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Written question asked by Lord Weir of Ballyholme (Democratic Unionist Party) on Monday, 2 March 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 16 March 2026. It was answered by Lord Livermore (Labour) on Tuesday, 17 March 2026 on behalf of the Treasury.

Credit Rating: Domestic Abuse

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to allow a victim of financial coercive control to reset their credit score to its value before the abusive relationship began.

Answer

Last year, the Government published a Financial Inclusion Strategy which includes economic abuse as a key theme across its areas of focus, in recognition of the particular challenges victim-survivors can face in accessing financial products and services.

The Strategy seeks to support victim-survivors to regain financial independence. This includes an intervention to improve the impact of economic abuse on victim-survivors’ credit scores and, through this, their ability to access products going forward. This work will develop appropriate options lenders should take when reporting data to Credit Reference Agencies (CRAs), depending on the victim-survivor’s circumstances, to minimise the negative impact on their credit files. The Government is continuing to work closely with CRAs, lenders, and consumer organisations as this work develops.

The Economic Secretary was also pleased to recently welcome Sam Smethers, CEO of Surviving Economic Abuse, a leading economic abuse charity, to the Financial Inclusion Committee. This Committee helped develop the Strategy and will support its delivery moving forward.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL15066
Session
2024-26
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Credit rating Domestic abuse
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk