Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of continuing to cover the cost of replacing an expired 90 day vignette at a cost of £154 where a visa has expired due to flights being cancelled as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Home Office has taken active steps to assist individuals planning to come to the UK by extending the 30-day entry clearance vignettes to 90 days.
If their 90 day vignette has expired, the individual will need to apply for a replacement by completing the online form on GOV.UK:
https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/visa-type
We strongly advise individuals to only apply for a new visa, or apply to replace an expired vignette, when they are confident they can travel to the UK given the restrictions on international travel at this time.. The new vignette will be valid for a period of 90 days. If they cannot travel during this time, they may need to apply again to update their vignette.
Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to strengthen protections for consumers against online banking fraud.
Answered by Kevin Foster
ONS figures on fraud are broken down into ‘Bank and credit account fraud’, ‘Consumer and retail fraud’, ‘Advance fee fraud’ and ‘Other fraud’. There is no specific breakdown relating to online banking fraud, although last year (March 2020) 53% of all fraud incidents estimated by the CSEW were thought to be cyber-related.
Office of National Statistics: Cheque, plastic card and online bank accounts (not PSP) fraud reports, however, it’s worth nothing this will include individual victim reports and reports from businesses | |
Year ending September 2015 | 269,709 |
Year ending September 2016 | 284,743 |
Year ending September 2017 | 286,979 |
Year ending September 2018 | 270,154 |
Year ending September 2019 | 325,436 |
Year ending September 2020 | 311,625 |
The Government takes all forms of fraud very seriously and continues to work closely with the banking and finance industry, consumer protection and victim support groups to prevent scams by closing down the vulnerabilities fraudsters exploit in order and to ensure the victim remains at the centre of our considerations by making sure they are better protected.
The Government’s ambitious Economic Crime Plan (ECP) sets out the significant action we are taking in close conjunction with the private sector to combat all economic crimes.
The ECP sets out 7 priority areas agreed in January 2019 by the Economic Crime Strategic Board, the ministerial level public-private board charged with setting the UK’s strategic priorities for combatting economic crime and strengthening the powers and capabilities of law enforcement, powers, the justice system and private sector to detect, deter and disrupt https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/economic-crime-plan-2019-to-2022
We are also investing more to tackle economic crime. The 2020 Spending Review announced an increase in the Government’s efforts to combat economic crime by providing an additional £30.5 million in resource and £32.5 million in capital funding in 2021/22, including support for the National Economic Crime Centre (NECC) and City of London Police as national lead force for fraud.
We have also launched the Suspicious Email Reporting Service, run by the National Cyber Security Centre, which enables the public to report scams and anything appearing suspicious. Already over 5 million reports have been received, leading to over 36,000 scams taken down from the internet and the closure of over 71,000 harmful websites.
The Financial Conduct Agency (FCA) requires banks to maintain effective systems and controls to prevent the risk they might be used for financial crime. The protection for consumers who fall victim to fraudulent transactions is set out in the Payment Services Regulations 2017 which state a customer who claims they did not authorise a transaction on their account must receive a refund from their bank, unless the bank has reasonable grounds to suspect the customer is liable for the transaction (for example due to customer fraud or gross negligence).
The Government is committed to tackling fraud and ensuring victims of Authorised Push Payment (APP) scams are protected. The Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) published a call for views on APP scams in February 2021 which set out various measures which could deliver a higher level of protection for consumers. The Government looks forward to engaging with the outcomes of the PSR's call for views, including considering what further actions may be necessary to make progress on this issue.
Finally, it remains important the public reports fraud to Action Fraud either by phone on 0300 123 2040 or via:
http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/report_fraud.
Scam emails and texts can be reported by texting your mobile provide on 7726 or forwarding suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk.
Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases of online banking fraud against individuals there were in each year since 2015.
Answered by Kevin Foster
ONS figures on fraud are broken down into ‘Bank and credit account fraud’, ‘Consumer and retail fraud’, ‘Advance fee fraud’ and ‘Other fraud’. There is no specific breakdown relating to online banking fraud, although last year (March 2020) 53% of all fraud incidents estimated by the CSEW were thought to be cyber-related.
Office of National Statistics: Cheque, plastic card and online bank accounts (not PSP) fraud reports, however, it’s worth nothing this will include individual victim reports and reports from businesses | |
Year ending September 2015 | 269,709 |
Year ending September 2016 | 284,743 |
Year ending September 2017 | 286,979 |
Year ending September 2018 | 270,154 |
Year ending September 2019 | 325,436 |
Year ending September 2020 | 311,625 |
The Government takes all forms of fraud very seriously and continues to work closely with the banking and finance industry, consumer protection and victim support groups to prevent scams by closing down the vulnerabilities fraudsters exploit in order and to ensure the victim remains at the centre of our considerations by making sure they are better protected.
The Government’s ambitious Economic Crime Plan (ECP) sets out the significant action we are taking in close conjunction with the private sector to combat all economic crimes.
The ECP sets out 7 priority areas agreed in January 2019 by the Economic Crime Strategic Board, the ministerial level public-private board charged with setting the UK’s strategic priorities for combatting economic crime and strengthening the powers and capabilities of law enforcement, powers, the justice system and private sector to detect, deter and disrupt https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/economic-crime-plan-2019-to-2022
We are also investing more to tackle economic crime. The 2020 Spending Review announced an increase in the Government’s efforts to combat economic crime by providing an additional £30.5 million in resource and £32.5 million in capital funding in 2021/22, including support for the National Economic Crime Centre (NECC) and City of London Police as national lead force for fraud.
We have also launched the Suspicious Email Reporting Service, run by the National Cyber Security Centre, which enables the public to report scams and anything appearing suspicious. Already over 5 million reports have been received, leading to over 36,000 scams taken down from the internet and the closure of over 71,000 harmful websites.
The Financial Conduct Agency (FCA) requires banks to maintain effective systems and controls to prevent the risk they might be used for financial crime. The protection for consumers who fall victim to fraudulent transactions is set out in the Payment Services Regulations 2017 which state a customer who claims they did not authorise a transaction on their account must receive a refund from their bank, unless the bank has reasonable grounds to suspect the customer is liable for the transaction (for example due to customer fraud or gross negligence).
The Government is committed to tackling fraud and ensuring victims of Authorised Push Payment (APP) scams are protected. The Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) published a call for views on APP scams in February 2021 which set out various measures which could deliver a higher level of protection for consumers. The Government looks forward to engaging with the outcomes of the PSR's call for views, including considering what further actions may be necessary to make progress on this issue.
Finally, it remains important the public reports fraud to Action Fraud either by phone on 0300 123 2040 or via:
http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/report_fraud.
Scam emails and texts can be reported by texting your mobile provide on 7726 or forwarding suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk.
Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the (a) average and (b) median response time to (i) ordinary and (ii) urgent email correspondence was for her Department's UK Visa and Immigration MP casework service in each month of the last three years.
Answered by Kevin Foster
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has a target of responding to MPs written correspondence within 20 working days. UKVI has, during the current year, dealt with unprecedented volumes of correspondence due to COVID-19. UKVI ensures urgent cases raised by Hon. Members are prioritised and is taking steps to provide substantive responses in as short a time as possible.
UKVI does not measure the average or median time for responding to ordinary or e-mail correspondence from Hon. Members, however, the latest published data on UKVI performance against the service standard is held at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/customer-service-operations-data-august-2020
Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average length of time was for Ministers of her Department to respond to correspondence from hon. Members in each month in the last two years.
Answered by James Brokenshire
The Home Office does not measure the average time for responding to correspondence from hon. Members.
However, in line with Cabinet Office guidance, the Home Office has a target of responding within 20 working days where a response is required.
As you will understand, the Home Office is currently dealing with unprecedented volumes of correspondence due to COVID-19. The Home Office ensures that urgent cases raised by hon. Members are prioritised and is taking steps to provide substantive responses in as short a time as possible.
All correspondence received from hon. Members is being reviewed and will be responded to as soon as possible.
Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
Question to the Home Office:
What recent assessment she has made of the implications of the covid-19 outbreak for her Department's priorities.
Answered by Priti Patel
My Department continues to deliver on our core priorities of;
o protecting the public,
o securing our borders,
o and reforming our immigration system.
Current rates of staff absence due to Covid-19 do not present immediate risks to delivery of these.
The Home Office is also an integral part of the cross-Government Covid-19 response. To ensure the department is equipped to respond effectively some staff have been deployed to specific covid related activities.
We have also provided additional support for victims of domestic abuse who may feel particularly vulnerable at this time and implemented public health measures at the border to prevent a second wave of Coronavirus from imported cases.
Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has to extend its contract for ASPEN cards.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office’s contract to provide financial support to asylum seekers through an Aspen Card has been extended until 27 February 2021.
Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has to extend its contract with Post Office Ltd for biometric residence permit collections.
Answered by Kevin Foster
On 11 March 2020 it was decided to extend the existing contract for the collection of Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) from the Post Office Ltd until the end of February 2021.
We are conducting a review of the current contract which is likely to be completed by end of August 2020.? A decision will then be taken to further extend the existing Post Office contract or to tender for a new solution.
Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to extend the contract with Sodexo for the provision of Aspen cards to asylum seekers.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
A new supplier will provide payment card services following transition from the current provider, Sodexo. Timelines are currently being finalised.
Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she plans to (a) extend or (b) replace the EnAble Fund for Elected Office.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
It is the Government’s ambition to see more disabled people in public office. While financial support for candidates in elections is also a matter for political parties, the Government is considering what support it might provide to succeed the current EnAble fund. The Disability Unit is considering options in connection with the National Strategy for Disabled People, which is due to be published in 2020.