HM Treasury

The coalition government has issued an ultimatum to the Association of British Insurers over its opposition to the open market option, RP understands.

Our first post-war coalition Government has now lasted 100 days; not a great achievement in itself but a convenient moment at which to pause and consider its impact on the financial services sector.

Vince Cable has backed the extension of preferential lending to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), threatening banks with penalties if they fail to provide loans to good businesses.

Developing regional stock exchanges may "fragment" liquidity and narrow the pool of investors available to small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), a Treasury Green Paper published today says.

The Consumer Protection and Markets Authority (CPMA) will follow the same strategy as the Labour-built FSA it is set to replace, the Treasury says today.

The Consumer Protection and Markets Authority (CPMA), one of the bodies set to replace the FSA from 2013, will be subject to audit by the National Audit Office (NAO) under rules proposed by the Treasury today.

Mark Hoban, the City minister, will use a speech to an audience of top bankers and business leaders tomorrow to flesh out the coalition's plans to tear up Labour's regulatory system and disband the FSA.

The consultation to end compulsory annuitisation should lead to increased flexibility for retirees. Helen Morrissey asks if this is the case.

The government is set to scrap the requirement to purchase an annuity and abolish alternatively secured pensions.

George Osborne is calling on the public to send him their best ideas on how to get more for less from our public services.