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To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if the Government will investigate the effectiveness of measures to prevent fraud in on-line shopping transactions; what powers there are to protect on-line shoppers from fraud; what steps the Government plans to take to make internet shopping more secure.

Asked by

Keith Vaz (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Trade and Industry

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

14 December 2004

For answer on

31 January 2005

Answered on

31 January 2005

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if the Government will investigate the effectiveness of measures to prevent fraud in online shopping transactions; [205549] (2) what powers there are to protect online shoppers from fraud; [205550] (3) what steps the Government plans to take to make internet shopping more secure. [210010] Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Government works with the police and industry to tackle fraud and other online crime through a number of initiatives. A key factor in dealing with online fraud is prevention and education and the Government take an active role in educating computer users about the risks of fraud committed through the internet. The Home Office website provides advice on avoiding internet fraud and the Home Office has also created, and maintains the `e-tailing mini site', which forms part of the crime reduction website. The mini site provides information to help both businesses and consumers protect themselves specifically when using the internet. The Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000 protect consumers against payment card fraud including credit cards. The Regulations apply to contracts made at a distance including online ones. The Card issuer is required to reimburse consumers the full amount in the event of fraudulent use of the consumer's card. In addition, the Consumer Credit Act 1974 also allows consumers to recover the cost of a purchase made by credit card from either the supplier or the credit card provider. This provides additional protection should a consumer be unable to trace the company they were dealing with over the internet. The Banking Code stipulates the consumers' liability for misuse of a card will be limited unless there is evidence that they have acted fraudulently or without reasonable care. Through the Department of Trade and Industry's Safe Internet Shopping initiative consumers have access to information on how to shop online safely. Consumers need to be aware of security features on websites and to look for a closed padlock sign when they are asked for personal details. The Consumer Direct website at www.consumerdirect.gov.uk also offers advice on internet auctions, online scams and information on a range of consumer-related issues. The Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000 are included in a list of EC Directives, which is part of the Injunctions Directive. The Injunctions Directive requires all member states to have in place arrangements, which will allow certain unlawful actions harmful to consumers to be stopped in good time. The Injunctions Directive allows consumer protection bodies designated by the member states to apply to the courts or competent administrative authorities for orders to require traders to cease conduct that constitutes a breach of any of the consumer protection directives specified. Part 8 of the Enterprise Act 2002 implements the Injunctions Directive in the UK. Co-operation arrangements exist to ensure we can tackle scams that cross borders. In Europe member states have just agreed a Regulation (Consumer Protection Co-operation) to ensure that all consumer protection enforcement agencies are working closely together to combat cross border scams, and 30 OECD countries have all signed up to a co-operation agreement to tackle cross border fraud that affects consumers. The International Consumer Protection Enforcement Network (ICPEN) is a network of consumer protection enforcement agencies in over 30 countries that exists to facilitate cross border co-operation on cross border scams and consumer fraud. The Home Office has published, jointly with the Association for Payment Clearing Services (APACS) a leaflet on card safety, which includes a section on using cards safely over the internet. The leaflet has been sent to all police forces in England and Wales, and to Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships. It is also available on the Home Office website and the e-tailing mini site, and APACS members (banks) will be sending a version of the leaflet to their cardholders. The Home Office is represented on an industry-led Steering Group, which aims to tackle `Card Not Present' (CNP) fraud (which includes fraud over the internet). We support practical measures being introduced by the industry to increase levels of security for internet transactions. These include Address Verification Services (AVS) and Card Security Code (CSC), along with Mastercard Secure Code and Verified by Visa which require password verification for internet transactions. These initiatives are already making a significant impact on CNP Fraud. The work of the CNP Steering Group has also led to the production of a manual (Spot and Stop Card Fraud Retailer Pack), which aims to educate merchants on the dangers of CNP fraud and the steps which can be taken to prevent it. Government are also involved in the development of Project Endurance, an initiative that will launch an internet security public awareness campaign in spring this year. The project is an alliance of public and private sector, which brings together a number of UK Government Departments and law enforcement organisations with a number of high-profile private sector companies. This campaign is to be targeted at micro businesses and consumers, primarily aimed at helping these users gain confidence in using the internet. We will continue to monitor and review the effectiveness of these many different initiatives.

Date

31 January 2005

Reference

430 c625-7W; 205549;205550;210010

House

House of Commons

Dept of Trade and Industry

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will refer the operators of premium telephone number 090 66 33 6929 to the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services.

Asked by

Nick Gibb (Conservative)

Answering body

Department of Trade and Industry

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

24 January 2005

Reference

209389; 430 c41W

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many alleged contraventions of the Data Protection Act 1998 are outstanding before the Information Commissioner; what the date is of the oldest complaint; what is (a) the average and (b) the mean age of outstanding complaints; and if he...

Asked by

Andrew Dismore (Labour)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

30 April 2001

For answer on

3 May 2001

Answered on

3 May 2001

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many alleged contraventions of the Data Protection Act 1998 are outstanding before the Information Commissioner; what the date is of the oldest complaint; what is (a) the average and (b) the mean age of outstanding complaints; and if he will make a statement; [160161] (2) in what circumstances, when requested to do so on a complaint under section 55 of the Data Protection Act 1998, the Information Commissioner will institute (a) criminal inquiries and (b) downgrade the complaint to an assessment under section 42; [160160] (3) in what circumstances the Information Commissioner will require from a complainant, before investigating a complaint under (a) section 55 and (b) section 42, (i) conclusive evidence of breaches of the Data Protection Act 1998, (ii) compelling evidence, (iii) prima facie case or (iv) other supporting evidence, and in each case, on what basis the request by the Commissioner is made; and if he will make a statement; [160158] (4) under a complaint made under section 42 of the Data Protection Act 1998, evidence obtained by the Information Commissioner is admissible evidence where breaches of section 55 are revealed by the Commissioner's investigation; and if he will make a statement; [160157] (5) when he expects to receive a report on the complaint to the Data Protection Commissioner, dated 27 July 2000, made by Hendon Conservative Association against the Conservative Party Secretariat; and if he will make a statement. [160159] Mr. Mike O'Brien: These questions cover matters which fall within the operational responsibility of the Information Commissioner. The Commissioner administers and enforces the Data Protection Act 1998 independently of the Government. I have noted the length of time taken to resolve the issue and I have written to the Commissioner asking when she will be in a position to resolve this matter and drawing her attention to the issues raised by my hon. Friend's questions. I understand she will reply directly to him. The Commissioner publishes complaints statistics in her annual report to Parliament and a statement of her policy on the handling of assessments under section 42 of the 1998 Act is available on her website at www.dataprotection.gov.uk.

Date

3 May 2001

Reference

367 c708-9W; 160161;160160;160158;160157;160159

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the measures on alcohol related crime contained in the Criminal Justice and Policing Bill will apply to licensed bars in private sports clubs; and if he will make a statement on police powers of enforcement in such cases.

Asked by

Steve Webb (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

8 February 2001

Reference

149586; 362 c669W

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the use of test purchases of alcohol by minors to enable detection and enforcement of licensing laws. - Inc ref to Alcohol Education and Research Council annual report 1999-2000 (copy in...

Asked by

Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

27 November 2000

Reference

357 c444W; 140001

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to introduce tighter controls to limit the sale of exotic animals; and if he will make a statement; what his policy is in respect of the animal welfare implications of the sale of reptiles in DIY...

Asked by

Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

31 January 2000

For answer on

3 February 2000

Answered on

3 February 2000

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to introduce tighter controls to limit the sale of exotic animals; and if he will make a statement; [108179] (2) what his policy is in respect of the animal welfare implications of the sale of reptiles in DIY stores; and if he will make a statement. [108178] Mr. Mike O'Brien: Our policy is to ensure that law is in place to safeguard the welfare of animals offered for sale as pets. This applies as much to reptiles in do-it-yourself stores, as it does to animals sold through other outlets. We intend that the law should be effectively enforced. We believe that the Pet Animals Act 1951 (as amended), together with the Protection of Animals Act 1911 (as amended), meet that objective. Although there is no plan to introduce tighter controls at present, we will keep the situation under review to ensure the law is able to address the issues. Under the 1951 Act, persons in the business of selling pet animals must be licensed by local authorities. The licence conditions have to cover the suitability and cleanliness of the animals' accommodation, feeding arrangements, and protection from disease and fire. The local authority may inspect licensed premises at all reasonable times, and a breach of licence conditions may result in a fine of £500 and/or three months imprisonment for the offender, as well as his or her disqualification from keeping a pet shop in future. Under the 1911 Act, it is an offence, punishable by a fine of up to £5,000 and/or six months imprisonment, to cause unnecessary suffering to any domestic or captive animal, and this includes animals kept as stock by persons trading in pets, both before and after their sale. In addition, some species of reptile may be lawfully kept, after purchase from a pet supplier, only by someone suitably licensed under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976. Others may be threatened species controlled under the Convention on the Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), under which welfare requirements must be satisfied before the animals concerned are allowed to enter the country. There is control over their subsequent movements.

Date

3 February 2000

Reference

343 c706-7W; 108179;108178

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action his Department is taking in respect of unscrupulous puppy farmers.

Asked by

Jane Griffiths (Labour)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

11 January 2000

Reference

104393; 342 c124W

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what initiatives his Department has launched to protect wildlife (a) in the UK and (b) on Merseyside.

Asked by

Claire Curtis-Thomas (Labour)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

8 October 1999

For answer on

26 October 1999

Answered on

26 October 1999

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what initiatives his Department has launched to protect wildlife (a) in the UK and (b) on Merseyside. [94653] Mr. Mike O'Brien: Government policy responsibility for wildlife conservation rests mainly with the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR). There are no initiatives on this in which the Home Office has the lead role. The principal national initiative, overseen by the DETR, but to which the Home Office suscribes, is the Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime (PAW), launched in 1995 and fully supported by this Government. It provides a forum for Government Departments, voluntary organisations and wildlife user groups to make a strategic contribution to the fight against wildlife crime. PAW supports a network of over 250 Police Wildlife Liaison Officers (PWLOs) in police forces across the United Kingdom, including the Merseyside Police. PAW also hosts an annual conference of PWLOs. Enforcement responsibility for wildlife crime rests with the police and, in the case of illegal imports and exports, with Her Majesty's Customs and Excise. Local initiatives to combat wildlife crime are matters for chief police officers in the light of their overall policing priorities. Merseyside Police are active in this area, and have most recently been targeting unlawful collection of birds' eggs, with the result that prosecutions are pending. A number of persons in Merseyside have also been cautioned for wildlife offences this year. To assist local enforcement efforts across the country, PAW has made a number of recommendations, including that the courts be given the option, at present unavailable to them, of imposing custodial sentences for wildlife offences. The Government will be implementing this as soon as a suitable legislative opportunity arises.

Date

26 October 1999

Reference

94653; 336 c814W

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many failed asylum seekers departed voluntarily in each month since January 1997. - Inc table.

Asked by

David Lidington (Conservative)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

20 July 1999

For answer on

23 July 1999

Answered on

23 July 1999

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many failed asylum seekers departed voluntarily in each month since January 1997. [92780] Mr. Mike O'Brien: The available information is given in the table. The data do not include voluntary departures of in-country asylum applicants against whom enforcement action had not been initiated; the number of such departures cannot be quantified directly from Immigration and Nationality Directorate databases. Some persons may leave voluntarily without the knowledge of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate and, by definition, we have no record of the number of such departures. Voluntary departures {1} of asylum applicants, excluding dependants, 1 January 1997 to 31 December 1998 {2} _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Number of persons 1997 1998 January 170 150 February 150 140 March 180 140 April 160 140 May 150 120 June 150 120 July 140 {2}120 August 130 {2}150 September 130 {2}130 October 180 {2}190 November 150 {2}200 December 120 {2}200 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. {1} For port applicants the data cover voluntary departures up to and including notification of the decision on the asylum application but exclude any subsequent departure. For in-country applicants the data cover `voluntary' departures following enforcement action but exclude voluntary departures where enforcement action has not been initiated. Some persons may leave voluntarily without the knowledge of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. {2} Data for July to December 1998 are provisional estimates.

Date

23 July 1999

Reference

92780; 335 c741W;335 c743-4W

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is his estimate of the annual cost of enforcement action against failed asylum applicants by (a) the immigration service and (b) the police service in each of the last five years. - (Holding answer 29 March 1999). This information...

Asked by

James Clappison (Conservative)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

31 March 1999

Reference

78659; 328 c699W

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is his estimate of the current total number of persons living in the UK who have no legal right to do so; and, of these, how many (a) have had enforcement action initiated against them but not completed, (b)...

Asked by

James Clappison (Conservative)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

29 March 1999

Reference

328 c545W; 78665

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many deportation orders were (a) signed and (b) enforced in each of the last three months for which figures are available. - Inc table.

Asked by

James Clappison (Conservative)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

29 March 1999

Reference

328 c542W; 78635

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many marriages have been reported by the Registrar General to his Department as marriages entered into for the purpose of breaching immigration control since 1994; how many reports of sham marriages from the Registrar General to his Department have...

Asked by

James Clappison (Conservative)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

29 March 1999

Reference

328 c548-9W; 78604;78603

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many deportation orders were made in each year from 1992 to 1996; and how many have not yet been executed. - Inc table and available figs.

Asked by

Christopher Chope (Conservative)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

28 January 1999

For answer on

2 February 1999

Answered on

2 February 1999

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deportation orders were made in each year from 1992 to 1996; and how many have not yet been executed. [68985] Mr. Mike O'Brien: The available information is given in the table. It should be noted that some deportation orders may not have been executable for legal reasons. Deportation orders made and numbers of those not executed {1}, 1992 to 1996 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Year Number of deportation orders made Of which: number not executed {1} 1992 890 {2}-- 1993 1,240 {2}-- 1994 1,540 570 1995 1,690 730 1996 1,880 980 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. {1} Relates to the number of deportation orders made in the year concerned which had not been executed by January 1999. The figures exclude deportation orders enforced and cases where deportation is no longer appropriate. {2} Data not available Note: Figures are rounded

Date

2 February 1999

Reference

68985; 324 c546-7W

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were removed from the United Kingdom as a result of the enforcement of a deportation order in each year since 1992; how many people were removed or departed voluntarily in each year since 1992, following the initiation...

Asked by

Christopher Chope (Conservative)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

2 February 1999

Reference

324 c546W; 68988;68984

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many employers have been (a) investigated, (b) charged, (c) prosecuted and (d) convicted under section 8(1) of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996, to the latest convenient date. - Includes ref to White Paper 'Fairer, Faster and Firmer -...

Asked by

Fiona Mactaggart (Labour)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

27 October 1998

Reference

318 c119W; 56464

House

House of Commons

Librarians' tools

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House

Session

Year

Department

Member

Primary member

Answering member

Legislative stage

Legislation

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