Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of unpaid HMRC liabilities following corporate insolvency on the economy.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
No specific analytical assessment has been made of the potential impact of unpaid HMRC liabilities following corporate insolvency on the economy.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Transport on the potential merits of expanding eligibility for the Rural Fuel Duty Relief Scheme to rural constituencies such as West Dorset constituency.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Rural Fuel Duty Relief Scheme has provided a 5p reduction to motorists buying fuel in certain areas since its introduction in 2012. The areas included in the scheme demonstrate certain characteristics such as: pump prices much higher than the UK average; remoteness leading to high fuel transport costs from refinery to filling station, and; relatively low sales meaning that retailers cannot benefit from bulk discounts.
The Chancellor holds regular discussions with her Ministerial colleagues about a broad range of matters. The Government has no plans to amend the list of locations eligible for Rural Fuel Duty Relief.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of extending the Rural Fuel Duty Relief Scheme to West Dorset constituency.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Rural Fuel Duty Relief Scheme has provided a 5p reduction to motorists buying fuel in certain areas since its introduction in 2012. The areas included in the scheme demonstrate certain characteristics such as: pump prices much higher than the UK average; remoteness leading to high fuel transport costs from refinery to filling station, and; relatively low sales meaning that retailers cannot benefit from bulk discounts.
The Chancellor holds regular discussions with her Ministerial colleagues about a broad range of matters. The Government has no plans to amend the list of locations eligible for Rural Fuel Duty Relief.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact on fraud victims of proposals allowing the Financial Ombudsman Service to pause cases at registration pending police or Serious Fraud Office investigations.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government takes the issue of fraud very seriously and is dedicated to protecting the public from this appalling crime. As set out in our manifesto and as part of our Plan for Change, the government will introduce a new, expanded Fraud Strategy encompassing the modern-day threats that so many people become a victim to.
The government recognises the important role the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) plays in providing consumers with a cost-free and quick route to resolve disputes with financial services firms. However, the government’s review of the FOS concluded that in a small but significant minority of cases, the framework in which the FOS operates has resulted in it acting as a quasi-regulator.
That is why, as part of the Leeds Reforms, the Chancellor announced the most significant package of reforms to the FOS since its inception to provide greater certainty and predictability for consumers and firms who use the FOS. The government’s consultation on the proposed reforms closed on 8 October and it will set out next steps in due course.
Victims of fraud who wish to make a complaint about their financial services provider will continue to be able to bring complaints to the FOS, and the proposed changes to the legislative framework under which the FOS operates will not affect the FOS’s role in handling these complaints.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) expects all firms to maintain strong systems and controls with regards to fraud prevention to deliver good outcomes for customers, including seeking to avoid foreseeable harm. It has made tackling fraud one of its priorities in its 5-year strategy from 2025 to 2030. The FCA is continuing to prioritise fighting financial crime, including by working with firms to strengthen their anti-crime systems, working with other relevant agencies who tackle crime to share intelligence and coordinate action, and working with consumers to raise awareness and ensure they have the tools they need to protect themselves.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure that fraud victims retain access to Financial Ombudsman Service investigations without being forced into civil court proceedings.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government takes the issue of fraud very seriously and is dedicated to protecting the public from this appalling crime. As set out in our manifesto and as part of our Plan for Change, the government will introduce a new, expanded Fraud Strategy encompassing the modern-day threats that so many people become a victim to.
The government recognises the important role the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) plays in providing consumers with a cost-free and quick route to resolve disputes with financial services firms. However, the government’s review of the FOS concluded that in a small but significant minority of cases, the framework in which the FOS operates has resulted in it acting as a quasi-regulator.
That is why, as part of the Leeds Reforms, the Chancellor announced the most significant package of reforms to the FOS since its inception to provide greater certainty and predictability for consumers and firms who use the FOS. The government’s consultation on the proposed reforms closed on 8 October and it will set out next steps in due course.
Victims of fraud who wish to make a complaint about their financial services provider will continue to be able to bring complaints to the FOS, and the proposed changes to the legislative framework under which the FOS operates will not affect the FOS’s role in handling these complaints.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) expects all firms to maintain strong systems and controls with regards to fraud prevention to deliver good outcomes for customers, including seeking to avoid foreseeable harm. It has made tackling fraud one of its priorities in its 5-year strategy from 2025 to 2030. The FCA is continuing to prioritise fighting financial crime, including by working with firms to strengthen their anti-crime systems, working with other relevant agencies who tackle crime to share intelligence and coordinate action, and working with consumers to raise awareness and ensure they have the tools they need to protect themselves.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she will make an assessment of the potential impact on fraud victims of allowing the Financial Ombudsman Service to dismiss cases deemed too complex.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government takes the issue of fraud very seriously and is dedicated to protecting the public from this appalling crime. As set out in our manifesto and as part of our Plan for Change, the government will introduce a new, expanded Fraud Strategy encompassing the modern-day threats that so many people become a victim to.
The government recognises the important role the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) plays in providing consumers with a cost-free and quick route to resolve disputes with financial services firms. However, the government’s review of the FOS concluded that in a small but significant minority of cases, the framework in which the FOS operates has resulted in it acting as a quasi-regulator.
That is why, as part of the Leeds Reforms, the Chancellor announced the most significant package of reforms to the FOS since its inception to provide greater certainty and predictability for consumers and firms who use the FOS. The government’s consultation on the proposed reforms closed on 8 October and it will set out next steps in due course.
Victims of fraud who wish to make a complaint about their financial services provider will continue to be able to bring complaints to the FOS, and the proposed changes to the legislative framework under which the FOS operates will not affect the FOS’s role in handling these complaints.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) expects all firms to maintain strong systems and controls with regards to fraud prevention to deliver good outcomes for customers, including seeking to avoid foreseeable harm. It has made tackling fraud one of its priorities in its 5-year strategy from 2025 to 2030. The FCA is continuing to prioritise fighting financial crime, including by working with firms to strengthen their anti-crime systems, working with other relevant agencies who tackle crime to share intelligence and coordinate action, and working with consumers to raise awareness and ensure they have the tools they need to protect themselves.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make it her policy to introduce targeted measures to address the cost of living pressures in (a) West Dorset constituency and (b) other rural areas.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The government is committed to improving living standards for all, in every part of the UK, and supporting households with the high cost of living. This is why the government has already raised the minimum wage, extended the £3 bus fare cap, expanded free school meals to over half a million more children, and is rolling out free breakfast clubs for every child in the country.
The Chancellor will make decisions on Budget in the round and these will be announced in the usual way on 26 November 2025.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make it her policy to allocate additional funding to support people with the cost of living in West Dorset in the Autumn Budget 2025.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The government is committed to improving living standards for all, in every part of the UK, and supporting households with the high cost of living. This is why the government has already raised the minimum wage, extended the £3 bus fare cap, expanded free school meals to over half a million more children, and is rolling out free breakfast clubs for every child in the country.
The Chancellor will make decisions on Budget in the round and these will be announced in the usual way on 26 November 2025.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make it her policy to allocate funding to support people with the cost of living in the Autumn Budget 2025.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The government is committed to improving living standards for all, in every part of the UK, and supporting households with the high cost of living. This is why the government has already raised the minimum wage, extended the £3 bus fare cap, expanded free school meals to over half a million more children, and is rolling out free breakfast clubs for every child in the country.
The Chancellor will make decisions on Budget in the round and these will be announced in the usual way on 26 November 2025.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of inheritance tax changes on family farms in West Dorset constituency.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
I refer the Honourable Member to the answer given to UIN 84115.