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.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of changes to Inheritance Tax on the long-term financial viability of family farms in West Dorset constituency.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, fixing the public finances, and funding public services. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992. Where inheritance tax is due, those liable for a charge can pay any liability on the relevant assets over 10 annual instalments, interest-free.
Information from claims is not recorded to enable regional or national breakdowns of the number of estates expected to be affected. However, the Government has set out that the reforms are expected to result in up to 520 estates across the UK claiming agricultural property relief, including those also claiming business property relief, paying more inheritance tax in 2026-27. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim for business property relief, will not pay any more tax as a result of the changes in 2026-27, based on the latest available data.
The Government published a tax information and impact note on 21 July 2025 and this is available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/reforms-to-agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief/agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief-reforms.
The Government will invest more than £2.7 billion a year in sustainable farming and nature recovery from 2026-27 until 2028-29. This includes the largest financial investment into nature-friendly farming ever.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to change farming inheritance tax reliefs in the Autumn Budget 2025.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, fixing the public finances, and funding public services. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992. Where inheritance tax is due, those liable for a charge can pay any liability on the relevant assets over 10 annual instalments, interest-free.
The Government will invest more than £2.7 billion a year in sustainable farming and nature recovery from 2026-27 until 2028-29. This includes the largest financial investment into nature-friendly farming ever.
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 for rainwater management strategies in the Autumn Budget 2025.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Chancellor will set out any new policy at the Autumn Budget in the usual way.
The Government is already investing a record £10.5bn to build new flood defences and repair existing defences. This is the largest flood programme in history and will protect nearly 900,000 properties from the devastation of flooding.