Financial services

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on financial services. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs. For information on banks and other institutions, see financial institutions.

Standard Notes

DateDescription
04.03.2013Household Debt: Economic Indicators page
Total net lending to individuals (excluding student loans) was £0.6 billion in January 2013. Net lending has been relatively low since mid-2008.
28.02.2013Taxation of banking
This note looks at the public debate about reforming the tax treatment of the banking sector in the wake of the recent financial crisis, before discussing the different approaches taken by the Labour Government and its Coalition successor.
27.02.2013Child Trust Funds & Junior ISA transferability
Child Trust Funds and Junior Isa complaints
14.02.2013Project Merlin
This note outlines the scope of Project Merlin which was designed to improve relations between government and the banking industry and included commitments on bank lending to business.
11.02.2013Banking executives' remuneration in the UK
This Note outlines some of the changes made to the structure, determination and publication of executive salaries, with particular reference to banks and other financial companies.

Research Papers

DateDescription
28.02.2013Financial Services (Banking Reform) Bill
This, latest, financial services reform legislation brings together the final proposals for how the banking sector will look going forward.
03.10.2012Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill: Committee Stage Report
This is a report on the Public Bill Committee Stage of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill. It is designed to complement the Research Paper Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill (RP 12/33), which covers in more detail the background to the Bill
22.06.2012Financial Services Bill [Bill 278 of 2010-12]
The focus of this Bill is to set up a new framework for financial regulation in the United Kingdom
07.06.2012Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill
The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill introduces reforms in a number of areas.
15.05.2012Financial Services Bill: Committee Stage & Report Stage (day one) Report.
The focus of this Bill is to establish a new framework for financial regulation in the United Kingdom.

Select Committee Reports

DateDescription
27.03.2012Towards a financial transaction tax? European Union Select Committee (HL) twenty-ninth report.
European Union Select Committee (HL) report [Lords]
27.02.2012Financial Conduct Authority: report on the Government response.
Government response. Treasury Select Committee report [Commons]
27.01.2012A new approach to financial regulation: securing stability, protecting consumers, including Annexes containing...
Government response. Treasury report [Commons]
09.11.2011Future of cheques.
Government response. Treasury Select Committee; Treasury; Payments Council report [Commons]
18.07.2011Future of cheques.
Treasury Select Committee report [Commons]

Early Day Motions

DateDescription
14.12.2011FINANCIAL TRANSACTION TAX (No. 3)
That this House notes that the European Commission is desperate to save the Euro and is proposing a tax on financial transactions that would raise 50 billion a year; further notes that ...
05.12.2011BRISTOL AND WEST BOND-HOLDERS
That this House notes that English investors who took out Bristol andWest permanent interest-bearing shares did so inthe belief that these shares wouldbe treated underEnglish law; regrets ...
30.11.2011MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR FINANCIAL PRODUCTS
That this House welcomes the product intervention powers proposed in the draft Financial Services Bill, which will allow the Financial Conduct Authority to remove financial products ...
29.11.2011FAREPAK COMPENSATION
That this House regrets that the victims of the failed Christmas hamper and savings company Farepak have not yet received compensation following the company's liquidation in October ...
21.11.2011LEVEL OF INTEREST RATES ON LOANS
That this House notes that wonga.com is currently advertising a typical interest rate of 4214 per cent. and that this is not the only institution offering a similar service; further ...

Lords Library Notes

DateDescription
09.11.2012Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill (HL Bill 45 of 2012-13)
The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill includes measures for changes to competition policy, to employment law, and for reducing regulation, as well as provisions on the Green Investment Bank, directors' remuneration, copyright and planning. This Library Note provides background reading in advance of the Bill's second reading in the House of Lords.

Glossary

  • Research Papers (RP) - briefings produced by the House of Commons Library on Bills, topical issues and regular statistics
  • Standard Notes (SN) - shorter, topical briefings from the Commons Library
  • Early Day Motions (EDMs) - formal motions submitted by MPs in the House of Commons
  • POST Notes - short briefing notes produced by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
  • Lords Library Notes (LLN) - an occasional series of papers compiled by the House of Lords Library