Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps he is taking to raise awareness in rural communities of suspicious activity of rogue traders and encourage reporting to help police build evidence and prosecute offenders effectively.

The Government is helping consumers, including those in rural communities, to identify and report rogue traders through advice, awareness campaigns and effective local enforcement. My Department funds Citizens Advice, which provides consumer advice across England and Wales and runs an annual Scams Awareness campaign to help people recognise, avoid and report suspicious activity.

Responsibility for investigating reports of rogue traders primarily sits with Trading Standards, working alongside local police forces. Where criminality is identified, enforcement agencies can take action, including the use of closure powers against businesses engaged in unlawful activity.