10 Acknowledged

The Treasury should continue to reject any calls for a growth and/or competitiveness objective to...

Conclusion
The Treasury should continue to reject any calls for a growth and/or competitiveness objective to become a primary objective. This would increase any pressure on regulators to trade off competitiveness against resilience, and would undermine the regulators’ ability to deliver on their core functions. There is a danger that as memories of the financial crisis fade, its lessons are forgotten.
Government Response Summary
The government notes the recommendation and has implemented new secondary objectives for the FCA and PRA to focus on growth and competitiveness, while maintaining high regulatory standards.
Paragraph Reference
74
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government Acknowledged
The government notes this recommendation. Following close consultation with the PRA and the FCA, Clause 24 of the FSM Bill implements new secondary objectives for the FCA and the PRA to provide greater focus on the medium to long-term growth and competitiveness of the UK economy. The secondary objectives for the FCA and the PRA introduce a new focus within the regulatory framework on these important issues, while still maintaining the regulators’ focus on their existing objectives of ensuring that UK firms remain safe and sound, that the UK’s markets function well, that there is effective competition in the interests of consumers, and that consumers and users of financial services receive an appropriate degree of protection. The government is committed to maintaining high regulatory standards in the UK, so these new objectives are subject to regulators aligning with relevant international standards. The Bill also only enables the FCA and the PRA to act in a way which facilitates growth and international competitiveness in the medium to long-term. Resilient and efficient markets, underpinned by effective regulation and competition, are essential prerequisites for fostering an internationally competitive financial services sector that in turn facilitates long-term growth and international competitiveness of the UK economy.
Addressee Bodies
HM Treasury
Timeline
Recommendation age 4.0 yrs
Report published 16 Jun 2022