Sanctions Implementation and Enforcement

Lord Deben Excerpts

Thursday 15th May 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

Yes, we discuss our concerns with all partner countries—where we have them—on Russian oil. On the OTs and BVI, we are working very closely with them on trying to make sure they have what they need to enable them to do the job we want them to do. I think we are getting there, and we speak to them very regularly. We are hopeful. The Minister for the Overseas Territories meets with them very regularly. He is deeply concerned about this. We had long discussions with them earlier this year, and we will keep the House updated if we need to.

[Lord Deben (Con)]

I wonder whether I could refer to yesterday’s implementation of the additional sanction arrangements on letting agents and the like. This is very welcome, because there is no doubt that there has been a very considerable use of housing and the like as a means of establishing funds in this country by people who should not be doing that.

I am concerned about whether the Government can do more to help the letting agents and others explain this to the people who are not really affected, but who have to give all sorts of information which they would not have had to give before. It is very important to overcome the natural irritation which, for example, we have now when you want a bank account and difficulties arise. Because of this, I hope there can be discussions between the Government and the real estate industry across the board as to the form of words that could be used, so that when people are faced with this additional burden, they can say to themselves, “I am doing something useful. I am doing something because of what is happening in Ukraine”, and make it into a positive action. I have just read the documents that have gone out from letting agencies, and I fear that it just looks like another burden on people’s shoulders. I want to make this a success. Can we get the language right, and can we use it as a positive mechanism?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

That is a really interesting question. I had not thought about that, but I will speak to colleagues at MHCLG to see if we can do something along the lines the noble Lord describes, because compliance is enhanced when people understand why they are being asked to do things. It is a really interesting comment, and we need to work very closely across government on this.