Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Fraud Strategy

Monday 20 March 2023 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Online Safety Bill is a welcome first step towards greater responsibility from social media companies for user safety
  • More needs to be considered beyond the Online Safety Bill to address online scams
  • The Government aims to bring together intelligence resources and policing to tackle the explosion of fraud globally

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Simon Fell
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Over 70% of scams originate online, indicating that tech and social media companies play a significant role both in enabling fraud and preventing it.

Question

Given that over 70% of scams originate online and that tech and social media companies are currently driving the problem, will my right hon. Friend compel their sector to be part of the solution by going after frauds and fraudsters on their own platforms, as well as upping all our defences in the upcoming national fraud strategy?

Answer from Thomas Tugendhat

The Online Safety Bill is a welcome first step towards greater responsibility from social media companies for user safety, but more needs to be considered.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitments or actions by tech and social media companies were not addressed

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Q2 Andrew Gwynne Ind Gorton and Denton
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

Fraud now accounts for nearly half of all crimes, yet very few cases are investigated with only 0.1% going to court.

Question

While it is welcome that we will eventually get this fraud strategy, what more are the Government doing to ensure that the police have the resources and expertise to tackle crimes of fraud and that the criminal justice system speeds up so that many more such cases get not only investigated but heard in court?

Answer from Thomas Tugendhat

We need to bring together intelligence resources, policing elements and the will to tackle an explosion of fraud around the world. The chief constable in Manchester is doing much to combat this issue.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific measures for police resources or speeding up criminal justice were not addressed

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