PEOPLE sending money overseas to family and friends are to get better protection, thanks to a new customer charter for money transfer companies.

The charter was launched by Dewsbury MP Shahid Malik, who is also International Development Minister.

It aims to deal with the biggest worries people sending money experience.

These are whether it will arrive safely, being charged excessive fees and delays in the money being received.

A total of £2.3bn is sent from people in the UK to relatives in over 50 development countries every year.

The biggest recipient countries are India – which gets £300m – and Pakistan, which receives £200m.

In Yorkshire £160m a year is sent abroad.

This money is a key source of income for many families overseas, but lots of people say they find the process difficult and insecure.

The charter has been developed by UK Remittances Task Force, for the Government’s Department for International Develop-ment.

Companies do not have to sign up to the charter; it is voluntary.