The Government set up the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to protect consumers from the harm that can be caused by bad conduct in the financial services industry. In 2015, it also set up the world\u2019s only Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) with a statutory objective to ensure that payment systems are operated in a way that takes account of users\u2019 needs.<\/p>
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The FCA is the UK\u2019s competent authority for the Payment Services Regulations (PSRs) 2017. The PSRs aim to make payments safer and more secure and protect consumers. As set out in these regulations, if a payment transaction (be that a bank transfer or debit card payment) is not properly authorised by the customer, the customer\u2019s bank or payment service provider must refund the amount of the transaction to the payer. For authorised payment scams, where the customer has authorised a bank transfer but the money has been paid to a fraudulent recipient, the PSR has brought together consumer representatives and banks to produce an industry code of conduct to address this issue. Launched in May 2019, the code sets out agreed principles for greater protection of consumers and the circumstances in which they will be reimbursed, marking a significant step in delivering improved protections for customers.<\/p>
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Regarding debit card charges, the UK implemented the EU\u2019s Interchange Fee Regulation in 2015 which introduced a cap on one of the key fees applicable to card payments. The European Commission is in the process of reviewing the effectiveness of this regulation as part of its usual process. The PSR, who is the UK\u2019s lead competent authority for the Interchange Fee Regulation, is also conducting a review into the supply of card-acquiring services. Amongst other things, this review will examine the fees merchants pay for these services.<\/p>
<\/p>The Government is open to hearing views on this issue, and digital payments more broadly, as evidenced by its Call for Evidence on Cash and Digital Payments in the New Economy."} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3359", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for The Earl of Courtown"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "The Earl of Courtown"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "HL124"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-22T15:13:29.72Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-10-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Debit Cards: Fees and Charges"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to review debit card charges for retailers such as vehicle retailers which deal in high value transactions.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4230", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Randerson"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Randerson"} ], "uin" : "HL123"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/732070", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Northern Ireland Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/732070/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government has not received any recent representations on the issue of party workers outside polling stations. However, the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland will conduct a routine post-election review of all administrative procedures and the Electoral Commission will also report on the administration of the election in due course. The Government will consider any recommendations arising from the Chief Electoral Officer and the Electoral Commission carefully.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4282", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-07-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "HL124"} , {"_value" : "HL125"} ], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-07-03T15:13:04.497Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "21"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-06-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to bringing forward legislation to prevent party workers distributing election material from standing immediately outside access point to polling stations in Northern Ireland.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4216", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Empey"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Empey"} ], "uin" : "HL123"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/519558", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/519558/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Dublin III Regulation sets out the criteria for determining responsibility for asylum cases and using discretionary powers. The procedures for dealing with an asylum seeker in Calais, including an unaccompanied child, are for the French authorities to determine, in line with their obligations under the Regulation. We are committed to making the Dublin Regulation work effectively and are in ongoing discussions with France, Italy and Greece to ensure that the right processes and resources are in place to enable this. We are also working with other EU Member States, the UNHCR and other non-governmental organisations and local authorities in the UK to establish the best way to implement the provisions of the Immigration Act 2016 for the transfer of unaccompanied refugee children from elsewhere in the EU to the UK.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4210", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2016-05-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "HL124"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2016-05-27T11:08:17.313Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2016-05-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Elections: Northern Ireland"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what plans they have to publish guidance on the handling of family reunion cases under the Dublin III Regulations including clarifying responsibilities, procedures for unaccompanied children in Calais prior to any transfer, and ensuring that local authorities have sufficient funding and capacity to conduct assessments.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1660", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Judd"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Judd"} ], "uin" : "HL123"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/347579", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for International Development"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/347579/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The UN Humanitarian Response Plan budget for Rakhine State, Burma in 2015 totals $118m. This is for overall humanitarian assistance including, but not limited to, the camps. The UK\u2019s bilateral humanitarian funding to Rakhine is £18 million since 2012 including needs identified in the UN humanitarian response plan. DFID visits displaced persons camps in Rakhine regularly and assesses the UN response plan and budget to be realistic. We are also the largest donors to a major $44m rural livelihoods programme in Rakhine. Addressing the political challenges is equally important and we are pushing for improved humanitarian access, greater protection and accountability and sustainable solutions to displacement, intercommunal relations and citizenship.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
A range of donors including the UK, Australia, the European Commission and the US have committed approximately £19 million for 2014 \u2013 2017 towards humanitarian activities for Rohingyas living in camps and host communities in Bangladesh. In Bangladesh the UK\u2019s Rohingya related humanitarian programme totals £4.75 million of which £2.25 million will target Rohingya refugees living in camps.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3790", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Verma"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Verma"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-06-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-06-15T13:03:54.747Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "20"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-06-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Burma: Rohingya"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what assessment they have made of the level of financial assistance that is being provided to Rohingya refugees in camps in Rakhine State, Burma and Bangladesh.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/738", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Alton of Liverpool"} ], "uin" : "HL123"} ], "itemsPerPage" : 10, "page" : 0, "startIndex" : 1, "totalResults" : 4, "type" : ["http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#ListEndpoint", "http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#Page"]} }