§ Mr. WatersonTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he proposes to protect retired people in respect of equity release schemes. [75156]
§ Ruth KellyThe Treasury is giving the Financial Services Authority (FSA) responsibility for regulating mortgage business, including mortgage based equity release arrangements. In August, the FSA published CP 146 which sets out its approach to regulating mortgage sales including lifetime mortgages (the FSA's term for regulated equity release mortgages). It is expected that regulation of lifetime and other mortgages will come into force in October 2004.