Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment has been made of the adequacy of consumer protections against rogue locksmiths.

My department keeps the consumer protection framework under review to ensure that it is effective in protecting consumers. Locksmiths must comply with consumer legislation.

Where traders do not comply with the law, the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 has strengthened enforcement powers, including by giving the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) new administrative powers, and empowering the CMA and courts to impose significant monetary penalties of up to 10% of turnover. The CMA recently used the fining powers for the first time.

The Government encourages consumers to use providers that operate under a regulated trusted trader scheme, such as the Master Locksmiths Association, which has a Police Crime Prevention-approved licensing scheme in place to ensure approved locksmiths are appropriately vetted, inspected and qualified.