Summary note of the fourth meeting of the Financial Inclusion Committee: 3 November 2025
Updated 3 December 2025
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Attendees
Lucy Rigby KC MP, Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Chair) (EST)
Zoe Burns-Shore, Money and Pensions Service
Doug Brown, Aviva
Professor Martin Coppack, University of Birmingham and Fair by Design
Dame Clare Moriarty DCB, Citizens Advice
Hannah Gurga, The ABI (Association of British Insurers)
Michelle Highman, The Money Charity
Eric Leenders, UK Finance
Sophie Macnair, HM Treasury
Helen Milner OBE, Good Things Foundation
Kate Pender, Fair4All Finance
Sarah Pritchard, Financial Conduct Authority
Jasjyot Singh OBE, Lloyds Banking Group
Helen Undy, Money and Mental Health Policy Institute
Jonathan Westley, Experian
Welcome
EST opened the meeting by thanking committee members for their work on the strategy.
Strategy interventions
EST invited attendees to present on specific strategy interventions which their organisations will lead on.
Jas Singh welcomed the interventions which had been recommended by the Digital Inclusion & Access to Banking subcommittee. Eric Leenders outlined short- and long-term steps to rollout access to bank accounts for those with no fixed abode and establish an Inclusive Design Working Group to address a range of customer accessibility needs.
An HMT official reflected on the Financial Inclusion Committee’s prioritisation of work to help people start and build an emergency savings pot. She set out the strategy’s approach to this and highlighted HM Treasury’s support for innovative workplace savings models.
Hannah Gurga outlined the range of interventions that had been considered by the Access to Insurance subcommittee and how these can support financial resilience. This included increased signposting, action on economic abuse, and the establishment of a working group to examine travel insurance for those with pre-existing mental health conditions.
Zoe Burns-Shore outlined action to increase efficiency in the debt advice sector and how this contributes directly to greater support for those in problem debt.
Kate Pender highlighted the opportunity to increase access to affordable credit as a tool to build financial resilience, including through a credit union transformation fund and a small sum lending pilot.
Kate Pender also outlined how dormant assets funding can support financial capability. Zoe Burns-Shore then set out work to scale-up the Money Guiders programme to support people with their finances when they are seeking help from wider services.
Discussion
There was a discussion which covered the breadth of interventions included in the strategy and the development process.
Attendees welcomed the open policy process in the development of the strategy.
There was a discussion about metrics which reflected on the range of interventions and the overlapping needs of consumers. There was consensus in the importance of evaluation to ensure impact.
Attendees welcomed the consideration of crosscutting themes throughout the strategy’s assessment of barriers and interventions.
Attendees highlighted that a number of interventions rely on voluntary actions from firms which could put delivery at risk. EST noted her role in bringing the sector together to support delivery.
Closing remarks
EST thanked members for their contribution and reiterated her commitment to delivery.