Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Serious Fraud Office

Thursday 19 March 2026 · 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 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Serious Fraud Office has secured more than half a billion pounds over the past five years through various legal mechanisms.
  • Nick Ephgrave's dedication and professionalism during his tenure as director of the SFO has been acknowledged.
  • The Government are exploring ways to empower whistleblowers to combat serious economic crime through the UK anti-corruption strategy.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Sarah Coombes Lab West Bromwich
Justice & Courts
Context

The MP seeks an assessment on how effective the SFO has been in recent years.

Question

What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Serious Fraud Office. Over the past five years, the SFO has secured more than half a billion pounds through deferred prosecution agreements, sentencing outcomes and proceeds of crime orders, including recently securing guilty pleas from three former directors, who defrauded over 3,000 UK investors in a £70 million green investment fraud.

Answer from Ellie Reeves

I would like to pay tribute to Nick Ephgrave for his dedication, professionalism and tenacity during his tenure as director of the Serious Fraud Office. Over the past five years, the SFO has secured more than half a billion pounds through deferred prosecution agreements, sentencing outcomes and proceeds of crime orders, including recently securing guilty pleas from three former directors, who defrauded over 3,000 UK investors in a £70 million green investment fraud.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Sarah Coombes Lab West Bromwich
Crime & Law Enforcement Economy
Context

The MP addresses serious fraud and its impact on the UK economy, highlighting that only 10% of fraud referrals come from whistleblowers.

Question

Scams are devastating for the victims in my constituency, but serious fraud is insidious and is undermining the UK economy. Given the Serious Fraud Office recently found that just 10% of fraud referrals are coming from whistleblowers, what more are the Government doing to empower whistleblowers to come forward and to protect them when they do?

Answer from Ellie Reeves

I recognise the vital role that whistleblowers play in uncovering serious economic crime, and the need to ensure that they are properly protected and supported when they come forward. Through the recently launched UK anti-corruption strategy, the Government have committed to exploring opportunities to reform the UK whistleblowing framework, including through potential financial incentives.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response acknowledges the need for whistleblower protection but does not provide specific details on how this will be achieved or any timelines.

How: Under Review

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email