Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the barriers to direct retail investment in shares by UK citizens; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of those barriers on economic growth.

The government is committed to supporting retail participation in UK capital markets to ensure consumers can benefit from the long-term financial security that investing in shares can provide.

The government ran a Call for Evidence as part of the Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy and welcomed views on how to improve consumer engagement with investing. The Strategy will be published at Mansion House on 15 July.