The Government is committed to understand the impact of COVID-19 on personal debt levels and to help people access the support they need to get their finances back on track.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Government works closely with the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) to monitor financial difficulty through an annual survey and notes the Financial Conduct Authority\u2019s biennial Financial Lives Survey.<\/p>
<\/p>
The latest findings from the Financial Lives Survey were published in February 2021. The findings include the impact of Covid-19 on people\u2019s finances.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4051", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for John Glen"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Salisbury"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "John Glen"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-04-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-04-27T12:36:02.627Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2021-04-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Debts"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "What assessment he has made of the change in the level of personal debt in the last 12 months.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4058", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Paul Blomfield"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Sheffield Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Paul Blomfield"} ], "uin" : "914840"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1312037", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1312037/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government recognises the importance of providing a strong financial footing for the debt advice sector and is committed to helping people access the support they need to get their finances back on track.<\/p>
<\/p>
This is why the Government has agreed to maintain record levels of debt advice funding for the Money and Pension Service in 2021-22, bringing the budget for free debt advice in England to £94.6 million. This is more than a 70% increase since 2019-20 and reflects the Government\u2019s commitment to ensure that appropriate support is available for people in problem debt.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4051", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for John Glen"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Salisbury"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "John Glen"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-04-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-04-29T06:35:04.2Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2021-04-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Debts: Advisory Services"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what additional resources the Government will provide to the debt advice sector to ensure it can respond effectively to the 60 per cent increase in demand for debt advice forecast by The Money and Pensions Service.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4122", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alex Cunningham"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stockton North"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Alex Cunningham"} ], "uin" : "187218"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1312086", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1312086/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Following an extensive investigation, the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) found that certain London Capital and Finance (LCF) bondholders were eligible for FSCS compensation.<\/p>
<\/p>
The FSCS has now paid out £57.6m to over 2,800 LCF bondholders, and has identified and contacted all bondholders whom it believes are eligible for compensation.<\/p>
<\/p>
As previously announced, the government will establish a compensation scheme for all LCF bondholders who are not eligible for FSCS compensation. Details of this scheme were set out in a Written Ministerial Statement on 19 April. The government expects the scheme to have paid all bondholders within 6 months of securing the necessary primary legislation, which it will bring forward as soon as parliamentary time allows.<\/p>
<\/p>
The scheme will not make payments to the FSCS to offset settled claims, as these claims were paid to eligible bondholders in line with FSCS rules. HM Treasury\u2019s separate compensation scheme will compensate those bondholders who are not eligible for FSCS compensation, recognising the unique and exceptional circumstances around LCF\u2019s failure. This compensation will be capped at 80% of bondholders\u2019 initial investments up to a cap of £68,000.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4051", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for John Glen"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Salisbury"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "John Glen"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-04-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-04-29T06:35:17.347Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2021-04-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Financial Services Compensation Scheme: Compensation"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the announcement of a compensation scheme for London and Capital Finance bond holders of 19 April 2021, whether his Department has considered paying similar compensation to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme to offset claims they have already settled.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4465", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ronnie Cowan"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Inverclyde"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ronnie Cowan"} ], "uin" : "187266"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1312211", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1312211/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Woolard Review into the unsecured credit market found several potential harms from interest-free buy now pay later products. The Government recognises those risks. That is why on 2 February the Government announced its intention to regulate Buy Now Pay Later products. On 17 March, the Government tabled an amendment to the Financial Services Bill to allow the Government to bring Buy Now Pay Later products into the scope of FCA regulation in a proportionate way.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4051", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for John Glen"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Salisbury"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "John Glen"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-04-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-04-29T06:35:34.68Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2021-04-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Credit"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment the Government has made of the risks to consumers of buy-now-pay later products.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4615", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lloyd Russell-Moyle"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Brighton, Kemptown"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lloyd Russell-Moyle"} ], "uin" : "187302"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1312251", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1312251/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
This government has provided an unprecedented package with a cumulative cost of £352 billion to protect people\u2019s jobs and livelihoods and to support businesses and public services across the UK since the start of the pandemic.<\/p>
<\/p>
The government has consistently erred towards generosity in its support, reflecting the severity of the impact of the pandemic on peoples\u2019 lives.<\/p>
To continue to support people on low incomes during the Covid-19 crisis, at Budget the government announced a six-month extension to the temporary £20 per week uplift to the Universal Credit (UC) standard allowance. The government has also announced similar support for eligible Working Tax Credit (WTC) claimants; because of the way the WTC system operates, being provided through a one-off £500 payment in April.<\/p>
<\/p>
The government's actions to protect lives and livelihoods have been aimed at mitigating the most damaging effects of the pandemic on peoples\u2019 wellbeing, and the government has considered a wide range of data throughout.<\/p>
<\/p>
This includes National accounts statistics like GDP, which remains one of our most important economic indicators. It is closely correlated with employment, incomes and tax receipts and is comparable across time periods, making it useful for the government and Bank of England when setting economic policy and managing the public finances.<\/p>
<\/p>
GDP has its limitations and should not be seen as an all-encompassing measure of welfare \u2013 something it was never designed to be.<\/p>
<\/p>
Sir Charles Bean\u2019s 2016 Independent Review of Economic Statistics acknowledged some of these limitations, such as the challenge of capturing activities where no market transaction takes place and the fact that GDP estimates make no allowance for the depletion of natural resources that may be inherent in many forms of economic production.<\/p>
<\/p>
The government fully supported the recommendations of the Bean review and, to date, has provided the ONS with an additional £25m to help improve UK economic statistics - including through an initiative called \u201cBeyond GDP\u201d that aims to address the limitations in GDP by developing broader measures of welfare and activity.<\/p>
<\/p>
This includes developing a suite of personal well-being measures, better accounting for unpaid work and developing estimates for natural and human capital.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4051", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for John Glen"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Salisbury"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "John Glen"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-04-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-04-29T08:22:08.45Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2021-04-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Economic Situation"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the effect of the policies of the Wellbeing Economy Governments partnership on the UK's strategy for economic recovery at (a) local, (b) national and (c) global level; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3930", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Caroline Lucas"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Brighton, Pavilion"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Caroline Lucas"} ], "uin" : "187191"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1311767", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1311767/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
PayPal currently provides services in the UK through the Temporary Permissions Regime, and is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
The FCA\u2019s handbook rules require payment service providers, which includes banks, payment institutions and electronic money institutions, to send a final response to complaints about rights and obligations arising under the Payment Services and Electronic Money Regulations within 15 business days after the day on which it received the complaint. In exceptional circumstances, such as where the respondent cannot send a final response within this period for reasons beyond the control of the firm, a response must be sent within 35 business days.<\/p>
<\/p>
If a consumer complains to a relevant financial services firm and is unhappy with the response, they may be able to bring their complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). The FOS provides consumers with a free, independent service that enables the proportionate, prompt and informal resolution of disputes with financial firms<\/p>
<\/strong><\/p> With regards to next of kin procedures for banks, payment institutions, and electronic money institutions, the FCA expects firms to have an effective process for dealing with a deceased customer\u2019s accounts from notification of death to the transfer of funds to those who are entitled to receive them. This process is set out in the FCA\u2019s handbook rules.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4051", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for John Glen"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Salisbury"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "John Glen"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-04-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "186150"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-04-28T12:41:46.767Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2021-04-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Financial Services: Internet"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to (a) increase accountability among digital financial service providers and (b) ensure that (i) PayPal and (ii) other providers of digital financial services process customers' complaints in a timely manner.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3998", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mark Menzies"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Fylde"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mark Menzies"}
], "uin" : "186149"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1311768", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1311768/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " PayPal currently provides services in the UK through the Temporary Permissions Regime, and is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> The FCA\u2019s handbook rules require payment service providers, which includes banks, payment institutions and electronic money institutions, to send a final response to complaints about rights and obligations arising under the Payment Services and Electronic Money Regulations within 15 business days after the day on which it received the complaint. In exceptional circumstances, such as where the respondent cannot send a final response within this period for reasons beyond the control of the firm, a response must be sent within 35 business days.<\/p> <\/p> If a consumer complains to a relevant financial services firm and is unhappy with the response, they may be able to bring their complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). The FOS provides consumers with a free, independent service that enables the proportionate, prompt and informal resolution of disputes with financial firms<\/p> <\/strong><\/p> With regards to next of kin procedures for banks, payment institutions, and electronic money institutions, the FCA expects firms to have an effective process for dealing with a deceased customer\u2019s accounts from notification of death to the transfer of funds to those who are entitled to receive them. This process is set out in the FCA\u2019s handbook rules.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4051", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for John Glen"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Salisbury"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "John Glen"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-04-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "186149"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-04-28T12:41:46.82Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2021-04-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Financial Services: Internet"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that (a) PayPal and (b) other digital financial services providers have a clearly defined process for next of kin, should a customer pass away, and prevent the withholding of access from next of kin or organisations that the individual was previously involved with.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3998", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mark Menzies"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Fylde"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mark Menzies"}
], "uin" : "186150"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1311451", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1311451/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at:<\/p>