Economic crime in the UK: A multi-billion pound problem
Economic crime costs the UK billions per year. This briefing discusses UK Government efforts to tackle it, including its 2019-2022 Economic Crime Plan.
Protecting access to cash
Cash remains a vital payment method for more vulnerable people, but its wider use is in decline. How will Government and industry protect access to cash? An snapshot of data and policy developments in 2021. For more recent developments, see The future of local banking services and access to cash (CBP-9453).
Banking fraud
This briefing answers frequently asked questions about banking scams, and describes: the scale of the problem; the types of scam; what help is available for victims; and government and industry action.
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Debate Pack
Opposition Day Debate: Covid security at UK borders
An Opposition Day debate relating to Covid security at UK borders has been scheduled for Monday 1 February 2021.
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Research Briefing
National Security and Investment Bill 2019-21
The National Security and Investment Bill 2019-21 was announced in the Queen’s Speech on 19 December 2019. It was introduced in the House of Commons on 11 November 2020. Its Second Reading took place on 17 November 2020, with remaining stages scheduled for Wednesday 20 January 2021.
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Research Briefing
Debts to public bodies: are Government debt collection practices outdated?
There is growing concern that the debt collection practices of public sector bodies have fallen behind the standard of regulated creditors in the private sector. Practices have often been criticised as being unfair to the debtor and inefficient, possibly resulting in higher long-term costs to the taxpayer. The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on debts owed to public bodies is not yet known, but it is likely to have led to further indebtedness.
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Research Briefing
Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies (Environmentally Sustainable Investment) Bill 2019-20
The Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies (Environmentally Sustainable Investment) Bill 2019-20 was introduced by Anna McMorrin MP following the Private Members' Bills Ballot on 9 January 2020. First reading took place on 5 February 2020 and the Bill's second reading is due on 11 September 2020.
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Research Briefing
Coronavirus: Support for household finances
This Commons Library briefing paper outlines the measures introduced by the Government, and other authorities, to support household finances during the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.
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Research Briefing
Pension transfer advice
Many people have been given unsuitable financial advice to transfer their valuable Defined Benefit pensions into less suitable and secure Defined Contribution schemes. Poor advice has led to growing compensation payments from the Financial Ombudsman Service and the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Some have speculated that this issue may represent a large mis-selling scandal, the full scale of which may only come to light in the event of an economic downturn.
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Research Briefing
Protecting consumers from unfair high-cost credit
An survey of high-cost credit products (including bank overdrafts, loans, buy-now-pay-later and rent-to-own) and action being undertaken to regulate such products and to address problems that they can lead to. This paper reflects the situation in early 2020 and is not being updated.
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Research Briefing
Bank branches: why are they closing and what is the impact?
The number of bank branches in the UK roughly halved from 1986 to 2014 and closures are expected to continue. Concerns have been raised about the impacts on vulnerable people, small businesses and the viability of the cash system. This briefing is no longer being updated. For latest developments, see The future of local banking services and access to cash (CBP-9453).
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Insight
New online security measures: What if you don’t have a smartphone?
From September 2019, people shopping or banking online may face new checks in order to prevent fraud.
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Research Briefing
High Speed 2: the business case, costs and spending
This paper shows that while HS2 will deliver significant capacity and connectivity improvements, there are alternatives available that could deal with the capacity constraints on the West Coast Main Line at a lower cost. This paper also shows that there is still uncertainty around the costs of HS2. The estimates at the time of the 2015 Spending Review put the cost at around £65 billion (in 2015 prices). The ambitions of HS2 Ltd are to reduce the costs of the infrastructure for Phase 2b by around 40% from the 2015 Spending Review estimate.
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Debate Pack
The Contribution of Cooperatives and Mutuals to the Economy
A Backbench Business debate on a Motion on The Contribution of Cooperatives and Mutuals to the Economy is scheduled in the Chamber on Thursday 27 June 2019. The debate is sponsored by Gareth Thomas MP
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Debate Pack
Mortgage Prisoners and Vulture Funds
A debate on a Motion on Mortgage Prisoners and Vulture Funds has been scheduled for Thursday 6 June 2019. The debate has been initiated by Charlie Elphicke MP
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