Source · Select Committees · Treasury Committee
Recommendation 7
7
Paragraph: 50
If done with a deft approach, there may be a role for activity-based principles or...
Recommendation
If done with a deft approach, there may be a role for activity-based principles or “have regards” to allow the Government to instruct the regulators, at a more micro level, how it wishes them to approach specific types of business sector. The Government can already instruct regulators more broadly on how to do this through remit letters. But the Government should be sparing in its approach: the strategic and operational objectives, combined with principles and ‘have regards’ that are set out in their remit letters, are already numerous and expanding, to the point where regulators have to choose which to prioritise on a regular basis when drafting new policy proposals. The creation of too many activity-based principles would add a further layer of issues to which regulators must have regard.
Paragraph Reference:
50
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The government is considering the recommendations made by the Committee, alongside the responses to the Financial Services Future Regulatory Framework Review Consultation, which closed on 19 February 2021. The government will bring forward detailed proposals in a second consultation in the autumn. I therefore do not intend to respond in detail to each recommendation in this letter, as doing so would pre-judge that consultation. However, having noted your recommendations with interest, I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate some of the points I raised during my evidence session with the Committee.