Regulation

Three new members have been appointed to the Financial Services Consumer Panel.

Consumer group Which? is among four organisations awarded ‘super-complainant' status by the government, meaning it has the power to present complaints to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which must respond.

Caroline Rookes, the chief executive of the Money Advice Service (MAS), has hit back at critics of the organisation, saying the MAS is now delivering a "very effective" service and does not "step on the toes" of financial advisers.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has revised its application fees for firms seeking full consumer credit authorisation, after it realised that small firms were facing "significant barriers to entry" due to cost.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has said it recognises it has "much to prove" to the advisory industry, but hopes its actions and approach will show it is different from previous regulators.

EU Mortgage Credit Directive passes 10 December 2013

Think Tank Demos recently called for a minimum IP proposal along the lines of pension auto enrolment. John Letizia agrees.

The department of Work and Pensions has published the Social security benefits up-rating for 2014 in a written Ministerial Statement.

Further details about the government's new Health and Work Service (HWS) have been published along with a substantial report examining the potential value of using telephone services to provide health and return to work support.

MPs have refused to grant the regulator the power to ban individuals before its investigations into them are completed, due in part to the "serious harm" it could cause small firms.