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Banking Bill (Money)

Lords amendments 84 to 88 provide the Treasury with powers to make regulations with regard to investment bank insolvency. They were inserted into the Bill after consideration in the Lords Committee, after I had signalled the Government's intention to do so in this House. The powers that the Government are taking with regard to investment bank insolvency are of critical importance. They have been brought forward to enable the Government to address the concerns about the recovery of client assets that have followed from the collapse of Lehman Brothers. I shall take this opportunity to explain how we are proceeding because it has not previously been discussed in this House. Hon. Members will be aware that when Lehman Brothers failed, its UK arm also collapsed. This subsidiary held a very large quantity of client assets. The exact sum is unknown, but is likely to have run to many billions of pounds. Much of this money may have been simply passing through Lehman's broker-dealer business at the point of default. At present, those clients to whom those assets belonged have no way of recovering them outside of the normal insolvency arrangements. Those procedures could last for a substantial period of time as Lehman Brothers is one of, if not the most, complex insolvency ever to occur. This is no small matter. If clients are unable to access assets that they believe they rightfully own, it of course has implications for market confidence in, and the effectiveness of, the legal arrangements—including those relating to insolvency—that support the UK financial system. Hon. Members will be aware, I am sure, that a major source of the UK's competitive advantage in financial services is the certainty provided by the relevant legal regimes in the UK. If those were seen to be insufficient, there would be implications for the future of the City of London as a financial services centre. Ineffective operation of insolvency arrangements in relation to investment banks and client assets could also have financial stability implications, if it impacted on the ability of clients to meet their own obligations to third parties. That may have particular relevance in the case of rehypothecated assets where recovery may be especially challenging. The Government therefore clearly need to act, both to ensure that clients have the ability to recover their assets more easily in any future investment bank insolvency, and in order to maintain confidence in the financial systems of the UK. It is unfortunate however that the sheer complexity of the challenges that have emerged since the failure of Lehman Brothers and its UK subsidiary defy simple solutions. The House will understand that the application of insolvency procedures to an investment bank, or any other large, complex financial institution, is complicated and challenging. To consider ways of revising such procedures is equally complex. For this reason, the Government have sought the advice of an expert panel with regard to the concrete steps that need to be taken in order to address those challenges. This panel, the establishment of which was announced in the pre-Budget report, is to consider how regulations may best be made that enable the unencumbered return of client assets without creating substantial externalities or negative consequences. The review will examine whether the statutory purpose of administration as provided for in the Insolvency Act 1986, presents problems in the case of institutions that hold client assets; the procedures for administration of a complex investment bank; and arrangements for the continuity of brokerage accounts. The provisions of these new clauses provide the Treasury with the powers necessary to make any changes that may be required as a result of this review. They are necessarily broad, for the simple reason that it is impossible for the Government to prejudge the conclusions of the expert panel, particularly in such a complex case. Let me reassure the House that the powers that these clauses confer would be exercised only if such changes were deemed necessary. The review may, of course, find that no changes are necessary. The powers are therefore precautionary, insofar as they will not be used without a clearly identified need to do so, and they will be closely targeted if deployed. Let me briefly describe the provisions of each of the clauses that lay out the powers. The new clause inserted by Lords amendment 84 is the first in the group and sets out the scope of the enabling power. The power will permit the Government to make regulations to change the insolvency regime for investment banks. Investment banks are defined as institutions, incorporated or formed under UK law, that have permissions under part IV of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 to carry on the regulated activities of safeguarding and administering investments, dealing in investments as principal or dealing in investments as agent. The clause also defines client assets as they are to be considered within the meaning of those powers and provides the Treasury with an order-making power to alter those scope definitions as necessary and appropriate. The next new clause provides that the Government may lay regulations to modify existing insolvency law in its application to investment banks or to establish a new procedure for insolvent investment banks. In line with existing insolvency law, the new regime would apply when an investment bank was either unable or likely to be unable to pay its debts or when its winding up would be fair. The following new clause provides the detail of what the regulations may provide for and how they would work. It includes provision for the regulations to set out those persons who can initiate the special procedure or who can make an application to a court for the procedure to be initiated by court order. The new clause inserted by Lords amendment 87 sets out the detail by which any regulations may be made. The clause will provide that the regulations should be made by statutory instrument and should be subject to the affirmative procedure. The Treasury must consult before making any such regulations. Finally, the new clause introduced by Lords amendment 88 provides for a review of insolvency regulations. As a consequence of the clause, the Government must establish an independent review of any regulations that have been made within two years of their coming into force. That review will be independent, expert, and impartial. It will consider whether the regulations have been effective in identifying, protecting and facilitating the return of client assets. It will consider whether, in drafting the regulations, the Treasury has paid due attention to protecting creditors' rights and ensuring legal certainty for all relevant stakeholders—creditors, clients, administrators and the investment banks. That is critical and will ensure that the impacts on those firms and persons who may be affected by the regulations are subject to full consideration. As I have said, the Government believe that the proposals are essential for supporting continuing market confidence in the UK as a major financial services centre. They were debated at great length in the other place, and rightly so. I believe that the provisions are necessary.