Recommendations & Conclusions
10 items
2
Conclusion
Second Report - Edinburgh Reforms One Y…
Not Addressed
The Sub-Committee agrees with the Treasury that the UK’s regulators should consider economic growth when designing new regulations, and the best way to promote economic growth in the UK is through a strong, well respected, independently regulated, and financially resilient financial services sector.
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The Sub-Committee agrees with the Treasury that the UK’s regulators should consider economic growth when designing new regulations, and the best way to promote economic growth in the UK is through a strong, well respected, independently regulated, and financially resilient financial services sector.
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Government response AI summary
The government's response rejects any suggestion that its reforms will not significantly impact the economy or could be delivered faster, affirming confidence that its current wide-ranging package is promoting growth and competitiveness, but it does not directly address the committee's supportive conclusion.
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HM Treasury
3
Conclusion
Second Report - Edinburgh Reforms One Y…
Not Addressed
The Sub-Committee has raised concerns with the FCA about the risks to widening retail investment in Long-Term Asset Funds, since they are riskier non-liquid assets. These concerns are in part formed by our work looking into the failure of London Capital and Finance, and the role of promoters in potentially …
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The Sub-Committee has raised concerns with the FCA about the risks to widening retail investment in Long-Term Asset Funds, since they are riskier non-liquid assets. These concerns are in part formed by our work looking into the failure of London Capital and Finance, and the role of promoters in potentially misusing exemptions for high net-worth individuals and so-called sophisticated investors, to garner greater sales. The Sub-Committee continues to have concerns in this area, and therefore about the protections the FCA is, in part, drawing upon for Long-term asset fund sales to a wider range of retail investors.
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Government response AI summary
The government's response focuses on the Advice Guidance Boundary Review consultation to improve consumer access to affordable advice in the retail investment market, without directly addressing the specific concerns raised about Long-Term Asset Funds and protections against misuse of investor exemptions.
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HM Treasury
4
Conclusion
Second Report - Edinburgh Reforms One Y…
In our July 2023 report on venture capital funding we concluded that we were in favour of pension scheme consolidation where appropriate. Our view has not changed since. We therefore restate our conclusion on pension scheme consolidation in this report:
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In our July 2023 report on venture capital funding we concluded that we were in favour of pension scheme consolidation where appropriate. Our view has not changed since. We therefore restate our conclusion on pension scheme consolidation in this report:
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HM Treasury
5
Conclusion
Second Report - Edinburgh Reforms One Y…
Our evidence suggests that UK pension funds may be an untapped source for a deeper domestic capital market more inclined to risk investment in high-potential businesses. We welcome the Government’s announcement of work on pension fund consolidation in the autumn. We will scrutinise the details of those proposals closely. Any …
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Our evidence suggests that UK pension funds may be an untapped source for a deeper domestic capital market more inclined to risk investment in high-potential businesses. We welcome the Government’s announcement of work on pension fund consolidation in the autumn. We will scrutinise the details of those proposals closely. Any change must pay due regard to the balance between risk and reward for pension investors. We encourage the Government to progress this work with urgency.
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HM Treasury
6
Recommendation
Second Report - Edinburgh Reforms One Y…
Not Addressed
The Sub-Committee remains sceptical that a government-approved monopoly for providing data to market participants through a consolidated tape is good for competition. Once a monopoly were granted, the incumbent would have little incentive to reduce costs or to innovate. Given the claimed benefits that a consolidated tape would provide to …
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The Sub-Committee remains sceptical that a government-approved monopoly for providing data to market participants through a consolidated tape is good for competition. Once a monopoly were granted, the incumbent would have little incentive to reduce costs or to innovate. Given the claimed benefits that a consolidated tape would provide to market participants, and the widespread consensus within the market that these benefits do exist, it is not unreasonable to expect the financial markets of the UK to be able to create their own conditions for such a tape to emerge without the regulator granting a monopoly. The Sub-Committee’s preference would Edinburgh Reforms One Year On: Has Anything Changed? 27 have been that market forces created a consolidated tape, therefore the Government and regulators should continue to monitor the impact on market forces of the new tape.
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Government response AI summary
The government notes that the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published rules for a UK consolidated tape for bonds, but does not directly address the recommendation to monitor its impact on market forces.
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HM Treasury
8
Conclusion
Second Report - Edinburgh Reforms One Y…
Based on the evidence the Sub-Committee has heard, there is the potential for small changes to the ring-fencing framework to improve its interoperability with the PRA’s resolution regime, but any longer-term plans to eventually remove the ring-fencing regime entirely should only be entertained once substantial evidence of what benefits this …
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Based on the evidence the Sub-Committee has heard, there is the potential for small changes to the ring-fencing framework to improve its interoperability with the PRA’s resolution regime, but any longer-term plans to eventually remove the ring-fencing regime entirely should only be entertained once substantial evidence of what benefits this would bring is available.
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HM Treasury
9
Conclusion
Second Report - Edinburgh Reforms One Y…
The continued viability of building societies and mutuals is of high importance to the Committee. A diverse, competitive and vibrant financial services sector is strengthened by the presence of mutuals and building societies.
HM Treasury
11
Conclusion
Second Report - Edinburgh Reforms One Y…
There is consensus among the Treasury, industry, and the Financial Conduct Authority that there are problems within the Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment Products (PRIIPS) regime in addition to a wider problem with cost disclosures. Such an example can be found with investment companies, where EU- derived regulation, since removed …
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There is consensus among the Treasury, industry, and the Financial Conduct Authority that there are problems within the Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment Products (PRIIPS) regime in addition to a wider problem with cost disclosures. Such an example can be found with investment companies, where EU- derived regulation, since removed by the EU and other international jurisdictions, disadvantages these British companies in the global marketplace. The Sub- Committee supports the efforts being made to correct these issues and has written to the Chancellor. We welcome the draft statutory instrument on PRIIPS and look forward to the forthcoming statutory instrument on the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID). (Paragraph 49) Overarching Sub-Committee conclusions
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HM Treasury
17
Conclusion
Second Report - Edinburgh Reforms One Y…
The Sub-Committee notes the proposed establishment of a Lord’s Committee on Financial Service Regulation. While its remit is a matter for the House of Lords, duplication of work should be avoided. The Sub-Committee will continue to carry out its scrutiny of new regulatory consultations as and when they are published. …
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The Sub-Committee notes the proposed establishment of a Lord’s Committee on Financial Service Regulation. While its remit is a matter for the House of Lords, duplication of work should be avoided. The Sub-Committee will continue to carry out its scrutiny of new regulatory consultations as and when they are published. The full Committee will naturally continue to consider the wider context of the regulators work, as it has always done. Consideration of the existing acquis could prove a rich seam of work for the Lord’s Committee.
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HM Treasury
18
Conclusion
Second Report - Edinburgh Reforms One Y…
The Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 legislated for the creation of Cost Benefit (CBA) Panels dedicated to supporting the regulators in producing cost benefit analysis for each of their reforms. The Sub-Committee has consistently been of the view that the regulators’ cost benefit analysis did not capture the full …
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The Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 legislated for the creation of Cost Benefit (CBA) Panels dedicated to supporting the regulators in producing cost benefit analysis for each of their reforms. The Sub-Committee has consistently been of the view that the regulators’ cost benefit analysis did not capture the full costs faced by firms, nor did they adequately explain and quantify the benefits of the reforms they were proposing. We will continue to scrutinise the cost benefit Edinburgh Reforms One Year On: Has Anything Changed? 29 analysis of each proposal, and will pay close attention to the impact the CBA panels have, and whether they improve quality of the CBAs that are published in future. (Paragraph 59) 30 Edinburgh Reforms One Year On: Has Anything Changed?
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HM Treasury