Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking with the Financial Conduct Authority to make mortgage advice and guidance available earlier in the journey towards homeownership.

The Government is committed to supporting homeownership and continues to work closely with the independent Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

The FCA is currently undertaking a wide-ranging review of the mortgage market, including how mortgage regulation can better support first-time buyers and other underserved consumers, and expects to report back later this year.

The UK benefits from a competitive mortgage market and a large, well-established mortgage intermediary sector, through which prospective first-time buyers can already seek advice and guidance at an early stage. I would encourage anyone thinking about buying a home to contact a mortgage broker, who can help them understand their options and any steps they can take to become mortgage-ready.