NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. The Financial Services Authority (FSA) took on responsibility for the regulation of sale and advice of mortgages from 1st November 2004, and is due to take on the regulation of General Insurance from 14th January 2005.

2. The FSA established the independent Financial Services Consumer Panel in December 1998 to advise its Board on the interests and concerns of consumers and to report on the FSA’s performance in meeting its objectives. The Consumer Panel has statutory status. The FSA must consider its representations and, if it disagrees with a view expressed or proposal made in the representation, it must give the Panel a statement in writing of its reasons for disagreeing.

3. The Consumer Panel brings together a wide range of relevant experience. This includes financial services regulation, working with vulnerable consumers, consumer protection, consumer education, front-line money advice, legal expertise, competition policy, public policy analysis, market research and media.

4. There are currently fourteen members of the Panel as listed below. For further information on individual members, see About the Panel.