HM Treasury Outlines Proposals to Improve Regulatory Coordination

In July 2019, the government launched the Financial Services Future Regulatory Framework Review, a long-term review to consider how the UK’s regulatory framework needs to adapt over the coming years to be fit for the future. The first phase of this Review has been considering the specific issue of coordination between UK regulatory bodies with responsibility for financial services regulation, with the aim of improving the effectiveness of coordination in the future. The second phase of the Review will look at how financial services policy and regulation are made in the UK, including how stakeholders are involved in the process. The broader issues raised by responses to the call for evidence are, therefore, useful in developing the overall approach for the long-term framework in UK. In addition, the government’s forthcoming white paper on financial services will set out how the Review fits within the government’s vision for the future of financial services.

The results of the Call for Evidence, which received over 60 responses, suggest that the effectiveness of coordination could be enhanced. The response to Call for Evidence document summarizes the issues raised by respondents and explains how the regulators that are working with the HM Treasury propose to improve regulatory coordination in the short-term through the introduction of a new mechanism to manage the pipeline of new regulatory initiatives. The government wants to act now to begin improving the effectiveness of coordination arrangements. HM Treasury, therefore, asked the regulators to develop proposals that can be implemented quickly. In response, the regulators have proposed a new consolidated forward-look of upcoming regulatory initiatives. The proposal is designed to provide a more effective structure within which HM Treasury and the regulators can work together to identify and address any peaks in regulatory demands made on firms and to give stakeholders (including industry) a clearer picture of upcoming initiatives so they are better placed to plan for them.

This Regulatory Initiatives Grid, which is expected to be launched over the Summer, will provide an indicative two-year forward view of major upcoming regulatory initiatives affecting the financial services sector. The Grid will be published twice a year and will set out an indicative timetable for each regulatory initiative. For the sector, this will provide a clearer picture of expected regulatory activity, which should mean that firms will be better informed about initiatives that may affect their business, thus improving their ability to plan ahead. The Grid will be managed by a coordinating Forum: the Financial Services Regulatory Initiatives Forum, whose membership comprises BoE, PRA, FCA, Payment Systems Regulator, Competition and Markets Authority, and HM Treasury (as an observer member). Other bodies, such as the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), The Pensions Regulator (TPR), and Financial Reporting Council (FRC), will be invited to attend and contribute to the Grid on an ad hoc basis, if and when responsible for a major initiative affecting the sector. 

Related Links

• Notification
• Response to Call for Evidence (PDF)
• Joint Statement on Forum Launch

Keywords: Europe, UK, Banking, Insurance, Securities, Financial Services Regulatory Initiatives Forum, Regulatory Initiatives Grid, Regulatory Framework, Regulatory Coordination, FCA, HM Treasury