Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure the UK remains internationally competitive in (i) sustainable finance and (ii) transition finance.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy set out the government’s vision for the UK’s sustainable finance regulatory framework, which prioritises championing the UK’s world leading sustainable finance sector to innovate and adapt to upcoming developments.

The government published the UK Sustainability Reporting Standards for voluntary use on 25 February. These aim to support long-term, sustainable decision-making by the business and investment community by providing high-quality and comparable information about the sustainability-related risks and opportunities that businesses face. These standards are closely aligned with the standards from the International Sustainability Standards Board and will support both companies and investors working across jurisdictional boundaries. The Financial Conduct Authority has also consulted on potential updates to its rules for listed companies.

The UK is also taking decisive action to ensure its financial services sector in supporting the global transition and is well placed to capture the opportunity of transition finance. The government has been working closely with the Transition Finance Council, which the Chancellor co-launched with the City of London Corporation in February 2025. It has also consulted on potential implementation options to take forward transition planning in a way that supports the market’s need for credible and decision-useful information, while encouraging action in line with the UK’s climate commitments and supporting economic growth. The government will publish its response in due course.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential for greater regulatory interoperability between the UK and Japan to reduce barriers to financial services exports.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Financial regulatory dialogues, including the Japan-UK Financial Regulatory Forum (FRF), are important in supporting cross-border trade in financial services and form a core part of the government’s approach to strengthening international partnerships, as set out in the Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy published in July.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to align the UK’s regulatory framework for (i) digital assets and (ii) stablecoins with key international partners to support global market access for UK firms.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The government is maintaining close engagement with the UK’s international partners on digital asset and stablecoin market access opportunities.

The government is committed to making the UK a leading global destination for digital assets.

100th anniversary of the birth of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II