Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to deliver the economic abuse commitments in the Financial Inclusion Strategy; and what mechanisms are in place to monitor and report on progress in delivering those commitments and improving outcomes for economic abuse victim-survivors.

Tackling economic abuse is a priority for this Government which is why it is included as a theme of the Financial Inclusion Strategy. The Strategy commits to interventions which will support victim-survivors regain financial independence by improving access to bank accounts, addressing the impact of coerced debt on credit files, and creating guidance for the insurance sector to improve support for victim-survivors.

Across these interventions, the Government is working closely with expert consumer representatives, the regulator, and industry to ensure successful delivery. As Economic Secretary, I also chair the Financial Inclusion Committee – a forum of consumer and industry representatives which was established to support the Strategy’s development and oversee its implementation. The Strategy will be reviewed two years on from publication to provide a comprehensive update on progress.