Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Gareth Davies and Emma Hardy

Tuesday 7th May 2024 Commons Chamber

[Gareth Davies]

The Darlington economic campus is an important part of this Government’s operations and of our Government estate, but it is also important to the people of Darlington, and not just in terms of the jobs it has created. Of course, it builds on the back of significant funding on my hon. Friend’s watch: the £22 million town deal and the £6 million as part of the shared prosperity fund. That is one of the reasons why the people voted to elect Ben Houchen just the other day.

[Emma Hardy (Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle) (Lab)]

Regional inequality may be made worse by my constituents facing having to pay again for funeral plans after they were sold fake funeral plans by Legacy funeral directors. Many simply cannot afford to pay for those plans again and, instead of having the funeral that their families wanted for them, they will only be able to have the free service offered by the council. Does the Minister agree that banks should offer more discretion when looking at victims of fraud, and will he meet with me to discuss this specific case further?

Financial Services and Markets Bill (Second sitting)

Debate between Gareth Davies and Emma Hardy

Committee stage
Wednesday 19th October 2022 Public Bill Committees

[Gareth Davies]

Q Okay. Maybe write to me with your workings and we will go from there. If you rattle off data in an evidence session such as this, it is important for you to know how that data was calculated.

[Emma Hardy]

How they have worked it out is on the website.

Martin Coppack: It is published by the Bristol University Personal Finance Research Centre.

[Gareth Davies]

That still does not answer my question. If you are going to come to a Committee such as this, please provide your data.

Financial Services and Markets Bill (First sitting)

Debate between Gareth Davies and Emma Hardy

Committee stage
Wednesday 19th October 2022 Public Bill Committees

[Emma Hardy]

Did you want to add anything, Victoria?

Victoria Saporta: No, I think Sheldon has covered it.

[Gareth Davies]

Q Good to see you again, Sheldon. Can you confirm whether you know of any country in the world that has a competitive objective for its regulators?

Sheldon Mills: I’m not aware of one. Vicky?

Victoria Saporta: Singapore has one. Its financial stability, however, is primary; it overrides the competitive objective, which is secondary. There is the Hong Kong Insurance Authority. Otherwise, it is not common, particularly for prudential authorities, which is what I know about.

--- Later in debate ---

[Emma Hardy]

Q Okay. So, in general, would you welcome anything that we can do to strengthen provisions against fraud?

David Postings: Yes.

[Gareth Davies]

Q I just want to pick up on one thing you said, David. Can you confirm that the removal of the share trading obligation will make the UK a more competitive and open market?

David Postings: Yes, it will.