Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure customers are protected from being pushed into problem debt by (a) rent-to-own and (b) home credit products.

The Government is committed to protecting consumers from unfair lending practises. To this end, the Government has given the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) strong powers, including the power to cap the cost of credit, and it will do so if it thinks it is necessary to protect consumers.

The FCA is conducting a review of the high-cost credit market, including rent-to-own and doorstep lending, and will publish an update later this month. The Government will continue to work closely with the FCA to ensure that all customers are treated fairly.

As well as supporting consumers through better regulation, the Government is also supporting consumers to make effective financial decisions, through the creation of a Single Financial Guidance Body (SFGB). The SFGB will have a statutory duty to improve the public’s financial capability.