Finance (No. 2) Bill

Debate between Stephen Kerr and Sandy Martin

Committee: 1st sitting: House of Commons
Monday 18th December 2017 Commons Chamber

[Sandy Martin (Ipswich) (Lab)]

Will the hon. Gentleman explain how we can know there is a level playing field and that such levies are fair if there is not complete transparency?

[Stephen Kerr]

I was about to describe the level playing field as I see it. The Bill will remove any disincentive there might have been for banks to base themselves in the UK, which is important. I remind all Members of the reputation that our country and particularly the City has. I think we would all agree that the City is the financial capital of the world.

With respect to the bank levy, the banks’ contribution must go beyond the paying of taxes, as outlined in the Bill. Given the banking sector’s behaviour—I referred to the comments by the hon. Member for Bootle about saints and sinners earlier, but I am generalising now—the banking industry does have a responsibility to make a fairer contribution to society, which is what the measures taken by the Government since 2010 and 2015 have made happen.

Let me mention in passing the Financial Conduct Authority’s report on the Royal Bank of Scotland and its treatment of small and medium-sized business customers.