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Consultations
FSA: The Financial Services Authority (FSA) have set out a package of measures for consultation (closes on 30 November 2009) aimed at protecting vulnerable consumers in the sale & rent back (SRB) market. Exploitative advertising and high-pressure sales techniques will be banned under the new proposals, due to come into effect on 30 June 2010, which builds on the FSA’s interim regulation, which started on 1 July 2009.
Press release ~ CP09/22: Regulating sale and rent back - the full regime ~ Moneymadeclear - SRB schemes (scroll down) ~ OFT - SRB schemes ~ HMT: Regulating the sale and rent back market
FSA: The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has announced a package of measures (consultation closes on 30 October 2009) to protect consumers in the Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) market and ensure they are better treated when buying PPI or complaining about it.
Firms representing more than 40% of face-to-face sales in the Single Premium Unsecured Personal Loan PPI market have agreed to review these sales & redress those consumers identified as mis-sold. Ongoing supervisory action continues with the remainder of this market place. These measures build on the agreement the FSA obtained from the industry earlier in 2009 to stop selling Single Premium PPI on unsecured loans.
Press release ~ 'CP09/23: The assessment and redress of payment protection insurance complaints' ~ Alliance & Leicester Fine ~ Dear CEO Letter
CO: In July 2009 the Government launched a consultation into the design & functions of a Social Investment Wholesale Bank (closes on 07 October 2009). This consultation could result in a new breed of financial institution - a bank with the primary purpose of investing in society, the environment and the economy.
DCMS: People who want to sell alcohol, put on live music and other arts events, or sell hot food & drink late at night, will soon be able to make applications for licences entirely online under new measures proposed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Online applications will make the licensing process quicker & easier and could save businesses & voluntary organisations up to £1.5m per year. Those applying for Temporary Events Notices will also be able to do so online.
A 6-week consultation (closes on 13 November 2009)on the scope & detail of the new online process has been launched to give all users – including pub landlords, parent teacher associations, restaurants owners and sports club managers - the opportunity to have their say before the system is due to go live in January 2010.
Press release ~ Consultation on a proposal to introduce a new process for electronic applications under the Licensing Act 2003
VSO: Community groups throughout the UK are being invited to help shape a new government scheme to promote & fund links with the developing world by taking part in a nationwide survey. The survey findings will help shape the new DFID Community Linking Programme, which will launch in 2010. – See ‘’In the News’ section for more information.
LLUK: Lord Herman Ouseley was asked by Lifelong Learning UKto lead on a review of the Workforce Race Advisory Group (WRAG) - supported by Saheema Rawat. A part of this review includes gaining feedback (by 20 October 2009) from providers, staff, managers & trade union stewards, finding out what people know about the group and understanding what the important issues are in relation to race equality & the sector workforce. The survey should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete.
