Following the Prime Minister’s first PMQs, Parliament got on with the important task of reforming our financial legislation following our departure from the European Union. The Financial Services and Markets Bill, that MPs debated this evening, set out how the financial sector here at home will seek to be more agile and more internationally competitive when compared to our partners in the USA, Asia, and Europe.

In my speech during today’s debate, I was glad to focus my remarks on a range of issues from financial innovation to EU structures before finally focusing upon my constituents' ability to access cash in the constituency.

What is overwhelmingly clear, is the need to protect the City of London, which has long been the jewel in the crown of our economy, and is vital in stimulating growth right across the United Kingdom. It is also particularly important for a number of my constituents who work in the City and the wider finance sector.

I am widely supportive of this Bill as it continues to support the innovation that is vital to this sector while moving away from EU structures and ensuring customer protection. As I referred to in my speech, this gives us the independence to futureproof UK financial services. This importantly means ensuring that non-regulated activity undertaken by regulated bodies.

Finally, I addressed the pressing issue of access to cash for my constituents in Ruislip, Northwood, and Pinner. While this has been discussed in good detail before, I specifically highlighted the essential need to access coins for small businesses when it comes to cash transactions.  

The strength of this Bill and its wide support among parliamentarians is testament to Ministers past and present who have worked on it, and I look forward to scrutinising it further over the coming months.