Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to tackle fraud within the private publishing sector.

We recognise that all businesses, including publishing houses, are a target for fraudsters. Government supports businesses through a number of measures including the Confirmation of Payee checks, which allow customers, including businesses, to confirm the name of a recipient before transferring money to them.

We have also helped business to protect themselves against cyber threats, including cyber enabled fraud, through the National Cyber Security Centre and the ten regional resilience centres across England and Wales and the Police Cyber Alarm. The Stop! Think Fraud campaign also included advice for businesses on how to protect themselves from fraud.

Further, an Economic Crime Survey is being conducted to find out more about the prevalence and impacts of economic crime (including fraud) against business. We expect the results to be published in mid-2025.