedicated cross sector working group on fraud by abuse of position focused on developing a system-wide response to protect vulnerable and older people who rely on legal protections such as powers of attorney.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 20 April 2026 to Question 126283 on Ribble Valley Line, what recent steps she has taken to restore Northern Rail services on Sundays between Clitheroe and Blackburn.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department is encouraging the train operator, Northern, and the RMT trade union to continue discussions with a view to reach an agreement so that reliable Sunday services can be provided across the North of England, including between Clitheroe and Blackburn.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the (a) accessibility and (b) affordability of legal remedies available to beneficiaries and relatives seeking to challenge an executor or personal representative who they suspect of financial abuse; and whether he plans to review the support available to people who cannot afford the costs of contentious probate proceedings.

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

The position of personal representative or executor is one of significant responsibility; they are under a statutory duty to administer the deceased person’s estate according to the law and can be held personally liable if they do not.

There are a wide range of safeguards available to hold personal representatives accountable for the performance of their duties. This includes the ability to apply for a court order requiring the personal representative to provide inventory and account, allowing interested parties to understand how the estate has been administered. Applications can also be made to remove an executor, while allegations of criminal offences such as fraud can be investigated by the police.

Where disputes arise, the Government’s recognises the value of mediation in contentious probate proceedings and encourages parties to consider it as route to resolve their dispute. In some instances, the courts will be best placed to resolve a dispute. It is for those adversely affected to decide whether or not to take action.

As with any civil claim, there are costs involved, such as the cost of seeking professional advice. There are several options for support, including contingency fee or litigation funding arrangements, and the “Help with Fees” remissions scheme which is available to eligible users who are less able to reasonably afford to pay a court fee.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the City of London Police figures published on 7 September 2026 on fraud by abuse of position, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of existing safeguards against the financial abuse of older and vulnerable people through (a) powers of attorney and (b) the administration of estates.

Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Government recognises concerns about the financial abuse of older and vulnerable people, including abuse by individuals in positions of trust, and is committed to taking action under the Fraud Strategy 2026-2029.

The law contains a range of safeguards to protect older and vulnerable people from financial abuse in relation to powers of attorney. Lasting powers of attorney (LPAs) require a certificate provider to confirm there was no fraud or undue pressure in making the LPA, and they must be registered by the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) before use. OPG can investigate concerns about how attorneys exercise their powers, and where necessary will refer matters to the Court of Protection, local authorities or the police.

However, where no LPA exists, for example if an individual is falsely claiming to act under a power of attorney, responsibility sits with the relevant organisation, such as a bank, to undertake appropriate checks before accepting the individual’s authority. The Government’s modernising LPA project will further increase protections by giving legal status to OPG’s use and view service, which allows parties to check the status of an LPA in real time.

The law similarly contains a range of safeguards in relation to wills and the administration of estates. For a will to be valid, the testator must have the required testamentary capacity, intend the document to operate as their will, understand and approve its contents, and make it free from undue influence, fraud or forgery. The validity of a will may be challenged before the courts on any of these grounds. Personal representatives and executors are also under a legal duty to administer estates properly and may be subject to court action, including being removed or replaced by the court, or to criminal investigation where misconduct or fraud is alleged.

The Government is currently considering the recommendations made by the Modernising Wills Law report published by the Law Commission in 2025 (Modernising wills: Final report – Law Commission), including recommendations intended to strengthen protections for vulnerable testators, and will respond in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of safeguards against financial abuse where an individual (a) falsely represents that they hold power of attorney for another person during that person's lifetime and (b) subsequently acts as executor or personal representative of that person's estate.

Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Government recognises concerns about the financial abuse of older and vulnerable people, including abuse by individuals in positions of trust, and is committed to taking action under the Fraud Strategy 2026-2029.

The law contains a range of safeguards to protect older and vulnerable people from financial abuse in relation to powers of attorney. Lasting powers of attorney (LPAs) require a certificate provider to confirm there was no fraud or undue pressure in making the LPA, and they must be registered by the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) before use. OPG can investigate concerns about how attorneys exercise their powers, and where necessary will refer matters to the Court of Protection, local authorities or the police.

However, where no LPA exists, for example if an individual is falsely claiming to act under a power of attorney, responsibility sits with the relevant organisation, such as a bank, to undertake appropriate checks before accepting the individual’s authority. The Government’s modernising LPA project will further increase protections by giving legal status to OPG’s use and view service, which allows parties to check the status of an LPA in real time.

The law similarly contains a range of safeguards in relation to wills and the administration of estates. For a will to be valid, the testator must have the required testamentary capacity, intend the document to operate as their will, understand and approve its contents, and make it free from undue influence, fraud or forgery. The validity of a will may be challenged before the courts on any of these grounds. Personal representatives and executors are also under a legal duty to administer estates properly and may be subject to court action, including being removed or replaced by the court, or to criminal investigation where misconduct or fraud is alleged.

The Government is currently considering the recommendations made by the Modernising Wills Law report published by the Law Commission in 2025 (Modernising wills: Final report – Law Commission), including recommendations intended to strengthen protections for vulnerable testators, and will respond in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to improve the accuracy of domestic abuse risk assessments used by frontline police officers.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

This Government is committed to ensuring that police officers have the skills, training and tools they need to identify, assess and respond effectively to domestic abuse and all forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG).

We are working with the National Centre for VAWG and Public Protection (NCVPP) to strengthen the national policing response to these crimes, driving operational improvements across all 43 forces. This includes exploring opportunities to strengthen how risk is identified, assessed and managed, ensuring officers are better equipped to make informed decisions and safeguard victims.

We are also working with the NCVPP and College of Policing to strengthen police training on VAWG across all operational levels. The new Firstline Public Protection Programme will equip frontline officers with the skills to recognise vulnerability, identify risk and respond effectively to safeguard victims and pursue perpetrators.