Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect on access to alternative remedies package funds the employment of senior people historically connected to RBS GRG unit will have.

The Alternative Remedies Package (ARP) is the package of Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS)-funded measures agreed in September 2017 between HM Government and the European Commission (EC) as a resolution to RBS’ final State aid commitment to divest the business formerly known as Williams & Glyn.

The ARP design and eligibility criteria were agreed with the EC following a period of extensive consultation with financial service providers and UK regulators. Banking Competition Remedies Ltd (BCR) is the independent body established to implement the ARP. Final decisions on award allocation will be made by BCR. The eligibility criteria can be found on BCR’s website (https://bcr-ltd.com/).

Non PRA-regulated firms may apply for Pool D of the Capability and Innovation Fund, which makes available £25 million of funding to facilitate the commercialisation of financial technology that is relevant to SMEs.