PART 1

Introductory provisions

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1. —(1) This Order may be cited as the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Order 2021.

(2) This Order comes into force on the day (“the initial commencement day”) after the day on which it is made, for the following purposes only—

(a) enabling the FCA—

(i) to make or approve rules;

(ii) to give guidance; and

(iii) to give directions.

(b) enabling applications for—

(i) a Part 4A( 4 ) permission under section 55A( 5 ) of the Act;

(ii) a variation of a Part 4A permission under section 55H( 6 ) of the Act; and

(iii) approval under Part 5 of the Act;

to be made and determined in relation to any activity which becomes a regulated activity by virtue of this Order;

(c) enabling the FCA to exercise any of its powers under Part 4A or Part 5 of the Act in relation to any activity which becomes a regulated activity by virtue of this Order; and

(d) enabling the scheme operator—

(i) to make rules; and

(ii) to give guidance.

(3) Subject to article 1A, this Order comes into force for all other purposes on the first day following the expiry of a period of eighteen calendar months beginning on the day after the initial commencement day.

(4) In this Order—

“the Act” means the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;

“the Regulated Activities Order” means the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001( 7 ); and

“scheme operator” has the meaning given in section 225(2) of the Act.

Transitional period

1A.—(1) Article 1(3) applies subject to this article.

(2) Where—

(a) the FCA received a provider’s application before 1st March 2022; and

(b) one of the following applies—

(i) that application has not been determined by the FCA in accordance with section 55V ( 14 ) of the Act before 29th July 2022;

(ii) that provider withdrew that application before 29th July 2022;

(iii) the FCA refused that application before 29th July 2022 by giving the provider a decision notice in accordance with section 55X(4)(f) ( 15 ) of the Act;

article 2(4)(a) applies only in relation to activities carried on by that provider on or after 31st October 2022.

(3) In this article—

“ application ” means an application to the FCA under section 55A ( 16 ) of the Act for permission to carry on either of the regulated activities specified in article 59 of the Regulated Activities Order;

“ funeral plan contract ” has the same meaning as in article 59(2) of the Regulated Activities Order;

“ provider ” means a person responsible for carrying out a funeral plan contract as provider.

PART 2 Amendments to secondary legislation made under the Act

The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001

2. —(1) The Regulated Activities Order is amended as follows.

(2) In article 3 (interpretation)( 8 ), in the definition of “contract of insurance”, omit “(or a contract which would be a funeral plan contract but for the exclusion in article 60)”.

(3) In article 21(1) (dealing in investments as agent)( 9 ), omit “(other than investments of the kind specified by article 87, or article 89 so far as relevant to that article)”.

(4) In article 59 (funeral plan contracts)—

(a) after paragraph (1), insert—

“ (1A) Carrying out a funeral plan contract as provider is a specified kind of activity. ” ;

(b) in paragraph (2), omit “(other than one excluded by article 60)”; and

(c) after paragraph (2), insert—

“ (2A) For the purposes of paragraph (1A), “provider” includes a person who has assumed the undertaking referred to in paragraph (2)(b) as a result of the novation, assignment or transfer by operation of law of an existing funeral plan contract. ” .

(5) Omit article 60 (plans covered by insurance or trust arrangements).

(6) Before paragraph 60A( 10 ), insert—

“ Local authorities

60ZA. Article 59 is subject to the exclusion in article 72G (local authorities). ” .

(7) In article 72G (local authorities)( 11 ), after paragraph (3B)( 12 ), insert—

“ (3C) There is excluded from article 59(1) and (1A) any activity which is carried on by a local authority. ” .

(8) For article 89(3) (rights to or interests in investments)( 13 ), substitute—

“ Paragraph (1) does not include any right or interest acquired as a result of entering into a funeral plan contract. ”

The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Collective Investment Schemes) Order 2001

3. For paragraph 18( 14 ) of the Schedule to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Collective Investment Schemes) Order 2001( 15 ), substitute—

“ Funeral plan contracts

18. Arrangements do not amount to a collective investment scheme if they consist of, or are made pursuant to, a funeral plan contract. ” .

The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Appointed Representatives) Regulations 2001

4. —(1)The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Appointed Representatives) Regulations 2001( 16 ) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 1(2)( 17 ), at the appropriate place, insert—

“ “funeral plan contract” has the same meaning as in article 59 of the Regulated Activities Order; ” .

(3) For regulation 2(1)(za) (descriptions of business for which appointed representatives are exempt)( 18 ), substitute—

“ (za) an activity of the kind specified by article 21 of the Regulated Activities Order (dealing in investments as agent), where the transaction relates to—

(i) a contract of insurance which is not a qualifying contract of insurance or a contract of long-term care insurance; or

(ii) a funeral plan contract. ” .

The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005

5. —(1)Schedule 1 to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005( 19 ) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph 3(1)( 20 ) (dealing in securities and contractually based investments), omit “(other than investments of the kind specified by paragraph 25, or paragraph 27 so far as relevant to that paragraph)”.

(3) In paragraph 9 (providing funeral plan contracts)—

(a) after sub-paragraph (1), insert—

“ (1A) Carrying out a qualifying funeral plan contract as provider is a controlled activity. ” ; and

(b) for sub-paragraph (2)(c), substitute—

“ the provider is a person who carries on a regulated activity specified in article 59 of the Regulated Activities Order and includes a person who has assumed the undertaking referred to in article 59(2)(b) of that Order as a result of the novation, assignment or transfer by operation of law of an existing qualifying funeral plan contract. ” .

PART 3 Transitional provisions: complaints relating to funeral plans

Interpretation

6. In this Part—

“compulsory jurisdiction” has the meaning given in section 226(8) of the Act;

“compulsory jurisdiction rules” has the meaning given in section 226(3)( 21 ) of the Act;

“former scheme” means the complaints procedure contained in the former scheme operator’s Code of Practice and Rules in force at the time of the act or omission that is the subject of the relevant complaint;

“former scheme operator” means the Funeral Planning Authority Community Interest Company;

“former scheme rules” means the former scheme operator’s Code of Practice and Rules in force immediately before the initial commencement day;

“new scheme” means the scheme for which provision is made in Part 16 of the Act (the ombudsman scheme);

“relevant complaint” has the meaning given in article 7(1); and

“relevant date” means the date on which this Order comes fully into force in accordance with article 1(3).

Complaints made on or after the relevant date about acts or omissions before that date

7. —(1) A relevant complaint is a complaint—

(a) about an act or omission which occurred before the relevant date;

(b) which had not, before that date, been referred under the former scheme; and

(c) in relation to which the conditions set out in paragraph (2) are met.

(2) The conditions are that—

(a) the complaint is about an act or omission of a person who, at the time of that act or omission, was subject to the former scheme (regardless of whether they later ceased to be subject to it);

(b) the act or omission occurred in the carrying on by that person of an activity to which the former scheme applied; and

(c) in relation to the compulsory jurisdiction, the complainant is eligible within the meaning given in section 226(6) of the Act and wishes to have the complaint dealt with under the new scheme.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(c), where the complainant is not eligible in accordance with the compulsory jurisdiction rules, an ombudsman may nonetheless, if the ombudsman considers it appropriate, treat the complainant as eligible if the complainant would have been entitled, at any time before the relevant date, to refer to the former scheme operator an equivalent complaint.

(4) A relevant complaint—

(a) may be referred for determination under the new scheme; and

(b) upon referral is, subject to article 9, to be dealt with in the same way as any other complaint referred under the new scheme.

(5) For the purposes of paragraph (4), it is immaterial that the conditions set out in section 226(2)(b) and (c) of the Act are not met in relation to the complaint.

Procedure for dealing with relevant complaints

8. In paragraphs 13 and 14 of Schedule 17 to the Act, each reference to a “complaint” is to be taken to include a reference to a relevant complaint.

Determination of relevant complaints

9. —(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), sections 228 to 230A of the Act apply in relation to the determination of a relevant complaint as they apply in relation to the determination of a complaint of the kind mentioned in section 226(1) (compulsory jurisdiction).

(2) In determining, in relation to a relevant complaint—

(a) what is fair and reasonable in all the circumstances of the case, for the purposes of section 228(2) of the Act;

(b) what amount, if any, constitutes fair compensation for loss and damage suffered by the complainant, for the purposes of section 229(2)(a) of the Act; and

(c) what steps would be just and appropriate in any direction under section 229 of the Act, for the purposes of section 229(2)(b),

an ombudsman may also take into account the matters set out in paragraph (3).

(3) The matters referred to in paragraph (2) are—

(a) what the former scheme operator, seeking to resolve the complaint under the former scheme rules, might have recommended in the particular circumstances of the case;

(b) what amount, if any, the former scheme operator, seeking to resolve the complaint under the former scheme rules, might have recommended that the respondent should pay under the former scheme rules; and

(c) what other steps the former scheme operator, seeking to resolve the complaint under the former scheme rules, might have recommended that the respondent should take under the former scheme rules.

Funding and charges

10. —(1) In section 234(1) of the Act (industry funding), the reference to the operation of the ombudsman scheme in relation to the compulsory jurisdiction is to be taken to include its operation in relation to relevant complaints.

(2)Relevant complaints are subject to rules made under paragraph 15(1) of Schedule 17 to the Act (fees) in the same way as any other complaints referred to under the new scheme.

Exemption from liability in damages

11. Paragraph 10(1) of Schedule 17 to the Act (exemption from liability in damages) applies to the discharge, or purported discharge, of any functions by virtue of this Part in relation to dealing with a relevant complaint (“relevant functions”), and is to be read for those purposes as if—

(a) the reference to functions under the Act included a reference to relevant functions; and

(b) the reference to “the compulsory jurisdiction” included a reference to the jurisdiction of the new scheme which results from this Part.

Transfers of liability

12. In section 234B of the Act, the reference to a complaint falling to be dealt with under the ombudsman scheme is to be taken to include a reference to a relevant complaint falling to be dealt with under that scheme including the jurisdiction which results from this Part.

Privilege

13. In paragraph 11 of Schedule 17 to the Act (privilege), the reference to “the compulsory jurisdiction” is to be taken to include the jurisdiction of the new scheme which results from this Part.

Record-keeping and reporting requirements relating to relevant complaints

14. The FCA may make rules applying to authorised persons under the Act with respect to the keeping of records and the making of reports in relation to relevant complaints.

Information

15. —(1) Sections 231 and 232 of the Act apply in relation to a relevant complaint as they apply in relation to a complaint of the kind mentioned in section 226(1) of the Act.

(2) The reference in the table in paragraph 11 of Schedule 2 to the Data Protection Act 2018( 22 ) (exemptions etc from the GDPR) to functions conferred upon the Financial Ombudsman by or under Part 16 of the Act is to be taken to include a reference to the functions conferred upon the Financial Ombudsman by this Order.

PART 4

Rules and guidance

Funeral plans related rules and guidance made by the FCA

16. The requirements of section 138I of the Act, in so far as they apply to a proposal by the FCA to make rules and guidance in relation to the amendments made by this Order, may be satisfied by things done (wholly or in part) before the date on which this Order comes into force for the purpose of enabling the FCA to make rules and give guidance.

Rules made by the scheme operator relating to funeral plans

17. The requirements of paragraph 14(4) and (5) of Schedule 17 to the Act, in so far as they apply to a proposal by the scheme operator to make or amend rules under paragraph 14(1) (the scheme operator’s rules) in relation to amendments made by this Order, may be satisfied by things done (wholly or in part) before the date on which this Order comes into force for the purpose of enabling the scheme operator to make or amend rules.

PART 5

Review

Review

18. —(1) The Treasury must from time to time—

(a) carry out a review of this Order; and

(b) publish a report setting out the conclusions of the review.

(2) The first report must be published before the end of the period of five years beginning with the day on which this Order comes into force for any purpose.

(3) Subsequent reports must be published at intervals not exceeding five years.