1.This Schedule introduces changes to the bank levy arising from a review of the operational efficiency of the levy.
2.Paragraphs 2 -7 remove the existing rules in paragraphs 15, 17, 19, 21 and 27, Schedule 19 Finance Act 2011 that require items that qualify as High Quality Liquid Assets to be deducted firstly from long term liabilities. This rule is replaced by a new rule, which restricts the reduction in respect of items that qualify as High Quality Liquid Assets to half, where they are set against short term liabilities.
3.Paragraph 8 amends the rule for calculating protected deposits. It removes the provisions in paragraph 29(4) – (6), Schedule 19, Finance Act 2011 which allow protected deposits to be calculated by reference to the amount of deposit, or other amount, on which the deposit protection fee or premium is calculated.
4.Paragraph 9(2) replaces the existing definition of Tier 1 capital at paragraph 30(2), Schedule 19, Finance Act 2011 with a new definition of Tier 1 capital based upon Article 25 of the Capital Resources Directive (“CRR”) including the transitional provisions in Part 10. This ensures that the bank levy definition of equity and liabilities that are excluded as Tier 1 capital remains aligned with the regulatory definition. Paragraph 9(2) also introduces new paragraph 30(3).
5.New paragraph 30(3)(a) ensures that when calculating Tier 1 capital equity and liabilities, that for the purposes of the CRR the Prudential Regulation Authority (“PRA”) is the competent authority in all cases.
6.New paragraph 30(3)(b) ensures that when calculating Tier 1 capital equity and liabilities, the only determinations and discretions that can be taken into account are those that have been published in accordance with the requirements in the CRR. Any determination and discretions that are not published cannot be taken into account when calculating Tier 1 capital equity and liabilities.
7.New paragraph 30(3)(c) provides that the CRR will apply as if all entities and groups were subject to the PRA handbook before 1 January 2014, ensuring that the transitional rules within the CRR that apply to the “old” PRA Handbook rules can be applied fully.
8.As part of the regulatory reform agenda, there is a drive to introduce central clearing of derivatives and securities via regulated central counterparties. Paragraph 10 introduces new paragraph 38A which excludes liabilities that arise on banks' balance sheets in respect of collateral provided as Qualifying Central Counterparty (“QCP”) margin that banks have passed on to a central counterparty, authorised or recognised under European Markets Infrastructure Regulations.
9.New paragraph 38A(2) determines the amount that can be excluded as QCP margin. It provides that QCP margin is the cash collateral that exceeds the fair value of the underlying traded instrument, and relates to an asset (or reduced liability) arising from collateral passed on to the QCP.
10.Paragraph 11 prevents derivative contract liabilities from being long term for bank levy purposes. As a result any un-netted derivative contract liabilities will be deemed to be short term.
11.Paragraph 12 widens the scope of the power at paragraph 81, Schedule 19, Finance Act 2011, so that it can be used to make secondary regulations where new regulatory requirements are introduced by any EU or other domestic legislation.
12.Paragraph 13 provides transitional provisions for collecting additional amounts of bank levy that may arise from the bank levy review changes that have effect from 1 January 2014 (Tier 1 regulatory capital definition and client clearing exclusion). Where an instalment payment in respect of a chargeable period ending on or after 1 January 2014 is due before the date of Royal Assent of Finance Act 2014 (17 July 2014), the first instalment for the same chargeable period due after Royal Assent is increased by the adjustment amount. The adjustment amount is the difference between what was actually paid in the pre-Royal Assent instalment and what would have been due if the post Royal Assent rates had been applied. If there is no instalment for the same chargeable period due after Royal Assent then a further instalment, equal to the adjustment amount, becomes due 30 days after Royal Assent.
13.The Government announced when it introduced the bank levy that it would review the design of the levy in 2013. A consultation document was published on 4 July 2013 setting out various areas where the Government sought views. The consultation closed on 26 September 2013. A consultation response document was published on 10 December 2013 and is available on the GOV.UK website.
14.The changes above arise as a result of this consultation and were introduced in Finance Act 2014.