Asked by: Gordon McKee (Labour - Glasgow South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the Government’s timetable is for bringing buy now, pay later products within the financial-services regulatory framework.
Answered by Rachel Blake
In July 2025, Parliament passed legislation to bring Buy-Now, Pay-Later (BNPL) products within the scope of Financial Conduct Authority regulation. The new regulatory regime came into force on 15 July 2026 and last month the FCA published its final rules for BNPL lending.
Under these rules, BNPL providers will be required to carry out affordability checks as well as provide consumers with clear and upfront information about costs and repayment obligations. Consumers will also benefit from stronger rights, including access to the Financial Ombudsman Service and protection under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, making it easier to obtain refunds where purchases go wrong. These new rules will ensure that BNPL products remain a useful payment option while protecting consumers from harm.
Asked by: Gordon McKee (Labour - Glasgow South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps HM Revenue and Customs is taking to ensure that people unable to use digital services can continue to manage tax affairs by telephone, post and face-to-face support.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
Improving day-to-day performance is a key priority for HMRC.
HMRC is not able to provide the average time taken to respond to written correspondence from individual taxpayers in the last year as providing this information would exceed the cost threshold for responding to parliamentary questions.
HMRC aims to clear 80% of priority post within 15 working days, and 95% within 40 working days.
Regular performance updates on these service standards are published on GOV.UK - https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-quarterly-performance-updates
HMRC is committed to ensuring that all customers can access its services in a way that meets their needs.
While HMRC continues to improve and expand its digital services, customers who are unable to use digital channels can continue to contact HMRC by telephone and post. HMRC also provides additional support for customers who need extra help through its Extra Support Service, including face-to-face support.
Asked by: Gordon McKee (Labour - Glasgow South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average time taken by HM Revenue and Customs to respond to written correspondence from individual taxpayers was in the last year.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
Improving day-to-day performance is a key priority for HMRC.
HMRC is not able to provide the average time taken to respond to written correspondence from individual taxpayers in the last year as providing this information would exceed the cost threshold for responding to parliamentary questions.
HMRC aims to clear 80% of priority post within 15 working days, and 95% within 40 working days.
Regular performance updates on these service standards are published on GOV.UK - https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-quarterly-performance-updates
HMRC is committed to ensuring that all customers can access its services in a way that meets their needs.
While HMRC continues to improve and expand its digital services, customers who are unable to use digital channels can continue to contact HMRC by telephone and post. HMRC also provides additional support for customers who need extra help through its Extra Support Service, including face-to-face support.
Asked by: Gordon McKee (Labour - Glasgow South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with stakeholders on steps to increase the number of banking hubs in Scotland.
Answered by Rachel Blake
The Government understands the importance of banking services to communities and high streets and is committed to supporting the financial services industry’s roll-out of 350 banking hubs by the end of this Parliament. Banking hubs are a voluntary service which were developed by the financial services sector in the context of legislation to protect access to cash under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023.
Over 275 hubs have been announced so far, and more than 240 are already open. In Scotland, 33 have been announced so far and over 30 are already open.
The Government has commissioned an independent Review into Access to Banking Services to assess whether changes in access to in-person banking services are causing consumer detriment, the scale of any detriment, and who it affects. The Review was launched on 8 June, with the publication of the Call for Evidence. The Call for Evidence will run for six weeks and will close on 20 July. It seeks input from a wide range of people including market participants, consumer representatives, community organisations, and industry across the UK, including Scotland.
The consultation survey can be found here: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/accesstobankingservices
Asked by: Gordon McKee (Labour - Glasgow South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department plans to bring forward legislative proposals to implement the cryptoasset regulatory framework.
Answered by Tulip Siddiq
The Government is committed to fostering a vibrant, competitive, and innovative financial services sector. Last October, the Treasury published detailed proposals for the financial service regulation of cryptoassets and stablecoins. The Government has been reviewing those proposals in detail and will set out details of its policy programme for cryptoassets soon.
Asked by: Gordon McKee (Labour - Glasgow South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will hold discussions with Standard Chartered on steps to help Hong Kongers with British National (Overseas) passports access their Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) retirement savings.
Answered by Tulip Siddiq
This government is deeply committed to supporting members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK. We are aware that individuals who have chosen to take up the British National (Overseas) route are having difficulties accessing their Mandatory Provident Fund from Hong Kong.
Whilst documentary requirements for withdrawing funds are a matter for the Hong Kong authorities, officials have raised this issue directly with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Hong Kong MPF Schemes Authority. We have urged them to facilitate early draw down of funds as is the case for other Hong Kong residents who move overseas permanently and have made clear such discrimination of BN(O)s is unacceptable.