Asked by: Mike Martin (Liberal Democrat - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 15 September 2025 to Question 75814 on Coronavirus: Fraud, how many cases the National Investigation Service (a) has open and (b) expects to transfer to the Insolvency Service.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Since the commencement of Covid-related investigations, the National Investigation Service has opened 254 criminal cases into alleged Bounce Back Loan fraud, with 131 cases currently ongoing.
We remain committed to tackling fraud and are working closely with the National Investigation Service and the Insolvency Service to ensure that cases are managed effectively. The Department for Business and Trade is considering a range of options for the transfer of cases, and further decisions will be made, guided by the latest information and statistics on the current caseload and enforcement activity.
Asked by: Mike Martin (Liberal Democrat - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many audits the Public Sector Fraud Authority has undertaken into the National Investigation Service; what the purpose of these audits was; what methods were used during these audits; what the risks identified during these audits were; and how long each of these audits took.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
On 12 October 2023, the Public Sector Fraud Authority were requested to undertake a formal operational review of National Investigation Service, with a primary purpose to focus on performance. The review team included experts from the National Crime Agency, Serious Fraud Office, HM Revenue and Customs, Government Internal Audit Agency, and NHS Counter Fraud Authority.
The review report was provided to DBT on 17 November 2023 and made recommendations to prevent future risk of secondments lapsing and appropriate governance.
There have been no other formal audits or reviews undertaken by the Public Sector Fraud Authority into National Investigation Service.
Asked by: Mike Martin (Liberal Democrat - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many complaints his Department has received on the National Investigation Service.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade does not maintain a central record of complaints specifically about the National Investigation Service (NATIS).
While no formal complaints have been received directly by the Department, NATIS has been the subject of various Parliamentary Questions and Freedom of Information requests, indicating a level of interest.
In July 2025, the Department supported a response to a written complaint submitted to the Insolvency Service which included concerns about NATIS.
All correspondence is handled in line with established procedures to ensure appropriate and consistent responses.
Asked by: Mike Martin (Liberal Democrat - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department took to undertake due diligence in relation to the National Investigation Service before its funding for that body to enhance counter-fraud work was announced in the Spring Statement 2022.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
At the time of the Spring Statement 2022 the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) had commissioned and managed NATIS to undertake potentially fraudulent covid loan investigations.
Through the Machinery of Government changes accountability for NATIS passed to DBT in February 2023. Financial, Commercial and Security due diligence was completed by DBT in preparation for the contract that commenced April 2024.
Asked by: Mike Martin (Liberal Democrat - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many cases of alleged covid-19 Bounce Back Loan Fraud the National Investigation Service investigated under its contract with the Government; and how many people were arrested because of these investigations but not charged.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The National Investigation Service have investigated 254 Bounce Back Loan Fraud cases in total (including both open and closed cases).
There have been 6 arrests resulting in no charge.
There have been 56 arrests where the cases are still ongoing, and the suspect has been released pending investigation, a number of these may result in no charge.
Asked by: Mike Martin (Liberal Democrat - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, on what dates the Government renewed the contract for the National Investigation Service to investigate COVID-19 Bounce Back Loan fraud nationwide.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
NATIS was commissioned by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), subsequently The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) in September 2020 to undertake investigations into potentially fraudulent activity by recipients of loans under the Covid-19 Bounce Back Loan Scheme. The contract was renewed effective from 1st April 2024.
Asked by: Mike Martin (Liberal Democrat - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, on what date the National Investigation Service was contracted to investigate COVID-19 Bounce Back Loan fraud nationwide.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
NATIS was commissioned by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), subsequently The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) in September 2020 to undertake investigations into potentially fraudulent activity by recipients of loans under the Covid-19 Bounce Back Loan Scheme. The contract was renewed effective from 1st April 2024.
Asked by: Mike Martin (Liberal Democrat - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, on what date his Department was made aware of Mazars' report commissioned by Thurrock Council into the National Investigation Service; and what steps it took in response.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) became aware of the Mazars report commissioned by Thurrock Council into the NATIS in June 2024.
The report was independently commissioned by Thurrock Council to review NATIS activity internally. DBT was not consulted or interviewed during its preparation.
Although confidential, the recommendations of the report were published in Thurrock Council board meeting quarter 2 2024.
In response, DBT requested the report from NATIS, which was provided July 2024. There was one finding directly affecting DBT that had already been addressed ahead of DBT receiving the report.
Asked by: Mike Martin (Liberal Democrat - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many cases have been transferred from the National Investigation Service under Thurrock Council to the Insolvency Service.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
No cases have yet been transferred from the National Investigation Service (NATIS) to the Insolvency Service. The Department for Business and Trade is working closely with both agencies to ensure a smooth and secure transition of ongoing investigations. This careful approach is designed to protect the integrity of the casework and the recovery of public funds lost to Covid-related fraud.
Asked by: Mike Martin (Liberal Democrat - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the sale of Royal Mail on the protection of historic post boxes.
Answered by Justin Madders
Royal Mail is an iconic part of the UK’s infrastructure, and the government has ensured that the takeover has been properly scrutinised. The government has secured a commitment from EP Group, the potential buyers, to ensure that Royal Mail retains control of assets necessary to deliver the universal service obligation and an additional commitment to ensure that Royal Mail continues to use the Royal Cypher in accordance with existing arrangements.
Specific operational arrangements and agreements for historic post boxes continue to be a matter for Royal Mail as an independent business.