30 November 2010
Harriett Baldwin today urged the Financial Services Authority to listen as a growing swell of MPs called for a rethink on the RDR debate. The MP was speaking following an historic debate in the House of Commons attended by more than 80 cross-party colleagues Harriett said: “Last night we saw the full force of a new sort of Parliament where MPs come to the floor of the House of Commons in their own backbench time and scrutinise financial regulation behalf of their constituents. “The Retail Distribution Review has mobilised a vast swathe of small IFAs to contact their MP and ask for help. The House of Commons saw the full force of this in an historic debate. “Imagine the outrage there would be if a Minister came to the dispatch box and decreed that over 20% of an industry would be shut down if they failed an exam. “Last week, the Treasury Select Committee called for a fresh look at the RDR and last night a flood of MPs stayed late in the Commons to give their constituent IFAs a voice. We also heard about the consumer detriment with the loss of financial advice in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. “When will the FSA finally realise that it can’t keep ignoring the thousands of vital small businesses whose voices are now being heard. Its time for the FSA to come back to the table with a better plan for better regulation.”