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Written Question
Economic Crime: Disclosure of Information
Tuesday 27th February 2024

Asked by: Peter Aldous (Conservative - Waveney)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to mandate information sharing between (a) payment service providers, (b) social media platforms and (c) telecommunications companies for the purposes of (i) investigating, (ii) detecting and (iii) preventing economic crime.

Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)

The Government strongly supports the sharing of information across sectors to tackle economic crime and has legislated to make this easier.

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act contains new measures to provide greater comfort for firms working in the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulated sector to share relevant information for the purposes of tackling economic crime. Further information on these measures cane be found here: Factsheet: information sharing measures - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The Act also includes the power for the Secretary of State to amend the offences covered, so that law enforcement and businesses can be responsive to future changes in the patterns of economic crime.

The Government is leading an ambitious Public-Private Economic Crime Data Strategy. This will build on the commitments in the Economic Crime Plan 2, Fraud Strategy, and from industry in the Online Fraud and Telecoms Charters to improve information sharing.

We are not currently considering further legislation.


Written Question
Electronic Funds Transfer: Fraud
Tuesday 27th February 2024

Asked by: Peter Aldous (Conservative - Waveney)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of authorised push payment scam cases that have originated online in the last five years.

Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)

UK Finance analysis of nearly seven thousand authorised push payment (APP) scam cases shows that 70 per cent of scams originated on an online platform - highlighting the internet's significant role in enabling fraud. This includes data from UK Finance members only, for the whole of the UK. More details on this can be found here: https://www.ukfinance.org.uk/press/press-releases/over-two-thirds-of-all-app-scams-start-online-new-uk-finance-analysis

To protect victims against APP scams, ten of the UK’s largest banks are currently signed up to the voluntary Contingent Reimbursement Model (CRM) Code. In 2022, £248m of losses to APP scams were reimbursed to victims under the commitments of this code.

Recognising that more needed to be done to protect people from this devastating crime, through the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023, the government legislated to require the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) to introduce mandatory reimbursement for APP scams within the Faster Payment System, where 98% of APP fraud takes place. This will come into force in October 2024.

The retail banking sector’s primary fraud concern was the rise of Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud (where someone is tricked into sending money to a criminal). The sector therefore committed to the following key deliverables in the charter:

o Better utilise technology to share data to detect potential frauds.

o Capture and analyse data reported to them from victims of APP fraud.

o Provide customers with greater control over account features

The Online Safety Act (OSA) will mean that companies are held to account by an independent regulator if they fail to remove illegal content on their platforms.

Alongside the OSA, the Government has created the Online Fraud Charter: a voluntary agreement bringing together the largest companies in the tech sector, who have committed to a series of actions aimed at reducing fraud on their platforms and services. The Charter was signed on 30th November and will deliver a much quicker and more targeted response than regulation.

The OSA is an ambitious and forward-looking piece of legislation that will tackle online harms including fraud and fraudulent advertising.


Written Question
Motor Vehicles: Recovery Orders
Thursday 13th October 2022

Asked by: Peter Aldous (Conservative - Waveney)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to consult on the potential merits of the introduction of an electric vehicle statutory fee for recovery operators.

Answered by Jeremy Quin

The Home Office does not issue statutory fees guidance. The Home Office’s role is limited to setting the statutory fees which the Police and National Highways can levy when they have exercised their vehicle recovery powers.

In May 2021, the Home Office launched a consultation seeking views on new levels of fees applied to the removal, storage and disposal of vehicles in England and Wales. The Home Office is finalising arrangements to publish the Government Response to the statutory fees is consultation shortly.

The Government does recognise the changing situation involved in removal, storage, disposal and complexity recovering electric vehicles that contribute to additional costs and scenarios for electric vehicles.


Written Question
Motor Vehicles: Recovery Orders
Thursday 13th October 2022

Asked by: Peter Aldous (Conservative - Waveney)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to publish the updated statutory fees guidance for recovery operators.

Answered by Jeremy Quin

The Home Office does not issue statutory fees guidance. The Home Office’s role is limited to setting the statutory fees which the Police and National Highways can levy when they have exercised their vehicle recovery powers.

In May 2021, the Home Office launched a consultation seeking views on new levels of fees applied to the removal, storage and disposal of vehicles in England and Wales. The Home Office is finalising arrangements to publish the Government Response to the statutory fees is consultation shortly.

The Government does recognise the changing situation involved in removal, storage, disposal and complexity recovering electric vehicles that contribute to additional costs and scenarios for electric vehicles.


Written Question
Motor Vehicles: Recovery Orders
Tuesday 21st June 2022

Asked by: Peter Aldous (Conservative - Waveney)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she will publish the updated statutory fees guidance for recovery operators.

Answered by Kit Malthouse

The Home Office does not issue statutory fees guidance. The Home Office’s role is limited to setting the statutory fees which the Police and National Highways can levy when they have exercised their vehicle recovery powers.

In May 2021, the Home Office launched a consultation seeking views on new levels of fees applied to the removal, storage and disposal of vehicles in England and Wales.

We will shortly announce the next steps following our consultation.


Written Question
Refugees: Ukraine
Tuesday 24th May 2022

Asked by: Peter Aldous (Conservative - Waveney)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to remove the barriers that prevent Ukrainian refugees from working in the hospitality and care sectors if they wish to do so.

Answered by Kevin Foster

The Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme, the Ukraine Family Scheme and the Ukraine Extension Scheme grant leave with no restriction on work rights and access to public funds. There are therefore no immigration barriers to Ukrainians under these schemes working in any sector of the economy, including hospitality and care.

The Department for Work and Pensions is best placed to work with people who are looking to find work in these sectors.


Written Question
Refugees: Ukraine
Monday 25th April 2022

Asked by: Peter Aldous (Conservative - Waveney)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support Ukrainian refugees.

Answered by Kevin Foster

The UK has a long history of supporting refugees in need of protection.

In response to the ongoing conflict, the Home Office has launched the Ukraine Family Scheme and the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.

Both of these schemes are free, and people applying under the schemes will be able to live and work in the UK for up to three years. They will have full and unrestricted access to benefits, healthcare, employment, and other support.


Written Question
Children: Social Services
Wednesday 22nd July 2020

Asked by: Peter Aldous (Conservative - Waveney)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance the Government has issued to ensure that children who are experiencing domestic abuse but who have not reached a statutory threshold for intervention are visible to children’s social care services.

Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

We are working closely with the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, domestic abuse organisations, the police and the Department for Education to ensure that children affected by domestic abuse receive the support they need.

The police continue to attend incidents of domestic abuse and refer to children’s social care where they think necessary. Existing safeguarding advice continues to be applicable at this time. Any front line responder or public sector worker having concerns about a child with whom they come into contact should make a safeguarding referral to social services in the normal way for appropriate action.

We know that, for many vulnerable children, being in education is a protective factor from harm. We have therefore asked schools to remain open for children who are vulnerable, as well as for those children of workers critical to the COVID-19 response who absolutely need to attend. Vulnerable children includes those with a social worker, who have an education health and care (EHC) plan and who have been assessed as being otherwise vulnerable by educational providers or local authorities and who could therefore benefit from continued attendance. This might include children on the edge of receiving support from children’s social services or those living in temporary accommodation.

The Department for Education has also issued guidance?which is clear that schools and colleges should revise their child protection policies to reflect what arrangements are in place to keep children who are not physically attending the school or college, safe. This guidance is clear that all staff who interact with children, including online, should continue to look out for signs a child may be at risk and that where appropriate referrals should still be made to children’s social care, and as required, to the police.

The Government has provided additional funding for Operation Encompass which facilitates liaison on domestic abuse issues affecting children between police forces and schools. This is in addition to the £3.1m recently announced by the Home Office for the provision of specialist services for children affected by domestic abuse.

The Government has also made £1.6m of funding available immediately for the NSPCC to expand and promote its national helpline for adults. Expanding the helpline will mean that many more adults know how and where to raise concerns and seek advice or support about the safety and well-being of any children they are worried about. This is in addition to the £7m of funding for See, Hear, Respond, a new service which will provide targeted help to vulnerable children, young people and their families affected by COVID-19 and the measures put in place to stop its spread. The partnership of charities, led by Barnardo’s, will work alongside local authorities, schools and colleges, police forces, healthcare professionals and other vital services involved in protecting these children.

The landmark Domestic Abuse Bill, has now passed third reading, will help to better protect and support victims of domestic abuse and their children across the country.


Written Question
Domestic Abuse: Parents and Young People
Thursday 25th June 2020

Asked by: Peter Aldous (Conservative - Waveney)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment Government has made of whether there has been an increase in adolescent to parent violence and abuse during the lockdown due to covid-19; and what support her Department has made available to families experiencing such violence and abuse.

Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

We are working closely with domestic abuse organisations, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner and police to monitor the impact of covid-19 on incidents of all forms of domestic abuse.

The Government has provided a £76?million package of support to ensure the most vulnerable in society including victims of domestic and sexual abuse, vulnerable children and victims of modern slavery get the support they need during the pandemic. This is in addition to £2m of funding announced by the Home Secretary to bolster support for helplines and web based services.

An awareness campaign has been launched to signpost victims of domestic abuse to appropriate support.


Written Question
Children: Protection
Monday 11th May 2020

Asked by: Peter Aldous (Conservative - Waveney)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance has been provided to the Police to ensure they are investigating the safeguarding concerns of children who are breaching lockdown measures by being outside of their home.

Answered by Kit Malthouse

The police continue to apply the usual safeguarding and referral procedures, working in partnership with agencies such as social services and local authorities to support vulnerable children. This has not changed under the new social distancing measures. The National Police Chief’s Council and College of Policing have issued guidance to forces that specifically asks officers to consider safeguarding issues and ensure the child’s welfare.