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1696228

registered interest
date	14/03/2024
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Debt Collection: Regulation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to improve the regulation of debt collection practices.
tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Walton
tabling member printed	Dan Carden
uin	18774
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/03/2024 answer text <p>The Government wants to see fair treatment of individuals in problem debt, and there is a range of work underway across government and regulators to promote responsible debt collection practices.</p><p>In June 2023 the FCA, Ofgem, Ofwat and Ofcom published a joint letter via the UK Regulators’ Network (UKRN) setting out how firms in their respective sectors should support customers in financial difficulty. On 18 March 2024, the same group of regulators issued further guidance, setting out their shared expectations on firms’ debt collection practices. This is to ensure that firms support customers in debt and that firms’ collection practices are not causing harm to customers.</p> answering member constituency Hitchin and Harpenden answering member printed Bim Afolami question first answered 22/03/2024 11:15:07 answering member 4639 label Biography information for Bim Afolami
tabling member	4651 label Biography information for Dan Carden

1611727

registered interest
date	18/04/2023
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Debt Collection: Regulation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will review the effectiveness of existing regulations relating to debt collection agencies for (a) vulnerable people and (b) financially insecure people.
tabling member constituency	North Durham
tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
uin	181271
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2023 answer text <p>The independent Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is responsible for the regulation of debt collection activity. Where debt collection firms take steps to recover debts that have arisen under consumer credit agreements, they are required to do so according to the FCA’s principles, rules and guidance.</p><p> </p><p>In particular, firms are required to treat customers fairly and to have policies in place for the fair and appropriate treatment of vulnerable customers. Additional requirements apply in relation to the recovery of debt from customers with mental capacity limitations.</p><p> </p><p>The FCA has published guidance for firms on the fair treatment of vulnerable customers. In 2023-24, the FCA plans to evaluate the action firms have taken and whether we see improvements in the outcomes experienced by vulnerable consumers. The guidance can be found in the link below:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fca.org.uk%2Fpublications%2Ffinalised-guidance%2Fguidance-firms-fair-treatment-vulnerable-customers&amp;data=05%7C01%7Crajesh.kapoor%40hmtreasury.gov.uk%7Cb860737e8fba4436348108db40fd10d3%7Ced1644c505e049e6bc39fcf7ac51c18c%7C0%7C0%7C638175228146403015%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=8Kx5gz%2BRHm0bzF5xgLrDbFEYkAiYIFii%2BVYTyAC7MP4%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.fca.org.uk/publications/finalised-guidance/guidance-firms-fair-treatment-vulnerable-customers</a></p><p> </p><p>In addition, earlier this year the FCA wrote to all firms operating in this sector to set out their expectations of how firms should provide a higher standard of care to customers in the context of the Consumer Duty. The letter can be found in the link below:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fca.org.uk%2Fpublication%2Fcorrespondence%2Fconsumer-duty-portfolio-letter-dpca.pdf&amp;data=05%7C01%7Crajesh.kapoor%40hmtreasury.gov.uk%7Cb860737e8fba4436348108db40fd10d3%7Ced1644c505e049e6bc39fcf7ac51c18c%7C0%7C0%7C638175228146559233%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=Ru4KlKrKIx5fUwOi6lBHsrnc7tvPGjdhs5kjBm5sq%2B0%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.fca.org.uk/publication/correspondence/consumer-duty-portfolio-letter-dpca.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Consumer Duty builds on the FCA’s guidance on the fair treatment of vulnerable customers – that sets out what firms should do to ensure that customers in vulnerable circumstances experience outcomes as good as those for other customers.  Falling below the standard set out in that guidance is likely to be a breach of the Consumer Duty.</p><p> </p><p>There are no plans either by the Government or the FCA to review legislation or existing FCA requirements in this area. But the FCA will continue to monitor the activities of debt collection firms, including the steps they have taken to ensure they are compliant with the Consumer Duty, in accordance with their usual supervisory processes.</p> answering member constituency Arundel and South Downs answering member printed Andrew Griffith question first answered 25/04/2023 13:03:47 answering member 4874 label Biography information for Andrew Griffith
tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones

1235083

registered interest
date	16/09/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Debt Collection: Regulation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has to introduce independent regulation of bailiffs to tackle (a) harmful and unnecessary bailiff visits and (b) bailiffs breaking the rules.
tabling member constituency	Makerfield
tabling member printed	Yvonne Fovargue
uin	91021
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/09/2020 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice is reviewing the implementation of reforms, contained in the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 and introduced in 2014, which govern how enforcement agents take control of goods. This includes considering complaints handling and regulation in the sector.</p><p>We have been focusing on our response to the Covid-19 pandemic, but we will provide a response to the review as soon as we are able.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk question first answered 21/09/2020 15:28:09 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
tabling member	4034 label Biography information for Yvonne Fovargue

1185173

registered interest
date	16/03/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Debt Collection: Regulation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has for the regulation of enforcement agents by an independent body.
tabling member constituency	Loughborough
tabling member printed	Jane Hunt
uin	30186
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2020 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice is currently reviewing the implementation of reforms, contained in the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 and introduced in 2014, which govern how enforcement agents (bailiffs) enforce debt. We held a call for evidence to inform our review, which ran from November 2018 to February 2019.</p><p>In a Written Ministerial Statement made on 22 July 2019, the Department set out its initial response to the call for evidence. We said that we would consider further how regulation of the sector might be strengthened, but we are clear that any further regulation must be effective, proportionate and sustainable.</p><p>We will respond in full to the call for evidence in due course.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk question first answered 25/03/2020 15:32:20 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
tabling member	4839 label Biography information for Jane Hunt

1185363

registered interest
date	16/03/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Debt Collection: Regulation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans his Department has to introduce a body to oversee the regulation of the bailiff industry.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	30068
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2020 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice is currently reviewing the implementation of reforms, contained in the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 and introduced in 2014, which govern how enforcement agents (bailiffs) enforce debt.</p><p>We held a call for evidence to inform our review, which ran from November 2018 to February 2019. This sought views on the effectiveness of the current regulations and whether further regulation was required.</p><p>In a Written Ministerial Statement made on 22 July 2019, the Department set out its initial response to the call for evidence. This included a commitment to taking forward work to make it mandatory for private enforcement agents to use body-worn cameras and to provide guidance about their use. The Department also said that we would consider further how regulation of the sector might be strengthened but we are clear that any further regulation must be effective, proportionate and sustainable.</p><p>We will respond in full to the call for evidence in due course.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk grouped question UIN 30069 30070 question first answered 19/03/2020 16:59:19 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1185364

registered interest
date	16/03/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Debt Collection: Regulation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of establishing an independent body to regulate the bailiff industry.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	30069
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2020 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice is currently reviewing the implementation of reforms, contained in the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 and introduced in 2014, which govern how enforcement agents (bailiffs) enforce debt.</p><p>We held a call for evidence to inform our review, which ran from November 2018 to February 2019. This sought views on the effectiveness of the current regulations and whether further regulation was required.</p><p>In a Written Ministerial Statement made on 22 July 2019, the Department set out its initial response to the call for evidence. This included a commitment to taking forward work to make it mandatory for private enforcement agents to use body-worn cameras and to provide guidance about their use. The Department also said that we would consider further how regulation of the sector might be strengthened but we are clear that any further regulation must be effective, proportionate and sustainable.</p><p>We will respond in full to the call for evidence in due course.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk grouped question UIN 30068 30070 question first answered 19/03/2020 16:59:19 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1185365

registered interest
date	16/03/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Debt Collection: Regulation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of regulations governing the work of enforcement officers.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	30070
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2020 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice is currently reviewing the implementation of reforms, contained in the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 and introduced in 2014, which govern how enforcement agents (bailiffs) enforce debt.</p><p>We held a call for evidence to inform our review, which ran from November 2018 to February 2019. This sought views on the effectiveness of the current regulations and whether further regulation was required.</p><p>In a Written Ministerial Statement made on 22 July 2019, the Department set out its initial response to the call for evidence. This included a commitment to taking forward work to make it mandatory for private enforcement agents to use body-worn cameras and to provide guidance about their use. The Department also said that we would consider further how regulation of the sector might be strengthened but we are clear that any further regulation must be effective, proportionate and sustainable.</p><p>We will respond in full to the call for evidence in due course.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk grouped question UIN 30068 30069 question first answered 19/03/2020 16:59:19 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1149055

registered interest
date	14/10/2019
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Debt Collection: Regulation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the regulation of the bailiff industry, following the call for evidence that the Government announced in Autumn 2018; and what options for regulatory reform the Government is considering in that sector.
tabling member constituency	Ipswich
tabling member printed	Sandy Martin
uin	370
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2019 answer text <p>In a statement on 22 July, the Government set out its initial response to the call for evidence on the enforcement agent reforms.</p><p> </p><p>We intend to make body-worn cameras mandatory for private enforcement agents and the complaints system more effective. We are also considering strengthening regulation of the industry.</p><p> </p><p>My officials have since met a range of interested parties. We hope to set out our proposals for further reform as soon as possible.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 17/10/2019 14:20:33 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4678 label Biography information for Sandy Martin

1142312

registered interest
date	25/07/2019
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Debt Collection: Regulation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to publish his response to the submissions received in his Department's Call for Evidence on the regulation of enforcement agents, which closed in February 2019.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley East
tabling member printed	Stephanie Peacock
uin	282564
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>As set out in the Secretary of State for Justice’s Written Statement on bailiff reform made on 22 July, we will respond to the Call for Evidence following further engagement with stakeholders over the summer.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 03/09/2019 15:17:20 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
tabling member	4607 label Biography information for Stephanie Peacock

1141463

registered interest
date	23/07/2019
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Debt Collection: Regulation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to Written Statement of 22 July 2019 on Enforcement Update, HCWS 1776, whether he has plans to increase the regulation of enforcement agents before work performed by civilian enforcement officers is put out to tender.
tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
tabling member printed	Liz Saville Roberts
uin	281124
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>As set out in the Justice Secretary’s Written Statement on bailiff reform, we will respond to the Call for Evidence and the Justice Select Committee’s report following further engagement with our stakeholders over the Summer. We will explore what barriers prevent people from making a complaint based on submissions to the Call for Evidence and meetings with our stakeholders.</p><p> </p><p>Our response will also consider the case for further regulation. County Court Bailiffs, who are employees of Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS), and Approved Enforcement Agencies who enforce criminal orders, were not within scope of the review of enforcement agents. We will liaise with trade unions if any proposals that may arise from our consideration of the responses from the Call for Evidence directly impact on Court staff.</p><p> </p><p>HMCTS are in the process of procuring a new set of contracts for Approved Enforcement Agencies (AEA) to enable the collection of criminal orders. The tender went live on 1 July 2019. We anticipate awarding contracts in December 2019, with services to commence in May 2020.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar grouped question UIN 281123 281125 question first answered 03/09/2019 14:49:39 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
tabling member	4521 label Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts