Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will increase sentences for people who are convicted of abusing Government support schemes during the covid-19 outbreak.

The Government is committed to ensuring a robust response to those who exploit the covid-19 outbreak through criminal means. Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for our independent courts.

The Government continues to work alongside the CPS to provide a multi-agency response to criminality associated with covid-19. A joint interim charging protocol has been agreed between the police and CPS which gives the highest priority to custody cases and all covid-19 related cases.