'Consumer Minister commits to future Financial Inclusion Fund money' blog discussion

Former_MSE_Helen

This is the discussion to link on the back of Martin's blog. Please read the blog first, as this discussion follows it.

Read Martin's "Consumer Minister commits to future Financial Inclusion Fund money" Blog.

Please click 'post reply' to discuss below.

immoral_angeluk

Glad to hear this, and hope that it comes to fruition!

Rednelly_2

I replied on Martin's Facebook facility, at the bottom of the blog, with two informational posts. Not knowing who sees what, I thought it might be worth reposting them here. Hope it helps:

At yesterday's Debt Resolution Forum Conference, NIck Howard, director of policy at the Insolvency Service (A BIS agency) said that next year (Apr 2012 - Apr 2013) would be the last year of Face-to-Face funding as we know it. Beyond that, all bets are off. (posted this morning 28/9)

And...

I was at a meeting today where Money Advice Service described the steps that were to be taken in agreeing/allocating next year's funding. What was said casts further doubt on the Minister's statement to you, Martin, and seems to me to mean that even some of the April 2012-April 2013 funding might not be as secure or stable as one might like. Apparently the process is that MAS are assessing budgets now, will be presenting them to FSA in Oct/Nov (I think) and hope to be able to tell those that get funding (CA, etc) what they will get in December. MAS pointed out that many of the agencies would therefore not get the six month's notice they need to agree future staffing etc. (posted this evening, 28/9)

Oh - I forgot to say, I specifically asked the MAS spokesperson about the Minister's pledge to Martin and was told (in front of an audience) that services would continue to be funded, but nothing was guaranteed and it was entirely down to the Financial Services's Authority' consideration of the budget.