Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure that financial products and services meet the accessibility requirements set out under the (a) Consumer Duty and (b) Financial Inclusion Strategy.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
Earlier this month, I published the Government’s Financial Inclusion Strategy setting out an ambitious programme of measures to improve financial inclusion and resilience for underserved groups across the UK. This includes a key focus on digital inclusion and access to banking and considers accessibility as a cross-cutting theme across all areas under the strategy, in recognition of the particular challenges individuals can face in relation to this, including those with a disability or low literacy skills.
The strategy includes a range of specific interventions for both Government and industry to address these issues, including launching an industry-led working group which will examine how to make financial products more accessible and meet specific needs. This work will begin in early 2026 and the group will report on progress to HM Treasury every six months.
More widely, the Government continues to work closely with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the independent regulator of the UK’s financial services sector, to ensure that all customers get the right support with their financial products and services. FCA guidance highlights the actions firms should take to understand the needs of customers who may be vulnerable, such as individuals with a disability, and to consider these needs appropriately. This includes offering multiple channels of communication to their customers where possible, to ensure their products are accessible.
The FCA’s Consumer Duty also seeks to raise the standard of care expected from firms for all customers. It aims to deliver products and services that offer fair value and are designed to meet customers’ needs and seeks to increase firms’ focus on delivering good outcomes and preventing harm.
In addition, under the Equality Act 2010, all service providers must make reasonable adjustments to ensure their services are accessible to all.
Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that digital banking services are (a) compliant with inclusive design principles outlined in the Financial Inclusion Strategy and (b) accessible to people with disabilities.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
Earlier this month, I published the Government’s Financial Inclusion Strategy setting out an ambitious programme of measures to improve financial inclusion and resilience for underserved groups across the UK. This includes a key focus on digital inclusion and access to banking and considers accessibility as a cross-cutting theme across all areas under the strategy, in recognition of the particular challenges individuals can face in relation to this, including those with a disability or low literacy skills.
The strategy includes a range of specific interventions for both Government and industry to address these issues, including launching an industry-led working group which will examine how to make financial products more accessible and meet specific needs. This work will begin in early 2026 and the group will report on progress to HM Treasury every six months.
More widely, the Government continues to work closely with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the independent regulator of the UK’s financial services sector, to ensure that all customers get the right support with their financial products and services. FCA guidance highlights the actions firms should take to understand the needs of customers who may be vulnerable, such as individuals with a disability, and to consider these needs appropriately. This includes offering multiple channels of communication to their customers where possible, to ensure their products are accessible.
The FCA’s Consumer Duty also seeks to raise the standard of care expected from firms for all customers. It aims to deliver products and services that offer fair value and are designed to meet customers’ needs and seeks to increase firms’ focus on delivering good outcomes and preventing harm.
In addition, under the Equality Act 2010, all service providers must make reasonable adjustments to ensure their services are accessible to all.
Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure that open banking initiatives under the Financial Inclusion Strategy are accessible to consumers with (a) low digital literacy and (b) limited internet access.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
Earlier this month, I published the Government’s Financial Inclusion Strategy setting out an ambitious programme of measures to improve financial inclusion and resilience for underserved groups across the UK. This includes a key focus on digital inclusion and access to banking and considers accessibility as a cross-cutting theme across all areas under the strategy, in recognition of the particular challenges individuals can face in relation to this, including those with a disability or low literacy skills.
The strategy includes a range of specific interventions for both Government and industry to address these issues, including launching an industry-led working group which will examine how to make financial products more accessible and meet specific needs. This work will begin in early 2026 and the group will report on progress to HM Treasury every six months.
More widely, the Government continues to work closely with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the independent regulator of the UK’s financial services sector, to ensure that all customers get the right support with their financial products and services. FCA guidance highlights the actions firms should take to understand the needs of customers who may be vulnerable, such as individuals with a disability, and to consider these needs appropriately. This includes offering multiple channels of communication to their customers where possible, to ensure their products are accessible.
The FCA’s Consumer Duty also seeks to raise the standard of care expected from firms for all customers. It aims to deliver products and services that offer fair value and are designed to meet customers’ needs and seeks to increase firms’ focus on delivering good outcomes and preventing harm.
In addition, under the Equality Act 2010, all service providers must make reasonable adjustments to ensure their services are accessible to all.
Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for (a) Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and (b) Health and Social Care on funding requirements for avian influenza preparedness and response in 2025–26.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Chancellor of the Exchequer holds regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on a range of issues.
Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many applications for the Help to Buy scheme have been for (a) shared equity, (b) shared ownership, (c) mutual housing and (d) self-build properties since the scheme was launched.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom
The Government does not collect data on the number of applications made under the Help to Buy: mortgage guarantee scheme.
The Government publishes quarterly official statistics relating to the Help to Buy: mortgage guarantee scheme. The first of these were published on 29 May 2014.
This report, along with accompanying tables, can be found at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/help-to-buy-mortgage-guarantee-scheme-quarterly-statistics-october-2013-to-march-2014
The Help to Buy: equity loan scheme is a shared equity scheme. At Budget 2014, the Government announced that it will seek to explore how it can make the Help to Buy: equity loan scheme available for custom build.
Statistics on the legal completions supported by the equity loan scheme are published monthly at: www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/help-to-buy-equity-loan-scheme-monthly-statistics