To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the answer of 20 April 2026 to Question 124770 on Elections: Proof of Identity, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of that policy on levels of personation in areas with large numbers...

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the answer of 20 April 2026 to Question 124770 on Elections: Proof of Identity, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of that policy on levels of personation in areas with large numbers...

What steps her Department is taking to help tackle identity fraud.

What steps her Department is taking to help tackle identity fraud.

We have launched a new £250 million fraud strategy focused on preventing fraud, protecting victims and strengthening enforcement. We are working closely with the City of London police to establish referral routes so that identity fraud victims can access identity repair services, and we will continue to develop guidance, tools and partnerships to help victims to recover quickly and to reduce repeat harm.

We have launched a new £250 million fraud strategy focused on preventing fraud, protecting victims and strengthening enforcement. We are working closely with the City of London police to establish referral routes so that identity fraud victims can access identity repair services, and we will continue to develop guidance, tools and partnerships to help victims to recover quickly and to reduce repeat harm.

Several of my constituents have had their identity stolen, leading to devastating consequences. A serving member of our armed forces had his house purchase delayed after his credit file was marked as a risk. Too often, identity theft is bundled into other offences such as computer misuse and not pursued at all. Having been a counter-fraud specialist, I know how widespread this issue has become. Will my hon. Friend meet me and campaigners to discuss the case for identity fraud becoming a stand-alone offence?

Several of my constituents have had their identity stolen, leading to devastating consequences. A serving member of our armed forces had his house purchase delayed after his credit file was marked as a risk. Too often, identity theft is bundled into other offences such as computer misuse and not pursued at all. Having been a counter-fraud specialist, I know how widespread this issue has become. Will my hon. Friend meet me and campaigners to discuss the case for identity fraud becoming a stand-alone offence?

My hon. Friend speaks with real authority on these matters. He will know that the theft of personal information is already criminalised in legislation, including the Fraud Act 2006, the Computer Misuse Act 1990 and the Data Protection Act 2018. To ensure that those laws remain effective, we commissioned an independent review of disclosures and fraud offences. The review has submitted its final report to the Government and will be published shortly. We will consider its findings carefully and what further action may be needed to strengthen our response to identity fraud. I am sure that the noble Lord Hanson will happily meet my hon. Friend.

My hon. Friend speaks with real authority on these matters. He will know that the theft of personal information is already criminalised in legislation, including the Fraud Act 2006, the Computer Misuse Act 1990 and the Data Protection Act 2018. To ensure that those laws remain effective, we commissioned an independent review of disclosures and fraud offences. The review has submitted its final report to the Government and will be published shortly. We will consider its findings carefully and what further action may be needed to strengthen our response to identity fraud. I am sure that the noble Lord Hanson will happily meet my hon. Friend.

At my constituency surgery on Friday, Mr De Mesquita spoke to me about his concerns that Report Fraud was not passing on to local police forces information about victims of identity fraud. Given that those victims are often vulnerable and likely to be victims of other crimes, will the Minister let us know what he is doing to ensure that Report Fraud is passing on to local police forces the details of victims of such crimes?

At my constituency surgery on Friday, Mr De Mesquita spoke to me about his concerns that Report Fraud was not passing on to local police forces information about victims of identity fraud. Given that those victims are often vulnerable and likely to be victims of other crimes, will the Minister let us know what he is doing to ensure that Report Fraud is passing on to local police forces the details of victims of such crimes?

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for raising that important point, and I assure him that I will raise it with the noble Lord Hanson, who leads on matters relating to fraud. I hope the hon. Gentleman acknowledges that the Government have invested £250 million in working with a range of different organisations to bear down on the levels of fraud that we are seeing. That includes law enforcement, GCHQ, banks, telecommunications and tech partners, and civil society. We have also invested £31 million in a new online crime centre. I will look carefully at the points that he makes and refer them to Lord Hanson.

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for raising that important point, and I assure him that I will raise it with the noble Lord Hanson, who leads on matters relating to fraud. I hope the hon. Gentleman acknowledges that the Government have invested £250 million in working with a range of different organisations to bear down on the levels of fraud that we are seeing. That includes law enforcement, GCHQ, banks, telecommunications and tech partners, and civil society. We have also invested £31 million in a new online crime centre. I will look carefully at the points that he makes and refer them to Lord Hanson.

For years now, I have been trying to help a constituent who has been the subject of repeated identity fraud via their NHS records. Meetings with Ministers have been cancelled or refused, and questions and letters to the Home Office, Ministry of Justice and Department of Health and Social Care...

For years now, I have been trying to help a constituent who has been the subject of repeated identity fraud via their NHS records. Meetings with Ministers have been cancelled or refused, and questions and letters to the Home Office, Ministry of Justice and Department of Health and Social Care...

I am sorry to hear of the experience of my hon. Friend’s constituent; if she lets me have the details, I will raise it with the relevant Departments and see if we can get the answers that she seeks.

I am sorry to hear of the experience of my hon. Friend’s constituent; if she lets me have the details, I will raise it with the relevant Departments and see if we can get the answers that she seeks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the report by the Electoral Commission on voter ID at the 2024 General Election, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of allowing vouching or attestation in polling stations on levels...

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the report by the Electoral Commission on voter ID at the 2024 General Election, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of allowing vouching or attestation in polling stations on levels...

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department collects on (a) digital impersonation of children and (b) other forms of online crime.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department collects on (a) digital impersonation of children and (b) other forms of online crime.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what coordination exists between departments including the Department for Work and Pensions and HM Revenue and Customs in investigating suspected identity theft involving government digital services.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what coordination exists between departments including the Department for Work and Pensions and HM Revenue and Customs in investigating suspected identity theft involving government digital services.

As the current Youth Parliament draws to the end of its term, can I put on record my thanks to you, Mr Speaker, for your continued support of our Youth Parliament? Earlier this week, I met Bobby Forbes, who is Cumbria’s Member of Youth Parliament. Yesterday, the Select Committee that...

As the current Youth Parliament draws to the end of its term, can I put on record my thanks to you, Mr Speaker, for your continued support of our Youth Parliament? Earlier this week, I met Bobby Forbes, who is Cumbria’s Member of Youth Parliament. Yesterday, the Select Committee that...

I thank my hon. Friend for bringing this important matter to the House. The Youth Select Committee is an excellent initiative, and this Government continue to take steps to ensure that young people’s voices can be heard in our democracy, not least in the dependence we placed on the voices...

I thank my hon. Friend for bringing this important matter to the House. The Youth Select Committee is an excellent initiative, and this Government continue to take steps to ensure that young people’s voices can be heard in our democracy, not least in the dependence we placed on the voices...

Clause 7, discussed with clauses 8 to 14 stand part. Clauses 7 to 16 agreed to. Amendment to clause 17 negatived on division (3 votes to 10). Clauses 17 to 19 agreed to. Schedule 2 agreed to. Clause 20 agreed to on division (10 votes to 3). Amendment to clause 21 negatived on division (3 votes to 10). Clause 21 agreed to on division (10 votes to 3). Clause 22 agreed to on division (10 votes to 3). Clause 23 agreed to on division (10 votes to 3). Clause 24 agreed to on division (10 votes to 3). Clause 25 agreed to on division (10 votes to 3). Clause 26 agreed to on division (10 votes to 3). Clause 27 agreed to on division (10 votes to 3). Clause 28 agreed to on division (10 votes to 3). Clause 29 agreed to on division (10 votes to 3). Committee adjourned till Thursday 26 March. Written evidence reported to the House.

Clause 7, discussed with clauses 8 to 14 stand part. Clauses 7 to 16 agreed to. Amendment to clause 17 negatived on division (3 votes to 10). Clauses 17 to 19 agreed to. Schedule 2 agreed to. Clause 20 agreed to on division (10 votes to 3). Amendment to clause...

Examination of witnesses. Programme motion amended. Written evidence reported.

Examination of witnesses. Programme motion amended. Written evidence reported.

The noble Baroness did, actually. She said that nothing was happening under this Government. Every Member on this side of the House heard her say that.

The hour is late so I will go to the nub of the issue, which is the amendment from the noble Lord, Lord Jackson. Law...

The noble Baroness did, actually. She said that nothing was happening under this Government. Every Member on this side of the House heard her say that.

The hour is late so I will go to the nub of the issue, which is the amendment from the noble Lord, Lord Jackson. Law...

Lords report stage third day. Amendment 334 agreed to on division (213 to 145). Amendments 338 to 340, 345, 347, 349 and 353 agreed to. Amendment 358 disagreed to on division (52 to 146). Amendment 359 disagreed to on division (129 to 132). Amendments 362 to 365 agreed to. (Part 2 of 2).

Lords report stage third day. Amendment 334 agreed to on division (213 to 145). Amendments 338 to 340, 345, 347, 349 and 353 agreed to. Amendment 358 disagreed to on division (52 to 146). Amendment 359 disagreed to on division (129 to 132). Amendments 362 to 365 agreed to. (Part...