Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Fraud and Economic Crime: Prosecutions

Thursday 30 March 2023 · 3 questions

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

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Solicitor General invited to speak at Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime.
  • National Economic Crime Centre leads UK's operational response to economic crime.
  • Government's fraud strategy to be released soon.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Context

The question arises from the annual Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime, which highlights issues such as fraud and economic crime. The proposal for a dedicated anti-fraud agency has been discussed.

Question

What steps she is taking to help ensure effective prosecution of perpetrators of fraud and economic crime. As the Solicitor General will know, each September the Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime meets at Jesus College Cambridge, and the issue of establishing a dedicated anti-fraud or economic crime agency is frequently raised. What consideration has been given to that proposal, and what is the Solicitor General doing to promote education about fraud, and prevention and discouragement of it, through effective early compliance?

Answer from Michael Tomlinson

I am indeed aware of that symposium, because I have been invited to speak at it this year, and I very much hope to see the hon. Gentleman there so that we can discuss this subject even further. As he will know, the National Economic Crime Centre leads the UK's operational response to economic crime. The Government's fraud strategy, which will be released soon.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions towards establishing an anti-fraud agency and detailed measures for education and prevention were not provided.

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Context

The annual Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime discusses the need for a dedicated anti-fraud agency and measures to educate about fraud prevention.

Question

What steps she is taking to help ensure effective prosecution of perpetrators of fraud and economic crime. What consideration has been given to establishing a dedicated anti-fraud or economic crime agency, and what is being done to promote education about fraud, and prevention and discouragement of it, through effective early compliance?

Answer from Michael Tomlinson

I am indeed aware of that symposium, because I have been invited to speak at it this year. The National Economic Crime Centre leads the UK's operational response to economic crime. As for his wider question, he will be aware of the Government's fraud strategy, which will be released soon.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions towards establishing an anti-fraud agency and detailed measures for education and prevention were not provided.

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Q3 Emily Thornberry Lab Islington South and Finsbury
Context

The Prime Minister had previously stated that the Government would publish a fraud strategy soon to tackle economic crime. However, five months later, there has been no update on its release.

Question

Every day that passes, more lives are destroyed by fraud. We urgently need a Government who understand the scale of that crisis and have a plan to tackle it. Five months ago, the Prime Minister stood at the Dispatch Box and told us that “the Government will shortly publish our fraud strategy…to block more scams and better protect the public.” The Solicitor General has told us again today that the strategy will come shortly. Do the Government have a different concept of time? What do they mean by “shortly”, and how much longer are we going to need to wait—or is this just another example of the Government making big promises on crucial issues and delivering absolutely nothing?

Answer from Michael Tomlinson

The shadow Attorney General is not right about that. The fraud strategy will be published. In terms of delivery, she will be pleased to hear that last year the CPS prosecuted over 6,000 defendants where fraud and forgery was the principal offence, and the conviction rate was over 80%. This is a Government that have delivered and will continue to deliver in this area.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific timeline or concrete actions regarding the release of the fraud strategy were not provided.

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