Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether Police Scotland has had discussions with his Department on its investigation into McClures Solicitors asset protection trusts.

Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)

Police Scotland has not had discussions with the Scotland Office regarding its investigation into McClures Solicitors' asset protection trusts. It would not be appropriate for the Secretary of State or Scotland Office officials to discuss this matter with Police Scotland as the investigating authority. I am aware however that the relevant authorities have been considering any implications for the firm’s clients in England and Wales.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the cost of business loans offered by IWOCA.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

I refer my honourable friend to the answers I provided on the topic of SME lending on 23 October, and more recently in relation to the rate of short-term lending to small and medium sized businesses in the UK.

Interest rates, including those offered by individual providers, are a commercial matter decided by the lender concerned, reflecting the base rate, the risk of the applicant, and a margin to make the loan commercially viable given the cost of underwriting and broader funding costs. The Government does not intervene in commercial decisions, and SMEs should should shop around to find the product that best suits their needs when choosing finance, which in turn helps drives competition, improves choice, and may support pricing.

More widely, case complaints are a matter for the Financial Ombudsman Service rather than the Government, where the Treasury receives correspondence across a wide variety of subjects including financial services. While we are not able to measure the number of complaints the department receives in relation to high-cost credit for business loans (or in relation to an individual provider), the volume of correspondence on the cost of credit in relation to business loans, is generally low.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many complaints her Department has received on the cost of loans offered by IWOCA to small and medium sized businesses.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

I refer my honourable friend to the answers I provided on the topic of SME lending on 23 October, and more recently in relation to the rate of short-term lending to small and medium sized businesses in the UK.

Interest rates, including those offered by individual providers, are a commercial matter decided by the lender concerned, reflecting the base rate, the risk of the applicant, and a margin to make the loan commercially viable given the cost of underwriting and broader funding costs. The Government does not intervene in commercial decisions, and SMEs should should shop around to find the product that best suits their needs when choosing finance, which in turn helps drives competition, improves choice, and may support pricing.

More widely, case complaints are a matter for the Financial Ombudsman Service rather than the Government, where the Treasury receives correspondence across a wide variety of subjects including financial services. While we are not able to measure the number of complaints the department receives in relation to high-cost credit for business loans (or in relation to an individual provider), the volume of correspondence on the cost of credit in relation to business loans, is generally low.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will meet with representatives of the UK chemical industry to discuss an estimate of the potential cost of being out of the Single Market.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Government Ministers regularly meet with businesses and business representation organisations from a range of sectors, including the chemical sector. They remain open to further engagement with the sector including on ways to bolster growth, trade and investment.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Police Scotland has had discussions with her Department on its investigation into McClures Solicitors asset protection trusts.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Public Safety Group has no role in data collection on trustee mismanagement, or in any police investigations which may or may not be going on.

Matters relating to solicitor regulation or misgivings are for Ministry of Justice’s Arms Lengths Bodies.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information her Department holds on the highest rate of short-term lending to small and medium sized businesses in the UK.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Interest rates are a commercial matter decided by lenders, reflecting the base rate, the risk of the applicant, and a margin to make the loan commercially viable given the cost of underwriting and broader funding costs. Rates vary across the market and even significantly within the SME sector – dependent on the trading history, credit position, security, and other factors of the individual business applicant.

The UK also benefits from a broad lending market, enabling a diverse range of finance providers to facilitate access to finance for a wide range of SMEs. SMEs should shop around to find the product that best suits their needs when choosing finance.

The Bank of England’s ‘bankstats’ data provides insights into business and household credit, including the effective interest rates for SMEs on new and outstanding loans. The monthly average of UK resident banks’ sterling weighted loans for new advances to SMEs now stands at 6.35%, as of 31st August 2025, a figure that has tracked down as the base rate has fallen.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with the International Olympic Committee on the inclusion of netball in the Olympic Games.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

I have not had discussions with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) about the inclusion of netball, or any other sport, in the Olympic Games.

The Olympic sports programme is determined by the IOC. The British Olympic Association, as the National Organising Committee for Great Britain and Northern Ireland, is the domestic representative to the IOC and does so operating independently of the Government.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to update (a) the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012 and (b) the Insurance Act 2015 to strengthen statutory consumer protections in the insurance market.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

On 23 September 2025 Which? made a supercomplaint to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) that makes recommendations on relevant matters, including that the FCA and Government should review consumer protection legislation in insurance. The FCA and the Government are considering the issues raised. The FCA will respond to the supercomplaint in due course.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she will conduct a post-legislative review of (a) the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012 and (b) the Insurance Act 2015.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

On 23 September 2025 Which? made a supercomplaint to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) that makes recommendations on relevant matters, including that the FCA and Government should review consumer protection legislation in insurance. The FCA and the Government are considering the issues raised. The FCA will respond to the supercomplaint in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many cases of trustee mismanagement of asset protection trusts were investigated by his Department in each of the last three years.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The trustees of a trust hold assets for the benefit of others (the beneficiaries of the trust) under the terms of the trust document.

The general law of trusts enables the beneficiaries of a trust to hold the trustees to account to the extent permitted by the trust instrument or in legislation. In appropriate cases, it may be possible for the beneficiaries to have the trustees removed and replaced.

The decision as to whether to take action against the trustees is, in the absence of a crime, for the beneficiaries affected, and disputes are determined by the courts rather than investigated by Government.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases of alleged trustee mismanagement of asset protection trusts were recorded in the last three years by Action Fraud in a) Scotland b) London c) Suffolk and d) In total.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The capturing of fraud reports is recorded in line with the Home Office Crime Counting Rules for fraud, which breaks fraud down into a range of codes. The information requested does not currently align to the crimes recorded in the Action Fraud data set.

The Home Office is working with City of London Police to replace Action Fraud with a new and improved national police reporting service for fraud and cybercrime. The new service will include capabilities to better track threat trends and enhanced search features for the report database.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many complaints the a) Financial Ombudsman Service, b) Financial Conduct Authority and c) Prudential Regulation Authority received about i) the cost of loans to SMEs, ii) debt recovery behaviour by those offering to lend to SMEs and iii) fees charged by lenders when lending to SMEs in each of the last three years for which data is available.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

I refer my honourable friend to the answers I provided on the topic of SME lending on 23 October.

Complaints are the remit of the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), which publishes regular data on complaint trends. In its latest quarterly report, it noted that complaints about unaffordable lending had halved, though this figure does not distinguish between household and business credit, and complaint patterns can fluctuate each quarter. Over the past five years, credit card complaints have consistently ranked among the top five issues, while business lending has generated relatively few FOS disputes compared to personal and household credit.

The Bank of England’s ‘Bankstats’ data tracks business and household credit, including average interest rates for SMEs. As of 31 August 2025, the average rate for new SME loans from UK banks is 6.35%, reflecting a decline in line with base rate reductions.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many complaints the British Business Bank received about a) the cost of loans to SMEs, b) debt recovery behaviour by people offering to lend to SMEs and c) fees charged by lenders when lending to SMEs in each of the last three years for which data is available.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Where the British Business Bank receives complaints about lenders' actions on debt recovery, cost of lending and fees charged by lenders, these are referred to the relevant lender. While all complaints are logged, the current system does not include a specific category for debt-recovery-related issues. No fees were charged under the COVID-19 loan schemes, and there are no fees for Start Up Loans other than interest payments.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he will make an assessment of the potential benefits of the mutual recognition of professional qualifications by the UK and European Union.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

DBT is continually assessing benefits of opportunities to improve recognition of professional qualifications with the EU. Improvements would reduce market access barriers, address skills gaps, and promote growth.

The UK Government is committed to improving recognition of professional qualifications with the EU. At the 2025 UK-EU Summit we agreed to establish dedicated dialogues with the Commission on the relevant provisions in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. HMG is encouraging and supporting UK regulators to work with their EU counterparts, including through guidance and targeted funding.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she will make an assessment of the potential merits of negotiating improved business travel mobility arrangements with the EU.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 1st December to question 93634 (Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament).

Improved business travel mobility arrangements with the EU would benefit individuals and businesses in both the UK and EU, likely increasing trade between us and the EU and increasing our GDP over time. The UK government is committed to supporting UK businesses to trade more easily with our biggest trading partner, the EU.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of proposed changes to EU customs arrangements on UK businesses.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

On 17 May 2023, the European Commission proposed a revision of the Union Customs Code. The proposal is still subject to EU internal procedures; therefore, we cannot comment on the final proposal. However, we are following these suggested reforms closely, and continue to engage with the EU and business, particularly on potential impacts for UK businesses

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of negotiating improved business travel mobility arrangements with the European Union.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Improved business travel mobility arrangements with the EU would benefit individuals and businesses in both the UK and EU, likely increasing trade between us and the EU and increasing our GDP over time. The UK government is committed to supporting UK businesses to trade more easily with our biggest trading partner, the EU.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of UK and EU conformity assessment alignment on the economy.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

We are aware that UK and EU stakeholders have highlighted that conformity assessment barriers negatively impact their ability to trade since the UK left the EU. Ahead of the UK-EU summit in May 2025 we explored a number of proposals with our EU partners on manufactured goods. To inform these discussions the government assessed the potential economic impact of a range of measures, including a mutual recognition agreement on conformity assessment, which indicated that such an agreement would be mutually beneficial for both the UK and EU. What was announced at the UK-EU summit reflects the outcome of the discussions.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department holds information on the number of cases of trustee mismanagement of asset protection trusts that were investigated in each of the last three years by (a) Merseyside Police, (b) Metropolitan Police, (c) Suffolk Police, (d) the National Crime Agency and (e) the Serious Fraud Office; and what discussions she has had with Police Scotland on this matter.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Public Safety Group has no role in data collection on trustee mismanagement, or in any police investigations which may or may not be going on.

Matters relating to solicitor regulation or misgivings are for Ministry of Justice's Arms Lengths Bodies.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will take steps with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on improving access to finance for the video games industry.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Government is committed to making the UK the best place in the world to produce video games. We recognise the high growth potential of the sector, and are committed to improving its access to finance.

This is why, as part of the Creative Industries Sector Plan, we have committed £30 million over the next three years for the Games Growth Package, which includes a significant expansion of the UK Games Fund which will continue to provide grants to early-stage studios across the UK to develop prototypes and new intellectual property, and run development programmes for new graduates.

The tax reliefs offered to video games companies continue to make the UK one of the best places in the world to make video games. Our Video Games Expenditure Credit ensures that this highly skilled and innovative industry is able to thrive and the government will continue to work with stakeholders to ensure its continued effectiveness.

Also outlined in the Creative Industries Sector Plan was a significant increase in support from the British Business Bank (BBB) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The BBB is committing an additional £4 billion of Industrial Strategy Growth Capital to support investment and growth in the eight priority Industrial Strategy sectors, including the creative industries, while UKRI will lead efforts to significantly increase public funding for the creative sectors, including support for commercialisation and tech adoption.