Since the beginning of the financial crisis there has been real appetite for reform into how our financial sector works and how we want it to operate. The Liberal Democrats have played an important part in this, both from within Government as well as from the backbenches.
During its time in office, the Coalition has already introduced a Financial Services Act into law and is currently legislating for a Banking Reform Bill. In addition, there is also the ongoing Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards, which I appeared in front of in late January.
Not only is Danny Alexander ensuring the Party’s view is heard from within the Treasury, but two Liberal Democrats – John Thurso and Susan Kramer – have played prominent roles on the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards. Baroness Kramer has particularly been vocal on the need to increase consumer choice in the system, which we fully support.
If we are to truly reform our banking sector, then I would welcome any new measures that help deliver choice and competition. We need an industry that offers customers better products and services.
The recent announcement by the Treasury to open a consultation into introducing new regulation focused on the payments system offers the possibility of enhanced competition, but also the risk of delaying important change in payments.
The Chancellor, George Osborne, spoke in early February calling for banks to work for their customers and not the other way around. He spoke of the need for a:
payments system that was at the heart of the banking sector and one that worked for both consumers and businesses.
These statements are all things I agree with; more competition on the high street and payment systems that help to serve the people and businesses that use them.
Yet, many of the reforms the Chancellor and Government are advocating are already taking place.
The Payments Council is already listening to politicians, consumers, businesses and charities, as well as to the incumbents, challengers and new national entrants to the banking market that are so central to this debate. Working with Government, we are developing a clear strategy for the next ten years that will ensure that UK payment services continue to be both cutting edge and world-leading.
As one of the biggest customers and users of our payments systems, it makes sense that Government and other customer groups should all have their voice heard when shaping future innovation. The Payments Council is uniquely placed to make sure these critical conversations happen.
In 2008, we introduced the Faster Payments Service that allows consumers to move money almost instantly. This September, thanks to a Payments Council-led project, customers will be able to switch their bank account hassle-free in just seven working days and, in the spring of 2014, we are introducing a new mobile payments service to allows people to transfer money securely just by using a mobile phone number. These innovations are largely unmatched anywhere else in the world and will help consumers and businesses move money around the economy more quickly.
More importantly, the changes that our new account switching service will deliver have the potential to transform the retail banking landscape in this country. It should provide an attractive platform that new entrants and existing players can use to compete for customers and so deliver greater competition and choice.
We are the only organisation undertaking research across a variety of industries and stakeholders, to understand the unique needs of particular groups of customers and businesses, and using this evidence to drive change. It is vitally important that any reforms do not negatively impact unseen aspects of our work. A regulator is unlikely to be able to deliver our important customer focused work such as raising awareness of chip and pin for the elderly or delivering dual electronic signature options for charities, small clubs and societies.
This issue may appear on the edge of the wider reforms, but for consumers it is important. We need a system that allows more competition and choice within the market, something the Liberal Democrats hold dear. To implement a system that could harm the on-going reforms and strategy setting we are undertaking would simply be wrong for the Government and, ultimately, the country.
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* Adrian Kamellard is the Chief Executive of the Payments Council