Major shake-up will modernise insolvency sector regulation
Comprehensive reforms will include regulation of firms and a new public register of professionals following major consultation on sector’s future.
The government has announced an overhaul of insolvency regulation to modernise the framework, increase transparency, and bolster confidence in regulation.
Central to the reforms are plans to introduce new rules requiring firms offering insolvency services to be regulated, in line with other regulated sectors such as audit and legal services.
Currently, only individual Insolvency Practitioners (IPs) are subject to regulation, which means regulators cannot hold their firms accountable for failures when things go wrong.
The insolvency sector has evolved considerably since formal regulation was first introduced in 1986, with the rise of larger, more complex firms and volume-based business models. Extending regulation to firms will transform the framework by closing a gap in regulatory coverage, and offer greater protection for those using insolvency services.
The reforms come as the Insolvency Service published the government’s response to its consultation on the future of insolvency regulation, with respondents overwhelmingly supportive of the proposal. The government will bring forward the necessary legislation when parliamentary time allows.
The reforms will also introduce the creation of a public register, which will list all individuals and firms that are authorised to provide insolvency services and show whether they are subject to sanctions by their regulator. This will improve transparency, and allow users of insolvency services to make more informed choices.
The four recognised professional bodies (RPBs) that currently regulate individual IPs will continue to have oversight of the profession. In addition to providing them with additional tools, the government will work with the RPBs to deliver transformational improvements to the regulatory framework without the need for legislation, and create a modern regulatory framework that will increase public trust in the vital work done by the insolvency sector.
The government proposes to take a power to implement the single regulator should that prove necessary, and the need and options for introducing a single regulator will remain under review.
Kevin Hollinrake, Minister for Enterprise, Markets and Small Business, said:
Our insolvency sector is highly-respected around the world, with the vast majority of Insolvency Practitioners doing a good job, making a valued contribution to our economy, and supporting those in financial difficulty. But there continue to be instances of poor conduct that have a direct impact on those closely involved. When that happens, it tarnishes the reputation of the whole profession, and undermines confidence.
This forward-looking package of reforms reaffirms the government’s commitment to ensuring the insolvency profession is effectively regulated, with a regulatory framework fit for the future. These reforms will deliver transformational improvements, modernise the regime, and, crucially, increase public confidence.
Further reforms that will be introduced following the consultation include:
- Reforming the way ethical and professional standards are set for the insolvency profession to ensure they are more agile in responding to changing circumstances
- Further consultation to devise a new compensation and redress scheme for people affected by insolvency professionals’ mistakes or misconduct
- Reforms to the Insolvency Practitioner security (‘bond’) scheme to cover losses in the event of fraud or dishonesty, including increasing some cover levels to better protect creditors.
Background Information
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The government’s full response to the consultation of the future of insolvency regulation can be found here.
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The plans for reform follow a public consultation on the future of insolvency regulation, which ran from December 2021 to March 2022 UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/the-future-of-insolvency-regulation.
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The four current UK recognised professional bodies (RPBs) are:
- the Insolvency Practitioners Association (IPA)
- the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)
- Chartered Accountants Ireland (CAI)
- the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS)
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