HC Deb 18 April 1990 vol 170 cc1423-4
43. Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next plans to meet the chairman of the Securities and Investments Board; and what will be discussed.

Mr. Redwood

My right hon. Friend and I meet the chairman of the Securities and Investments Board to discuss a range of topics concerning the regulation of financial services as frequently as is necessary. No date has been fixed for the next such meeting.

Mrs. Dunwoody

Does the Minister agree that now is an appropriate time to discuss with the SIB chairman whether the safeguards provided for small investors are even half-way adequate? It is clear that in this country it is all right to mislead or to reinterpret financial rules so long as one does it in terms of millions of pounds.

Mr. Redwood

I do not believe that the hon. Lady's question draws the right inference, but she is right in saying that now is a good time to discuss with the chairman of the SIB matters relating to small investors and their protection. I hope to arrange a meeting with the chairman soon for that purpose.