Financial Services Bill (HL Bill 48)

Meetings

10 (1) The Committee shall meet at least 4 times in each calendar year.

(2) The Governor of the Bank (or in the Governor’s absence the Bank’s
Deputy Governor for financial stability) may summon a meeting
5at any time on giving such notice as the person giving the notice
thinks the circumstances require.

Proceedings

11 (1) At a meeting of the Committee, the proceedings are to be
regulated as follows.

(2) 10The quorum is to be 7 (excluding the Treasury’s representative)
and of the 7—

(a) one must be the Governor of the Bank or the Bank’s
Deputy Governor for financial stability,

(b) unless both those mentioned in paragraph (a) are present,
15one must be either of the other Deputy Governors of the
Bank, and

(c) one must be a member appointed under section 9B(1)(e).

(3) The chair is to be taken by the Governor of the Bank or, if the
Governor is not present, by the Bank’s Deputy Governor for
20financial stability.

(4) The person chairing the meeting must seek to secure that decisions
of the Committee are reached by consensus wherever possible.

(5) Where that person forms the opinion that consensus cannot be
reached, a decision is to be taken by a vote of all those members
25present at the meeting.

(6) In the event of a tie, the person chairing the meeting is to have a
second casting vote.

(7) At a meeting of the Committee—

(a) the Treasury’s representative may not vote, and

(b) 30any view expressed by the Treasury’s representative is to
be disregarded in determining under sub-paragraph (4) or
(5) whether there is a consensus.

(8) Subject to sub-paragraphs (2) to (7) and paragraph 14, the
Committee is to determine its own procedure.

12 35The Committee may, in relation to sub-paragraph (2), (3), (4) or (5)
of paragraph 11, determine circumstances in which a member
who is not present at, but is in communication with, a meeting is
to be treated for the purposes of that sub-paragraph as present at
it.

13 40The Committee may invite other persons to attend, or to attend
and speak at, any meeting of the Committee.

14 If a member of the Committee (“M”) has any direct or indirect
interest (including any reasonably likely future interest) in any

dealing or business which falls to be considered by the
Committee—

(a) M must disclose that interest to the Committee when it
considers the dealing or business, and

(b) 5the Committee must decide whether M is to be permitted
to participate in any proceedings of the Committee relating
to any question arising from its consideration of the
dealing or business, and if so to what extent and subject to
what conditions (if any).”

10Part 2 Other amendments relating to Financial Policy Committee

Bank of England Act 1998 (c. 11)1998 (c. 11)

1 In section 4 of the Bank of England Act 1998 (annual report by Bank), in
subsection (2), for the “and” at the end of paragraph (a) substitute—

“(aa) 15a report by the court of directors on the activities of the
Financial Policy Committee of the Bank, and”.

2 In section 15 of the Bank of England Act 1998 (publication of minutes of
meetings of Monetary Policy Committee) after subsection (4) insert—

“(4A) The Bank shall exclude from minutes published under this section
20information which relates to proceedings of the Financial Policy
Committee if the Bank considers that publication of that information
would be against the public interest.”

3 In section 40 of the Bank of England Act 1998 (orders), after subsection (4)
insert—

“(4A) 25Section 9N contains its own provisions about parliamentary
procedure in relation to an order under section 9L.”

House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 24)1975 (c. 24)

4 In Part 3 of Schedule 1 to the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975
(other disqualifying offices), at the appropriate place insert—

• 30“Member of the Financial Policy Committee of the Bank of
  England appointed under section 9B(1)(d) or (e) of the Bank
  of England Act 1998.”

Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 25)1975 (c. 25)

5 In Part 3 of Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification
35Act 1975 (other disqualifying offices), at the appropriate place insert—

• “Member of the Financial Policy Committee of the Bank of
  England appointed under section 9B(1)(d) or (e) of the Bank
  of England Act 1998.”

Section 5

SCHEDULE 2 Further amendments relating to Bank of England

Court of directors

1 (1) Schedule 1 to the Bank of England Act 1998 (which makes further provision
5about the court of directors) is amended as follows.

(2) For paragraph 1 substitute—

“1 (1) Appointment as Governor of the Bank shall be for a period of 8
years.

(2) Appointment as Deputy Governor of the Bank shall be for a period
10of 5 years.

(3) A person may not be appointed—

(a) as Governor, more than once, or

(b) as Deputy Governor, more than twice.

(4) A person appointed as Governor or Deputy Governor of the Bank
15shall work exclusively for the Bank; and for this purpose work in
an office that an enactment requires to be held by the Governor or
a Deputy Governor is to be taken to be work for the Bank.”

(3) In paragraph 2, for the words from “3 years” to the end substitute “4 years,
or such shorter period as may be specified in the appointment”.

(4) 20Omit paragraph 3.

(5) In paragraph 5, for sub-paragraph (2) substitute—

“(2) An officer or employee of the Bank, other than a person holding
office under section 9B(1)(e), is disqualified for appointment as
director of the Bank.”

(6) 25For paragraph 6 substitute—

“6 (1) The fact that a person has held office as Governor of the Bank does
not disqualify that person from appointment as Deputy Governor
or director of the Bank.

(2) The fact that a person has held office as Deputy Governor or
30director of the Bank does not disqualify that person from re-
appointment to that office or for appointment to the other office or
as Governor of the Bank, but this is subject to paragraph 1(3)(b).”

(7) In paragraph 8—

(a) the existing provision becomes sub-paragraph (1), and

(b) 35after that provision insert—

“(2) In relation to the Deputy Governor for prudential
regulation, the reference in sub-paragraph (1)(c) to
inability or unfitness to discharge functions as member of
the court of directors is to be read as including a reference
40to inability or unfitness to discharge functions as Chief
Executive of the Prudential Regulation Authority.”

(8) In paragraph 11—

(a) in paragraph (b), for “servant” substitute “employee”, and

(b) in paragraph (c)(ii), for “servants” substitute “employees”.

(9) After paragraph 12 insert—

5“Publication of record of meetings

12A (1) The Bank must publish a record of each meeting of the court—

(a) before the end of the period of 6 weeks beginning with the
day of the meeting, or

(b) if no meeting of the court is subsequently held during that
10period, before the end of the period of 2 weeks beginning
with the day of the next meeting.

(2) The record must specify any decisions taken at the meeting
(including decisions to take no action) and must set out, in relation
to each decision, a summary of the court’s deliberations.

(3) 15Sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) do not require the publication of
information whose publication within the time required by sub-
paragraph (1) would in the opinion of the court be against the
public interest.

(4) Publication under this section is to be in such manner as the Bank
20thinks fit.”

(10) In paragraph 14(1), for “it” substitute “the Oversight Committee”.

(11) Nothing in sub-paragraphs (2) to (6) affects the term of any appointment
made before the commencement of that provision.

Monetary Policy Committee

2 (1) 25 Schedule 3 to the Bank of England Act 1998 (Monetary Policy Committee)
is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph 1, for the words from “except that” to the end substitute “but
this is subject to paragraph 2B”.

(3) Omit paragraph 2.

(4) 30After paragraph 2A insert—

“2B (1) If it appears to the Chancellor of the Exchequer that in the
circumstances it is desirable to do so, the Chancellor may, before
the end of the 3 years for which a person is appointed as a member
of the Committee under section 13(2)(c), extend the persons’s term
35of office on one occasion for a specified period of not more than 6
months.

(2) The term being extended may be the person’s first or second term.

(3) If a person whose first term of office is extended is subsequently
re-appointed under section 13(2)(c)—

(a) 40the length of the second term is to be reduced by a period
equal to the extension of the first term, but

(b) the second term may itself subsequently be extended
under sub-paragraph (1).”

(5) In paragraph 3—

(a) the existing provision becomes sub-paragraph (1), and

(b) 5after that provision insert—

“(2) Where the notice relates to a person appointed under
section 13(2)(c), the Bank must give a copy of the notice to
the Treasury.”

(6) In paragraph 4—

(a) 10omit sub-paragraph (1),

(b) for sub-paragraph (2) substitute—

“(2) The terms and conditions on which a person holds office as
a member of the Committee appointed under section
13(2)(c) are to be such as the Oversight Committee may
15determine.”, and

(c) omit sub-paragraph (3).

(7) After paragraph 5 insert—

“5A A member of the Financial Policy Committee of the Bank
appointed under section 9B(1)(e) is disqualified for appointment
20under section 13(2)(c).”

(8) In paragraph 9—

(a) in sub-paragraph (1)—

(i) for “Bank” substitute “Oversight Committee”, and

(ii) in paragraph (a), for “the Committee’s meetings” and “the
25Committee’s consent” substitute “meetings of the Monetary
Policy Committee” and “that Committee’s consent”, and

(b) omit sub-paragraph (2).

(9) In paragraphs 10(2) and 11(3), leave out “with executive responsibility”.

(10) After paragraph 13 insert—

“13A 30The Committee may invite other persons to attend, or to attend
and speak at, any meeting of the Committee.”

(11) Sub-paragraph (3) does not affect the term of any appointment made before
the commencement of that sub-paragraph, and sub-paragraph (6) does not
affect the status of a person appointed before the commencement of that sub-
35paragraph during the remainder of the term for which the person had been
appointed.

Immunity

3 In section 244 of the Banking Act 2009 (immunity) in subsection (2)—

(a) in paragraph (a), for “servant” substitute “employee”, and

(b) 40in paragraph (c), for “functions exercised” substitute “the exercise or
purported exercise of the Bank’s functions under the Financial
Services and Markets Act 2000, of its other regulatory functions or of
functions undertaken”.

Changes in terminology

4 In Schedule 7 to the Bank of England Act 1998 (restriction on disclosure of
information), in paragraph 1(3)(a), for “servant” substitute “employee”.

Section 6

SCHEDULE 3 5Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority:
Schedules to be substituted as Schedules 1ZA and 1ZB to FSMA 2000

These are the Schedules 1ZA and 1ZB to be substituted for Schedule 1 to
FSMA 2000—

Section 1A

“Schedule 1ZA The Financial Conduct Authority

10Part 1 General

Interpretation

1 In this Schedule—

• “the Bank” means the Bank of England;

• 15“functions”, in relation to the FCA, means functions
  conferred on the FCA by or under any provision of this Act
  (see section 1A(6) which affects the meaning of references
  to such functions).

Constitution

2 (1) 20The constitution of the FCA must provide for the FCA to have a
governing body.

(2) The governing body must consist of—

(a) a chair appointed by the Treasury,

(b) a chief executive appointed by the Treasury,

(c) 25the Bank’s Deputy Governor for prudential regulation,

(d) 2 members appointed jointly by the Secretary of State and
the Treasury, and

(e) at least one other member appointed by the Treasury.

(3) The members referred to in sub-paragraph (2)(a), (c) and (d) are to
30be non-executive members.

(4) In exercising its powers under sub-paragraph (2)(e) to appoint
executive or non-executive members, the Treasury must secure
that the majority of members of the governing body are non-
executive members.

(5) 35An employee of the FCA may not be appointed as a non-executive
member.

(6) In the following provisions of this Schedule an “appointed
member” means a member of the governing body appointed
under sub-paragraph (2)(a), (b), (d) or (e).

3 (1) The terms of service of the appointed members are to be
5determined by the Treasury.

(2) In the case of a member appointed under paragraph 2(2)(d), the
Treasury must consult the Secretary of State about the terms of
service.

(3) Before appointing a person as an appointed member, the Treasury
10(or as the case requires the Treasury and the Secretary of State)
must consider whether the person has any financial or other
interests that could have a material effect on the extent of the
functions as member that it would be proper for the person to
discharge.

(4) 15The terms of service of an appointed member (“M”) must be such
as—

(a) to secure that M is not subject to direction by the Treasury
or the Secretary of State,

(b) to require M not to act in accordance with the directions of
20any other person, and

(c) to prohibit M from acquiring any financial or other
interests that have a material effect on the extent of the
functions as member that it would be proper for M to
discharge.

(5) 25If an appointed member is an employee of the FCA, the member’s
interest as employee is to be disregarded for the purposes of sub-
paragraphs (3) and (4)(c) and paragraph 4(1)(b).

(6) A person who is an employee of the PRA is disqualified for
appointment as an appointed member.

(7) 30The FCA may pay expenses to the Bank’s Deputy Governor for
prudential regulation in respect of that person’s service as a
member.

4 (1) The Treasury may remove an appointed member from office—

(a) on the grounds of incapacity or serious misconduct, or

(b) 35on the grounds that in all the circumstances the member’s
financial or other interests are such as to have a material
effect on the extent of the functions as member that it
would be proper for the person to discharge.

(2) Before removing from office a member appointed under
40paragraph 2(2)(d), the Treasury must consult the Secretary of
State.

5 The validity of any act of the FCA is not affected—

(a) by any vacancy in any of the offices mentioned in
paragraph 2(2)(a), (b) or (c),

(b) 45by a defect in the appointment of a person—

(i) to any of those offices, or

(ii) as an appointed member.

6 The Bank’s Deputy Governor for prudential regulation must not
take part in any discussion by or decision of the FCA which relates
to—

(a) the exercise of the FCA’s functions in relation to a
5particular person, or

(b) a decision not to exercise those functions.

Remuneration

7 The FCA must pay to the appointed members such remuneration
as may be determined—

(a) 10in the case of the non-executive members, by the Treasury;

(b) in the case of the executive members, by the FCA.

Arrangements for discharging functions

8 (1) The FCA may make arrangements for any of its functions to be
discharged by a committee, sub-committee, officer or member of
15staff of the FCA, but subject to the following provisions.

(2) In exercising its legislative functions, the FCA must act through its
governing body.

(3) For that purpose, the following are the FCA’s legislative
functions—

(a) 20making rules;

(b) issuing codes under section 64 or 119;

(c) issuing statements under—

(i) section 63C, 64, 69, 88C, 89S, 93, 124, 131J, 138N,
192H, 192N, 210 or 312J,

(ii) 25section 345D (whether as a result of section 345(2)
or section 249(1)), or

(iii) section 79 of the Financial Services Act 2012;

(d) giving directions under section 316, 318 or 328.

(4) The function of issuing general guidance (as defined in section
30139B(5)) may not be discharged by an officer or member of staff of
the FCA.

Records

9 The FCA must maintain satisfactory arrangements for—

(a) recording decisions made in the exercise of its functions,
35and

(b) the safe-keeping of those records which it considers ought
to be preserved.

Publication of record of meetings of governing body

10 (1) The FCA must publish a record of each meeting of its governing
40body—

(a) before the end of the period of 6 weeks beginning with the
day of the meeting, or

(b) if no meeting of the governing body is subsequently held
during that period, before the end of the period of 2 weeks
beginning with the day of the next meeting.

(2) The record must specify any decision taken at the meeting
5(including decisions to take no action) and must set out, in relation
to each decision, a summary of the deliberations of the governing
body.

(3) Sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) do not require the publication of
information whose publication within the time required by sub-
10paragraph (1) would in the opinion of the governing body be
against the public interest.

(4) Publication under this section is to be in such manner as the FCA
thinks fit.

Annual report

11 (1) 15At least once a year the FCA must make a report to the Treasury
on—

(a) the discharge of its functions,

(b) the extent to which, in its opinion, its operational
objectives have been advanced,

(c) 20the extent to which, in its opinion, it has acted compatibly
with its strategic objective,

(d) how, in its opinion, it has complied with the duty in section
1B(4),

(e) its consideration of the matter mentioned in section
251B(5)(b),

(f) its consideration of the principles in section 3B,

(g) how it has complied with section 3D,

(h) any direction received under section 3I during the period
to which the report relates,

(i) 30how it has complied with section 354A(1) so far as relating
to co-operation with persons outside the United Kingdom,
and

(j) such other matters as the Treasury may from time to time
direct.

(2) 35Sub-paragraph (1) does not require the inclusion in the report of
any information whose publication would in the opinion of the
FCA be against the public interest.

(3) The report must be accompanied by—

(a) a statement of the remuneration of the appointed members
40of the governing body of the FCA during the period to
which the report relates, and

(b) such other reports or information, prepared by such
persons, as the Treasury may from time to time direct.

(4) The Treasury must lay before Parliament a copy of each report
45received by them under this paragraph.

Annual public meeting

12 (1) Not later than 3 months after making a report under paragraph 11,
the FCA must hold a public meeting (“the annual meeting”) for the
purposes of enabling that report to be considered.

(2) 5The FCA must organise the annual meeting so as to allow—

(a) a general discussion of the contents of the report which is
being considered, and

(b) a reasonable opportunity for those attending the meeting
to put questions to the FCA about the way in which it
10discharged, or failed to discharge, its functions during the
period to which the report relates.

(3) But otherwise the annual meeting is to be organised and
conducted in such a way as the FCA considers appropriate.

(4) The FCA must give reasonable notice of its annual meeting.

(5) 15That notice must—

(a) give details of the time and place at which the meeting is to
be held,

(b) set out the proposed agenda for the meeting,

(c) indicate the proposed duration of the meeting,

(d) 20give details of the FCA’s arrangements for enabling
persons to attend, and

(e) be published by the FCA in the way appearing to it to be
best calculated to bring the notice to the attention of the
public.

(6) 25If the FCA proposes to alter any of the arrangements which have
been included in the notice given under sub-paragraph (5), it
must—

(a) give reasonable notice of the alteration, and

(b) publish that notice in the way appearing to the FCA to be
30best calculated to bring it to the attention of the public.

Report of annual meeting

13 Not later than one month after its annual meeting, the FCA must
publish a report of the proceedings of the meeting.

Accounts and audit

14 (1) 35The Treasury may—

(a) require the FCA to comply with any provisions of the
Companies Act 2006 about accounts and their audit which
would not otherwise apply to it, or

(b) direct that any provision of that Act about accounts and
40their audit is to apply to the FCA with such modifications
as are specified in the direction, whether or not the
provision would otherwise apply to the FCA.