The government has today said it will back most of the recommendations made by the Parliamentary Commission for Banking Standards (PCBS). We answer five questions on the plans for reform.
What key recommendations is the government planning on implementing?
The key changes are:
There will be a new criminal offence of reckless misconduct by top bankers resulting in a possible jail sentence.
If a bank has been bailed out bankers bonuses could be repayable. Bonuses are also to be deferred by up to 10 years.
If any bank breaks any rules, the burden of proof shall lie with the relevant senior bankers to show that they took all reasonable steps to stop it happening.
What recommendations are the government not taking up?
The government did not agree to employ a much tougher leverage ration for banks, limiting the total amount of loans and investments a bank can make relative to the amount of capital the bank holds in order to absorb losses on those assets.
This would ultimately toughen limits on banks’ risk taking.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, has decided instead to stick to the lower level agreed and set out by the Bank for International Settlements in Basel.
The government has also refused to abolish its holding company for its stakes in Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group, called UK Financial Investments. It said: “UKFI is staffed by highly expert professionals with extensive experience in the banking sector”.
What else has Osborne said?
Today he said: “The government is determined to raise standards across the banking industry to create a stronger and safer banking system.
“I am pleased to say that the government will implement its main recommendations. Where legislative changes are required we will amend the Banking Reform Bill which is currently before Parliament.
“Cultural reform in the banking sector marks the next step in the government’s plan to move the whole sector from rescue to recovery and ensure that UK banks demonstrate the highest standards, and are able to support business and drive economic growth.”
What other changes will be made?
The Prudential Regulation Authority, which is responsible for ensuring excess risks do not build up within the banking system, will be given an extra job of ensuring competition among banks.
Is the government considering any changes in the way the Royal Bank of Scotland is handled?
The government did say it would consider the PCBS’s suggestion of splitting the Royal Bank of Scotland into a ‘good’ high street bank – that can be quickly sold back to the private sector – and a ‘bad’ bank which should be kept and existing problematic loans worked out.