Written questions by Hall.

What estimate her Department has made of financial losses to consumers caused by cryptocurrency-related scams; and what steps she is taking to improve (a) prevention, (b) enforcement and (c) consumer protection for those scams.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)’s most recent consumer research publication provides indications of the levels of cryptoasset related fraud in the UK. This research is available online at: https://www.fca.org.uk/publication/research-notes/cryptoasset-consumer-research-2024-wave-5.pdf The Government takes the issue of fraud very seriously and is developing a new and expanded fraud strategy to further protect the public and businesses from this appalling crime. Relevant cryptoasset firms are already subject to UK financial promotions requirements, and required to register with the FCA for money laundering supervision. Building on this, the Government is introducing a comprehensive financial services regulatory regime for cryptoassets this year. The new regime will provide further protections for UK consumers, by requiring firms offering them services to be authorised and regulated by the FCA.

How many penalties were issued for non-submission of self-assessment tax returns in each of the last five years.

Late filing penalties are issued when a taxpayer fails to file an Income Tax Self Assessment (ITSA) return on or before the filing date (October 31 for paper, January 31 online). HMRC requires the information provided in a tax return to establish tax liability and to effectively administer the tax system. If a return is filed late, HMRC will issue a penalty. Penalties encourage taxpayers to file on time and support the collection of tax. Currently, late filing penalties for self assessment are:a fixed penalty if the initial filing deadline is misseddaily penalties (issued to a 90 day maximum) once three months has passed following the filing deadlinea fixed or tax geared penalty (whichever is higher) six months following the filing deadlinea fixed or tax geared penalty (whichever is higher) twelve months following the filing deadline Below is the late filing penalty data for tax years 2018/19-2022/23, for all of the late filing penalties listed above. Volume of all ITSA late filing penalties raisedTax year*2018/192019/202020/212021/222022/23 ***Number of Late Filing Penalties raised**2,200,0003,100,0003,300,0003,000,0002,400,000* penalties issued in respect of this tax year e.g. penalties for the 2022/23 tax year are issued after the January 2024 filing deadline ** total number of penalties issued, rounded to the nearest 100,000. Some customers may receive multiple late filing penalties in a year the longer their return is outstanding. *** complete data is not yet available for penalties issued in respect of the 2022/23 tax yearThis data includes penalties for returns that have been submitted late to HMRC, as well as returns which have not yet been submitted to HMRC. It also reflects changes in the size or makeup of the Self-Assessment population from year to year.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the denial of acess to the Mandatory Provident Fund by people from Hong Kong who are living in the UK on a British National (Overseas) visa on the financial wellbeing of those people; and if she will make an estimate of the amount of retirement savings held in the Mandatory Provident Fund by people from Hong Kong living in the UK.

This government is deeply committed to supporting members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK. We are aware that individuals who have chosen to take up the British National (Overseas) route are having difficulties accessing their Mandatory Provident Fund from Hong Kong. Whilst documentary requirements for withdrawing funds are a matter for the Hong Kong authorities, officials have raised this issue directly with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Hong Kong MPF Schemes Authority. We have urged them to facilitate early draw down of funds as is the case for other Hong Kong residents who move overseas permanently and have made clear such discrimination of BN(O)s is unacceptable.