Financial Services Bill Amendments: Adding a Financial Inclusion Objective to the FCA Remit

Today (22 February 2021) is the first day of Committee Stage for the Financial Services Bill in the House of Lords. I will be speaking in support of several amendments and putting forward three amendments in my own name; to better protect small and medium-sized enterprises, to review financial services regulation and to ensure more is done to improve financial inclusion.

The third of my amendments to be debated during todays proceedings will be amendment 9 – to require the FCA to have an objective to promote financial inclusion in financial services. The full text of the amendment:

Insert the following new Clause—
“FCA objective to promote financial inclusion in financial services
(1) The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 is amended as follows.
(2) In section 1B (the FCA’s general duties),
after subsection (3)(c) insert—
“(d) the financial inclusion objective (see section 1EA).”
(3) After section 1E insert—
“1EA The financial inclusion objective
(1) The financial inclusion objective is promoting financial inclusion across UK financial services.
(2) In fulfilling this objective, the FCA must place a requirement on all regulated financial services companies to report on their use of financial technology to increase financial inclusion.””
Amendment 9, Lord Holmes of Richmond, Committee Stage Day 1, Financial Services Bill, House of Lords 22 February 2021

Financial exclusion has dogged our nation for decades. It ruins lives, paralyses potential and corrodes communities.

This amendment would assist the FCA in gaining a greater grip on the problem and address the blockers, barriers and bias causing so many to remain so shamefully shut out of mainstream financial services. Such services which would be so enabling, empowering to each and every one of them.

I have also included a provision for the FCA to require firms to report on their use of financial technology (Fintech) in the pursuit of this objective. This is not to suggest that Fintech is a single solution. I am keenly aware of the issues surrounding financial inclusion and, as important, digital inclusion. Fintech, though, can, and must, be a material part of what can be done here.

Being financially excluded is devastating and destructive, not just for individuals unable to access mainstream financial services, but for all of us as a society. Ensuring greater financial inclusion makes sense. It makes psychological, it makes social, it makes economic sense. This amendment would add to the collective and widespread work in this area.

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Financial Services Bill Amendments: Introducing a Review of Financial Services Regulations

Financial Services Bill Amendment: Duty to Report on Environmental, Social and Governance Status of Funds

Financial Services Bill Amendment: The Case for Regional Mutual Banks

Financial Services Bill Amendment: Lead Generators – Time for Regulation

Financial Services Bill Amendment: Updating the Know Your Customer [KYC] -Identity Verification- Process

Financial Services Bill Amendments: To Ensure Statutory Debt Repayment Plan (SDRP) Arrangements are Timely and Well Funded

Financial Services Bill Amendment: Provision of Debt Advice

Financial Services Bill Amendments: Timetable and Funding for SDRP Arrangements

Financial Services Bill Amendment: Sale of Mortgage Loan Books

Financial Services Bill Amendment: Financial Policy Committee & Financial Exclusion

Financial Services Bill Amendment: Review on Cashback Without Purchase