Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of debt-collection practices on people in Hamilton and Clyde Valley constituency.

The Government expects firms involved in collecting debts to treat customers fairly and to follow responsible debt-recovery practices.

Firms that purchase or collect consumer credit debts must be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and comply with its rules, including requirements to treat customers fairly and to offer appropriate forbearance options to those in financial difficulty. The FCA has a broad range of supervisory and enforcement powers to address misconduct.

Alongside these protections, the Government is strengthening support for people in financial difficulty. Through the Financial Inclusion Strategy, the UK Government increased funding for free debt advice across all four nations of the UK. In 2025-26, over £10 million was allocated to fund debt advice in Scotland which the Scottish Government has distributed to a range of national and community-based providers.