The Government wants to see this issue resolved in an efficient and orderly way that provides certainty for consumers and firms.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), as the independent regulator, has consulted on proposals for a motor finance consumer redress scheme. The FCA has indicated that it will finalise the rules of the scheme by the end of March.

We have already agreed a fair settlement with the BBC that will see the licence fee remain frozen until 2024. However, the hon. Member has raised an excellent point. I have been clear about the fact that the BBC needs to be realistic about what is possible in an environment like this, and the licence fee should rise only at a level that people can actually afford. The Culture Secretary has said that “we are looking at” this issue right now, and she will set out more details in due course.

LINK (the scheme that runs the UK's largest ATM network) publishes the total number of free-to-use ATMs across the UK. For January 2021, LINK reported that there were around 41,500 free-to-use ATMs in the UK. LINK’s Monthly ATM Footprint Report also publishes information monthly on the break down by constituency.

LINK (the scheme that runs the UK's largest ATM network) publishes the total number of free-to-use ATMs across the UK. As of January 2022, LINK reported that there were around 41,000 free-to-use ATMs in the UK. LINK’s Monthly ATM Footprint Report also publishes information monthly on the break down by constituency.

More broadly, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) publishes data on access to cash coverage across the UK. As of the third quarter of 2021, the FCA reported that nearly 96% of the UK population are within 2km of a free-to-use cash access point.

The government recognises that the ability to access to cash remains important to millions of people across the UK and has committed to legislating to protect access to cash.

Last year, the Government held an Access to Cash Consultation on proposals for new laws to make sure people only need to travel a reasonable distance to pay in or take out cash. The Government’s proposals intend to support the continued use of cash in people’s daily lives and help to enable local businesses to continue accepting cash by ensuring they can access deposit facilities. The Government will set out next steps in due course.

As I said in my previous answer, this is something that I am continuing to review. I reiterate that the BBC has taken no action against anyone over 75 years of age—no one. This is something that I am watching very carefully. I cannot say much more at this stage, but I do have a close eye on it.

I refer the hon. Member for East Londonderry to the answer I gave on 7 July 2020 to Question 68342.

The Government understands that Ofcom has recently published updated licensing information for people and organisations wishing to put on drive-in services. These events need a ‘restricted service licence’, so people in their cars can hear what is being said on their car radios.

It is for Ofcom, as the independent regulator, to set tariffs to cover their licensing costs, and to ensure that these are reasonable attributable to the sectors from which they recover them.

Fees for restricted service licences will vary according to the band, the power and the duration for which the applicant requires the licence, and the options and associated costs are set out in Ofcom’s annually published tariff tables.

The Government recognises that widespread access to cash remains extremely important for consumers and businesses across the whole of the United Kingdom, particularly in rural areas.

That is why, at the March 2020 Budget, the Chancellor announced that the Government will bring forward legislation to protect access to cash. This will ensure that millions of people can get the cash they need when they need it.

This announcement builds upon existing initiatives from industry. LINK, the scheme that runs the UK’s largest ATM network, has acted to protect remote free-to-use ATMs which are one kilometre or further from the next nearest free-to-use ATM or Post Office. Furthermore, LINK continue to support the viability of ATMs in rural areas through premium fees paid to ATM deployers.

The Government-established Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) is closely monitoring developments within ATM provision. The PSR regulates LINK, the scheme which runs the UK’s ATM network and has used its powers to hold LINK to account over LINK’s commitments to preserve the broad geographic spread of the ATM network.

Additionally, LINK has put in place specific arrangements to protect free-to-use ATMs more than 1 kilometre away from the next nearest free-to-use ATM and has also enhanced its Financial Inclusion Programme, tripling the funding available to ATMs in the most deprived areas of the UK. LINK has also announced new additional premiums to safeguard the presence of free-to-use ATMs in remote and deprived areas.

The intention of speed awareness courses is not to raise money for general government expenditure. Anyone committing a speeding offence who accepts a speed awareness course in lieu of other police enforcement action is required to pay to attend a course; course fees are set at a level that covers the cost of the courses and related expenses.

The Government continues to work closely with the FCA to ensure there is a competitive, innovative retirement income market and that customers are treated fairly and benefit from appropriate protections.

After the pension freedoms were introduced in April 2015, some consumers were facing early exit charges of 5% or more of the fund value. Consequently, the Government legislated for the FCA to introduce a cap on early exit charges, which came into force from 31 March 2017. The Government estimated that the 1% cap introduced by the FCA would lead to savings for consumers of £42.7m between 2017 and 2020.

The Government has no plans to undertake a review of the operation of the early exit charge cap at this time.

The Government have developed a range of savings products and incentives, or encouraged providers to do so, to reflect the range of needs. We have also raised the ISA allowance to £20,000 and introduced the personal savings allowance, meaning that 95% of people do not pay any tax on their savings income. It is important that we have that range of options for all age groups.

HM Revenue and Customs does not collect the requested information. Any VAT paid that is not properly due can be refunded subject to the normal rules. Guidance on how VAT registered businesses can recover overpaid tax can be found on the gov.uk website.

People who have saved responsibly should be able to access their pensions fairly; they should not face prohibitive charges that block them from exiting their current deal.

That is why the government placed a duty on the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to cap excessive early exit charges and the Department for Work and Pensions is taking similar steps for occupational pension schemes.

The FCA rules to discharge this duty will come into effect from 31 March 2017, and as a result early exit charges:

• will be capped at 1% of the value of a member’s benefits being taken, converted or transferred from a scheme;

• cannot be increased in existing schemes that currently have early exit charges set at less than 1% of the member’s benefits under a scheme; and

• cannot apply in schemes entered into after the proposed new rules come into force.

There is already consumer protection legislation in place that protects consumers when dealing with traders, including car hire firms. The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPRs) prohibit traders from engaging in unfair commercial practices, such as providing false or deceptive information or descriptions to consumers or leaving out material information.

Local authority trading standards services and the Competition and Markets Authority enforce the CPRs, and breaches of the legislation can be reported to the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 04 05 06 in the first instance.

In addition, the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 (CCRs) require traders entering into distance and online contracts to provide consumers with a range of pre-purchase information in a clear and comprehensive manner, including any additional costs and how they will be calculated.

Finally, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA) provides a wide range of protections for consumers, including restricting the use of unfair terms in consumer contracts. Under the CRA, an ‘unfair term’ is defined as one which, contrary to the requirements of good faith, causes a significant imbalance in the parties’ rights and obligations under the contract to the detriment of the consumer. If a court decides a term is unfair, it will not be binding on the consumer.

A term, such as the price and the main subject matter, may be exempted from the assessment of fairness if it is transparent and prominent (expressed in plain and intelligible language and legible) and brought to the consumer’s attention in such a way as the average consumer would be aware of it.

The consumer protection legislation referred to implements EU legislation which applies in all other member states.

The Home Office has made no assessment of the effect of the visa refund fee scheme because it is operated by Visit Britain on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Treasury Ministers and officials receive representations and have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.

As has been the practice adopted by previous Administrations it is not Government policy to normally release details of such meetings.

HM Passport Office (HMPO) received 6 complaints during the period 2014 to 2015 relating to the passport services offered on the website provided by UK Services and Support Limited. HMPO, in conjunction with the Cabinet Office Digital Service, is working with the Office of Fair Trading, the Advertising Standards Authority, search engine providers and various trading standard bodies to curtail the activities of websites that advertise their services in a way which may be misleading to the public. HMPO has specifically worked with
Google for sponsored adverts from third party websites to be taken down and not to appear above the natural search results.