HMT to retain Temporary Transitional Powers for UK Regulators for two years from 1 January 2021

It was confirmed yesterday by HM Treasury (HMT) in a statement to Parliament that it will retain the UK regulators’ “Temporary Transitional Power” (TTP), which was introduced as part of the UK Government's no-deal contingency planning legislation, and shift its application such that it is available for use by the regulators for a period of two years from the end of the Transition Period.

HMT's statement reminded Parliament that:

• while, in general, the same laws and rules [as apply presently in relation to financial services] will apply at the end of the Transition Period, HMT recognises it will be important, irrespective of the agreement that is reached between the EU and UK, for the regulators to have the flexibility to smooth any adjustments to the UK’s regulatory regime for financial services at the end of the Transition Period; and
• the purpose of the TTP is to allow the Bank of England (BoE), the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to phase in changes to UK regulatory requirements so that firms can adjust to the UK’s post-Transition Period regime in an orderly way, in line with the objectives already set by Parliament.

While this outcome is in line with market expectations, it is nonetheless reassuring for UK firms and other market participants to have confirmation, at a time of particular uncertainty, that the UK regulators will retain this flexibility for the medium term. There is no indication of any extension to the separate Temporary Permissions Regime (TPR) for EU financial institutions currently passported in/into the UK.