C2: Incidental Financial Business

Part I - General

Definitions and interpretation

2.1.1 In this rule 2, unless the context otherwise requires, terms listed in the first column of rule 2.1.1 shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in the second column of that rule:

Term	Definition
accounting period	in respect of a licensed person, a period not exceeding six months immediately following the previous accounting period, the first such accounting period commencing on the date on which an incidental financial business licence has been granted to that licensed person or, having been withdrawn, suspended or not renewed, is granted again to that licensed person or is reinstated following suspension
the Act	the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000
the Amendment (No 1) Order	the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (No 1) Order 2003
the Amendment (No 2) Order	the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (No 2) Order 2003
ancillary insurance intermediary	any natural or legal person, other than a credit institution or an investment firm within the meaning of the Act, who for remuneration, takes up or pursues the activity of insurance distribution on an ancillary basis, provided that all the following conditions are met: (a) the principal professional activity of that natural or legal person is other than insurance distribution; (b) the natural or legal person only distributes certain insurance products that are complementary to goods or service; (c) the insurance products concerned do not cover life assurance or liability risks, unless that cover complements the good or service which the intermediary provides as its principal professional activity
bankruptcy proceedings	an award of sequestration, bankruptcy order or equivalent in any other jurisdiction
close links	close links as defined in Article 13 point 17 of Directive 2009/138/EC
Consumer Credit Activity	any of the following regulated activities: i. credit broking (Chapter 6A of Part 2 of the Order) ii. operating an electronic system in relation to lending (Chapter 6B of Part 2 of the Order) iii. activities in relation to debt (Chapter 7B of Part 2 of the Order) iv. regulated credit agreements (Chapter 14A of Part 2 of the Order) v. regulated consumer hire agreements (Chapter 14B of Part 2 of the Order) vi. specified activities in relation to information (Part 3A of the Order)
contract of insurance	the meaning given by article 3(1) of the Order
contract of long-term care insurance	the meaning given by article 1(4) of the Amendment (No 2) Order
contract of long-term insurance	the meaning given by article 3(1) of the Order
Durable medium	any instrument which: (a) enables the recipient to store information personally addressed to them in a way accessible for future reference and for a period of time adequate for the purpose of the information; and (b) allows the unchanged reproduction of the information stored
exempt person	a person who is exempt from the general prohibition as a result of an exemption order made under section 38(1) of the Act or as a result of section 39(1) or 285(2) or (3) of the Act
FCA	the Financial Conduct Authority
the general prohibition	the meaning given by section 19(2) of the Act
Incidental Financial Business Compliance Certificate	a certificate so designated by the Council in such form as the Council may from time to time prescribe
incidental financial business licence	a licence granted by the Council in terms of Part III of this rule 2
insurance distributor	includes an ancillary insurance
insurance distribution activity	any of the following regulated activities carried on in relation to a contract of insurance or rights to or interests in a life policy: (i) dealing in investments as agent (Article 21 of the Order) (ii) arranging (bringing about) deals in investments (Article 25(1) of the Order) (iii) making arrangements with a view to transactions in investments (Article 25(2) of the Order) (iv) assisting in the administration and performance of a contract of insurance (Article 39A of the Order) (v) advising on investments (Article 53 of the Order) (vi) agreeing to carry on a regulated activity in (i) to (v) (Article 64 of the Order)
insurance distribution	the activities of advising on, proposing, or carrying out other work preparatory to the conclusion of contracts of insurance, of concluding such contracts, or of assisting in the administration and performance of such contracts, in particular in the event of a claim, including the provision of information concerning one or more contracts of insurance in accordance with criteria selected by clients through a website or other media and the compilation of an insurance product ranking list, including price and product comparison, or a discount on the price of a contract of insurance, when the customer is able to directly or indirectly conclude a contract of insurance using a website or other media. For the purposes of this rule 2, the following shall not be considered to constitute insurance distribution: (a) the provision of information on an incidental basis in the context of another professional activity where the provider does not take any additional steps to assist in concluding or performing an insurance contract; (b) the management of claims of an insurance undertaking on a professional basis, and loss adjusting and expert appraisal of claims; (c) the mere provision of data and information on potential policyholders to insurance intermediaries or insurance undertakings where the provider does not take any additional steps to assist in the conclusion of an insurance contract; (d) the mere provision of information about insurance products, an insurance intermediary, an insurance undertaking to potential policyholders where the provider does not take any additional steps to assist in the conclusion of an insurance contract
insurance-based investment product	an insurance product which offers a maturity or surrender value and where that maturity or surrender value is wholly or partially exposed, directly or indirectly, to market fluctuations, and does not include: (a) non-life insurance products as listed in Annex I to Directive 2009/138/EC (Classes of non-life insurance); (b) life insurance contracts where the benefits under the contract are payable only on death or in respect of incapacity due to injury, sickness or disability; (c) pension products which, under national law, are recognised as having the primary purpose of providing the investor with an income in retirement, and which entitle the investor to certain benefits; (d) officially recognised occupational pension schemes as defined in section 1(1) of the Pension Schemes Act 1993; (e) individual pension products for which a financial contribution from the employer is required by national law and where the employer or the employee has no choice as to the pension product or provider
Insurance Product Information Document	a document containing the information that meets any technical standards specified by the FCA and the UK version of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1469
Insurance undertaking	an undertaking as defined in section 417 of the Act
large risks contract of insurance	large risks contract of insurance as defined in section 72D(2) of the Order
Licensed person	a practice unit which is licensed by the Society to carry on incidental financial business in terms of this rule 2
long-term care insurance mediation activity	the meaning given by article 22 of the Amendment (No 2) Order
mortgage mediation activity	in relation to regulated mortgage contracts, has the meaning given by article 26 of the Amendment (No 1) Order
Officer	a manager
the Order	the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001
personal recommendation	a recommendation that is presented as suitable for the person to whom it is made, or is based on a consideration of the circumstances of that person
pure protection contract	(1) a long-term insurance contract (as defined in the FCA Handbook) in respect of which the following conditions are met: (a) the benefits under the contract are payable only on death or in respect of incapacity due to injury, sickness or infirmity; (b) the contract has no surrender value, or the consideration consists of a single premium and the surrender value does not exceed that premium; and (c) the contract makes no provision for its conversion or extension in a manner which would result in it ceasing to comply with (a) or (b) above; or (2) a reinsurance contract (as defined in the FCA Handbook) covering all or part of a risk to which a person is exposed under a long-term insurance contract
regulated activity	the meaning given by section 22 of the Act
regulated mortgage contract	the meaning given by article 61(3) of the Order
remuneration	any commission, fee, charge or other payment, including an economic benefit of any kind or any other financial or nonfinancial advantage or incentive offered or given in respect of insurance distribution activities
retail client	a client who is a natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business or profession

2.1.2 References in this rule 2 to incidental financial business or regulated activities carried on by a practice unit shall include such business or activities carried on by an individual as an officer or an employee of the practice unit and employees shall include solicitor and non-solicitor employees and consultants.

Purpose and scope of rule 2

2.2.1 This rule 2 makes provision for the carrying on by practice units of incidental financial business.

2.2.2 This rule 2 applies in respect of practice units where the activities constituting incidental financial business are the only regulated activities carried on by the practice unit (other than regulated activities in relation to which it is an exempt person).

Part II - Incidental Financial Business

Prohibition on carrying on incidental financial business

2.3 No practice unit shall carry on incidental financial business unless it has been licensed by the Society to do so in terms of this rule 2.

Criteria for carrying on incidental financial business

2.4 Subject to rules 2.2.2 and 2.3, a practice unit may carry on incidental financial business:

(a) to the extent that there is not in force a direction of the FCA under section 328(1) of the Act or an order of the FCA under section 329(1) of the Act preventing the practice unit from carrying on a regulated activity or regulated activities;

(b) to the extent that the regulated activities are not of a description, nor do they relate to an investment of a description, specified in any order made by the Treasury under section 327(6) of the Act;

(c) provided that the practice unit must not receive from a person other than its client any pecuniary reward or other advantage, for which it does not account to its client, arising out of its carrying on any regulated activity;

(d) provided that the manner of the provision by the practice unit of any service in the course of carrying on a regulated activity must be incidental to the provision by it of professional services;

(e) provided that the practice unit carries on only regulated activities which arise out of, or are complementary to, the provision by it of a particular professional service to a particular client;

(f) provided that the insurance distribution carried out by the practice unit is (a) only as an ancillary insurance intermediary and (b) not in relation to the sale of insurance –based investment products; and

(g) provided that the practice unit is controlled or managed by officers who are regulated persons.

Part III - Licences

Application for licence

2.5.1 An application for an incidental financial business licence may be made by a practice unit by submitting to the Secretary a completed form of application in such form as the Council may from time to time prescribe

2.5.2 At any time after receiving an application and before determining it, the Council may require the applicant to furnish additional information and such additional information shall be in such form or verified in such manner as the Council may specify.

2.5.3 The Council may notify the FCA of any details disclosed to it in the application form under rule 2.5.1 or pursuant to rule 2.5.2.

Grant and refusal

2.6.1 Subject to rule 2.6.2, the Council may, on an application duly made in accordance with rule 2.5.1, grant or refuse to grant an incidental financial business licence or may grant such licence subject to such conditions or restrictions as it considers appropriate.

2.6.2 The Council shall refuse to grant an incidental financial business licence unless it is satisfied that:

(a) the applicant is a practice unit; and

(b) the main business of the applicant is the practice of professional services which are subject to supervision and regulation by the Society.

2.6.3 The Council shall advise an applicant for an incidental financial business licence, in writing, whether it has been granted an incidental financial business licence, in which case the date of grant shall be specified, as shall any conditions or restrictions which the Council considers appropriate in respect of that licence, or whether it has been refused an incidental financial business licence, in which case the reasons for refusal shall be given.

2.6.4 In the event that the Council shall have granted an incidental financial business licence to an applicant, it shall, at the same time as so advising the applicant in terms of rule 2.6.3, issue to the applicant a certificate confirming that the applicant is licensed to carry on incidental financial business.

2.6.5 The Council shall cause to be kept in respect of each practice year a register of applications for incidental financial business licences and of licences granted. The register shall be in such form as the Council may determine.

Duration, renewal and annual fee

[Not used]

Withdrawal, suspension and lapse

2.8.1 An incidental financial business licence shall lapse automatically upon the licensed person ceasing to practise as a regulated person or ceasing to be a practice unit.

2.8.2 An incidental financial business licence shall lapse automatically upon the licensed person becoming authorised by the FCA to carry on regulated activities.

2.8.3 An incidental financial business licence shall lapse automatically upon a direction under section 328(1) or an order under section 329(1) of the Act being made in relation to the licensed person, such lapse to be to the extent necessary to secure compliance with the direction or order.

2.8.4 An incidental financial business licence granted to an incorporated practice shall lapse automatically on the revocation of the recognition of that incorporated practice.

2.8.5 An incidental financial business licence granted to a practice unit which is a sole practitioner shall be suspended automatically on the suspension of the practising certificate of that sole practitioner and an incidental financial business licence granted to a practice unit which has two or more managers (but is not an incorporated practice) shall be suspended automatically on the suspension of the practising certificates of the managers of that practice unit.

2.8.6 Any suspension of an incidental financial business licence pursuant to rule 2.8.5 shall continue to have effect only while the practising certificates of the relevant managers remain suspended.

2.8.7 An incidental financial business licence may be suspended by the Council if, within 30 days of the due date for payment of any fee required under rule 2.7.1, payment has not been made, provided that such suspension shall cease to have effect on payment being made.

2.8.8 An incidental financial business licence may be suspended by the Council if the licensed person has not, within one month (or within such extended period as the Council may have authorised in terms of rule 2.19) of the completion of its accounting period, delivered to the Council an Incidental Financial Business Compliance Certificate in accordance with Part V of this rule 2 , provided that such suspension shall cease to have effect on the date of the production to the Council of an Incidental Financial Business Compliance Certificate.

2.8.9 An incidental financial business licence may be suspended or withdrawn by the Council if the licensed person has failed to comply with any provision of this rule 2 other than those provisions failure to comply with which may result in suspension pursuant to rules 2.8.7 or 2.8.8, provided that an incidental financial business licence may be withdrawn by the Council if the licensed person has had its incidental financial business licence suspended pursuant to rule 2.8.7 or rule 2.8.8 on two or more occasions. In exercising its discretion to suspend or withdraw in such circumstances, the Council shall have regard to the materiality of any such failure to comply and to any previous failures to comply.

2.8.10 The Council shall advise the licensed person of any suspension or withdrawal pursuant to rules 2.8.7, 2.8.8 or 2.8.9 by notice, which notice shall specify the date upon which the suspension or withdrawal shall take effect. In the case of a suspension, the licensed person may represent either orally or in writing to the Council that such suspension should be terminated and, in considering any such representation, the Council shall have regard to the efforts made by the licensed person to remedy the failure to comply which gave rise to the suspension.

2.8.11 Where an incidental financial business licence has lapsed or has been or is to be withdrawn or suspended, whether automatically or otherwise, the Counci may direct the licensed person whose incidental financial business licence has lapsed or has been or is to be withdrawn or suspended, to take such action and make such arrangements as are necessary, in the view of the Council, to ensure the speedy and satisfactory completion and/or transfer to another licensed person of clients' outstanding incidental financial business.

2.8.12 Any licensed person whose incidental financial business licence has lapsed or is withdrawn or suspended in terms of this rule 2.8 may, in a case of automatic lapse or suspension, within 21 days of the occurrence of the event which has given rise to such lapse or suspension and, in a case of withdrawal or suspension by the Council, within 21 days of being notified by the Council of such withdrawal or suspension, appeal to the Court of Session.

Notification of changes to information, section 328 directions and section 329 orders

2.9.1 A licensed person shall notify the Secretary in writing of any change to the information provided to the Society on the form of application submitted in terms of rule 2.5.1 or to the additional information (if any) provided in terms of rule 2.5.2.

2.9.2 The notification referred to in rule 2.9.1 shall be given by the licensed person within one month of any change referred to in rule 2.9.1.

2.9.3 A licensed person shall notify the Secretary in writing in the event that a direction of the FCA under section 328(1) or an order under section 329(1) of the Act is made in relation to the licensed person.

2.9.4 The notification referred to in rule 2.9.3 shall be given by the licensed person within one month of the direction or order referred to in rule 2.9.3 being made, and shall be accompanied by a copy of the direction or order.

2.9.5 A licensed person shall notify the Secretary in writing in the event that the licensed person becomes authorised by the FCA to carry on regulated activities.

2.9.6 The notification referred to in rule 2.9.5 shall be given by the licensed person within one month of the authorisation referred to in rule 2.9.5 coming into effect, and shall be accompanied by a copy of the certificate of authorisation.

Part IV - Insurance distribution

Registration for the purposes of insurance distribution

2.10.1 Every practice unit which carries on incidental financial business which is insurance distribution shall give the Council the details required by the Council of the officer responsible for the conduct of that business.

2.10.2 The Council shall notify the FCA of any details disclosed to it pursuant to paragraph 2.10.1.

2.10.3 Every practice unit which carries on any incidental financial business which is insurance distribution shall give the Council the details required by the Council of those persons involved in that business, which may include details of any criminal record and of any bankruptcy proceedings in relation to those persons.

2.10.4 The details required to be given to the Council in terms of this rule may form part of the information required by the form of application referred to in rule 2.5.1, and changes in those details shall be notified to the Council in terms of rule 2.9.1.

2.10.5 No practice unit may carry on insurance distribution until it appears on the FCA's Financial Services Register.

Requirement of good repute

2.11.1 No person having a criminal record disclosing a serious criminal offence involving any crime against property or related to financial activities shall be involved in insurance distribution or insurance distribution activity on behalf of any practice unit, whether as an officer, employee, consultant or otherwise.

2.11.2 No person who is subject to bankruptcy proceedings shall be involved in insurance distribution activity on behalf of any practice unit, whether as an officer, employee, consultant or otherwise.

General business principles

2.12.1A licensed person shall ensure that all information provided to a client under this Part IV, including marketing communications, shall be fair, clear and not misleading. Any marketing communications shall always be clearly identifiable as such.

2.12.2 A licensed person must not be remunerated nor remunerate or assess the performance of its employees in a way that conflicts with their duty to act in accordance with each client’s best interests. In particular, a licensed person shall not make any arrangement by way of remuneration, sales targets or otherwise that could provide an incentive to itself or its employees to recommend a particular insurance product to a client when the licensed person could offer a different insurance product which would better meet the client’s needs

Provision of information

2.13.1 In good time before the conclusion of a contract of insurance, the information set out in Schedule A to this rule 2 must be provided to the client.

2.13.2 In good time before the conclusion of the initial contract of insurance and if necessary, on its amendment or renewal, a licensed person must provide the client with information:

(a) on the nature of the remuneration received by the licensed person in relation to the contract of insurance;

(b) about whether in relation to the contract of insurance the licensed person works on the basis of:

(i) a fee, that is remuneration paid directly by the client;

(ii) a commission of any kind, that is remuneration included in the premium;

(iii) any other type of remuneration, including an economic benefit of any kind offered or given in connection with the contract; or

(iv) a combination of any type of remuneration set out above in (i), (ii) and (iii).

2.13.3 Where a fee is payable, a licensed person must inform the client of the amount of the fee before the client incurs liability to pay the fee, or before conclusion of the contract of insurance, whichever is earlier and to the extent that it is not possible for
that amount to be given, a licensed person must give the client the basis on which the fee will be calculated. This rule 2.13.3 applies to all such fees that may be charged during the life of the contract of insurance.

2.13.4 Prior to the conclusion of a contract of insurance, the licensed person shall specify, on the basis of information obtained from the client, the demands and the needs of that client and shall provide the client with objective and relevant information about the insurance product in a comprehensible form to allow that client to make an informed decision.

2.13.5 Any contract proposed shall be consistent with the client's insurance demands and needs.

2.13.6 A statement of demands and needs shall be communicated to the client prior to the conclusion of the contract of insurance.

2.13.7 Where the licensed person provides a personal recommendation the licensed person must in addition to the statement of demands and needs provide the client with a personalised explanation of why a particular product would best meet the client’s demands and needs.

2.13.8 The information provided under rules 2.13.4 to 2.13.7 shall take account of the complexity of the insurance product being proposed and the type of client.

2.13.9 Where a licensed person informs a client that it gives a personal recommendation on the basis of a fair and personal analysis of the market, it must give that personal recommendation on the basis of a sufficiently large number of insurance contracts available on the market to enable it to make a personal recommendation in accordance with professonal criteria regarding which contract is adequate to meet the client’s needs.

2.13.10 Where a licensed person selects contracts from a limited number of insurance undertakings or from a single insurance undertaking then it must maintain, and keep up to date, for each type of contract of insurance that it deals with, a list of insurance undertakings that it selects from or deals with and the relevant list must be made available to any client, in writing, on request.

2.13.11 A licensed person prior to the conclusion of the contract (and:

(a) whether or not it gives a personal recommendation; and

(b) irrespective of the fact that the contract of insurance is offered as part of a package with:

(i) a non-insurance product or service; or

(ii) another contract of insurance)

shall provide the information required by this rule 2.13 in a comprehensible form to allow the client to make an informed decision while taking into account the complexity of the insurance product and the type of client.

2.13.12 When dealing with a client who is an individual and who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade or profession the information provided under rule 2.13.11 must include an Insurance Product Information Document.

2.13.13 A licensed person must provide the information required in rule 2.13.11 by way of an Insurance Product Information Document for each contract of insurance (other than a pure protection contract).

2.13.14 Where the contact of a licensed person with a client is limited to introducing that client to another insurance intermediary, the client must be given the information specified in paragraph 1 to 5, 8 and 9 of Schedule A to this rule 2 on initial contact. The information may be provided orally or in writing. The licensed person must check that the insurance intermediary is on FCA’s register by visiting the FCA’s website http://www.fca.gov.uk or by contacting the FCA on 0846 606 9966.

2.13.15 Where a licensed person distributes contracts of insurance, it must have in place adequate arrangements to:

(a) obtain from the manufacturer of the contract of insurance:

(i) all appropriate information on the contract of insurance and the product approval process; and

(ii) the identified target market of the contract of insurance; and

(b) understand the characteristics and the identified target market of each contract of insurance.

2.13.16 The information provided in rules 2.13.1 to 2.13.13 need not be provided where the licensed person carries out distribution activities in relation to the insurance of large risks contract of insurance.

Information - means of communication

2.14.1 Rules 2.14.2 to 2.14.5 apply to all information required to be provided to a client in this Part IV of this Rule.

2.14.2 A licensed person must communicate information to the client on paper or using any of the following means:

(a) a durable medium other than paper where the following conditions are satisfied:

(i) the use of a durable medium other than paper is appropriate in the context of the business conducted between the licensed person and the client; and

(ii) the client has been given the choice between information on paper and on a durable medium other than paper and has chosen a durable medium other than paper; or

(b) on a website (where it does not constitute a durable medium) where the following conditions are satisfied:

(i) the provision of that information by means of a website is appropriate in the context of the business conducted between the licensed person and the client;

(ii) the client has consented to the provision of that information by means of a website;

(iii) the client has been notified electronically of the address of the website, and the place on the website where that information can be accessed; and

(iv) the licensed person ensures that the information remains accessible on the website for such period of time as the client may reasonably need to consult it.

2.14.3 For the purposes of rule 2.14.2, the provision of information using a durable medium other than paper or by means of a website shall be regarded as appropriate in the context of the business conducted between the licensed person and the client if there is evidence that the client has regular access to the internet. The provision by the client of an e-mail address for the purposes of that business shall be regarded as such evidence

2.14.4 A licensed person must communicate the information:

(a) in a clear and accurate manner, comprehensible to the client;

(b) in an official language of the United Kingdom where the state of the risk is the United Kingdom or in any other language agreed by the parties; and

2.14.5 Where a licensed person communicates the information using a durable medium other than paper or by means of a website, the licensed person must, upon request and free of charge, send the client a paper copy of the information.

2.14.6 A licensed person must ensure that a client's choice or consent to receive the information by means of a website (whether a durable medium or where the conditions under rule 2.14.2(b) are satisfied) is an active and informed choice or consent.

2.14.7 Licensed persons shall comply with the terms of the Financial Services (Distance Marketing) Regulations 2004 (SI 2004 No. 2095) so far as applicable to them in relation to telephone sales. Even if the client has chosen to obtain prior information on a durable medium other than paper in accordance with this rule 2.14, information should be provided by the licensed person to the client in accordance with rule 2.14.2 or rule 2.14.4.

Cross Selling Requirements

2.15.1 When an insurance product is offered together with an ancillary product or service which is not insurance, as part of a package or the same agreement, the licensed person shall inform the client whether it is possible to buy the different components separately and, if so, shall provide an adequate description of the different components of the agreement or package as well as separate evidence of the costs and charges of each component.

2.15.2 In the circumstances referred to in rule 2.15.1, and where the risk or the insurance coverage resulting from such an agreement or package offered to a client is different from that associated with the components taken separately, the licensed person shall provide an adequate description of the different components of the agreement or package and the way in which their interaction modifies the risk or the insurance coverage.

2.15.3 When a licensed person offers an insurance product ancillary to and part of a package or in the same agreement with a non-insurance product or service, it must offer the client the option of buying the non-insurance product or service separately.

Notification of establishment and services in other Member States

[Not used]

Part V Compliance and Monitoring

Obligation to deliver Incidental Financial Business Compliance Certificate

2.17.1 Every licensed person shall deliver to the Secretary, within one calendar month of the completion of each accounting period, an Incidental Financial Business Compliance Certificate in respect of that period.

2.17.2 An Incidental Financial Business Compliance Certificate shall be signed by an officer of the licensed person.

Where a licensed person practises in two or more places

2.18 In the case of a licensed person which has two or more places of business and where separate financial business records are maintained by the licensed person for each place of business, a separate Incidental Financial Business Compliance Certificate shall be delivered in respect of each place of business.

Power of Council to extend period of time referred to in rule 2.17.1

2.19 The Council may, in any case on satisfactory cause shown, extend the period of one calendar month within which an Incidental Financial Business Compliance Certificate requires to be delivered provided that such extension shall in no case exceed three months from the date of completion of the relevant accounting period.

Inspections by Council

2.20.1 To enable the Council to ascertain whether or not a licensed person is complying with this rule 2, the Council may, by notice, require that licensed person to produce at a time to be fixed by the Council and at a place to be fixed by the Council documents, records and other information concerning the conduct of its practice in relation to this rule 2 including, without prejudice to the foregoing generality, files and relative correspondence (in this rule 2 referred to as "documents, records and other information"), for inspection by a person or persons appointed by the Council. If the place fixed by the Council for the inspection requires the transfer to that place of documents, records and other information in physical form, the Council shall, on such conditions as to the cost and distance of such transfer as it may from time to time prescribe, pay the reasonable expenses incurred by the licensed person in respect of such transfer.

2.20.2 If at any time there is a reasonable apprehension on the part of the Council that a practice unit has not complied with, is not complying with or may not comply with this rule 2, including, but without prejudice to the foregoing generality, by carrying on incidental financial business in contravention of rule 2.3 or 2.10.5 the Council may, by notice, require that practice unit to produce at a time to be fixed by the Council and at a place to be fixed by the Council, documents, records and other information for inspection by a person or persons appointed by the Council.

2.20.3 It shall be the duty of a licensed person or a practice unit or solicitor to provide a person or persons appointed by the Council under rules 2.20.1 or 2.20.2 reasonable co-operation in the conduct of that person's or persons' inspection including, without prejudice to the foregoing generality, the production of documents, records and other information as such person or persons may reasonably require.

2.20.4 Any person or persons appointed by the Council under rules 2.20.1 or 2.20.2 shall report to the Council upon the result of his inspection.

2.20.5 Where, following an inspection of the documents, records and other information of a licensed person or practice unit in terms of rules 2.20.1 or 2.20.2, it appears to the Council that the licensed person or practice unit has not complied with this rule 2, the Council may instruct a further inspection of the documents, records and other information of the licensed person or practice unit and, if it so instructs, the Council may by notice require the licensed person or practice unit to pay to the Council the reasonable costs of such further inspection, provided always that such notice is given to the licensed person or practice unit not more than one year after the date of the inspection first referred to in this rule 2.20.5. The amount of such sum shall be fixed by the Council and intimated to the licensed person or practice unit following such further inspection.

2.20.6 It shall be the duty of a licensed person or practice unit upon whom a notice in terms of rule 2.20.5 has been served to make payment forthwith of the amount so intimated.

2.20.7 Where a licensed person carries out a consumer credit activity it must comply with any relevant FCA conduct of business rules to that activity as if it were authorised by the FCA.

Part VI - Misconduct, Disclosure, Training and Records

Terms of business

2.21 Whenever it intends or expects to carry out incidental financial business for a client, a licensed person shall so advise its client by sending to that client terms of business which contain, in a manner that is clear, fair and not misleading, the statements and the information specified in Schedule B to this rule 2 and/or such other statements or information as the Council may from time to time prescribe.

Disclosure

2.22.1 For the avoidance of doubt, but with the exception of the terms of business referred to in rule 2.21, a practice unit shall not be required to make any disclosure to the effect that it is a licensed person or otherwise on its stationery or any other material which it may publish.

2.22.2 A licensed person shall display at each of its places of business its certificate (or a copy thereof) issued pursuant to rule 2.6.4, confirming that the licensed person is licensed to carry on incidental financial business.

Training

2.23 In respect of the carrying on of incidental financial business by it, a licensed person shall:

(a) advance and maintain the competence of all officers and employees carrying on incidental financial business;

(b) ensure that all officers and employees carrying on incidental financial business remain competent for the functions they carry out;

(c) ensure that all officers and employees carrying on incidental financial business are adequately supervised in relation to the attainment and maintenance of competence;

(d) ensure that the training for and the competence of all officers and employees carrying on incidental financial business are regularly reviewed;

(e) in dealing with the commitments set out in paragraphs (a) to (d), take account of the level of competence that is necessary having regard to the nature of its business and the role of all officers and employees carrying on incidental financial business; and

(f) ensure that a reasonable proportion of the officers of the practice unit who are responsible for insurance distribution activity and all other persons directly involved in insurance distribution demonstrate the knowledge and ability necessary for the performance of their duties, having regard to the nature of the business and the roles of those persons.

Record keeping requirements

2.24 In respect of the carrying on of incidental financial business by it, a licensed person shall:

(a) ensure that all instructions from clients to carry out specific incidental financial business are performed as soon as possible unless it would be contrary to the best interests of the client to do so;

(b) retain records of all statements of demands and needs made in accordance with rule 2.13 in connection with personal recommendations made to clients in the course of insurance distribution for at least three years from the date on which the personal recommendation was made;

(c) retain records of all instructions from clients to carry out specific incidental financial business on their behalf and all instructions from the licensed person to any third party to effect such incidental financial business for at least a period equal to the remainder of the financial year of the licensed person and a further six financial years of that person from the date of the instruction;

(d) retain records of any pecuniary award or other advantage received by the licensed person as a result of carrying on incidental financial business on behalf of a client and records of the accounting by the licensed person to its client in respect of such pecuniary award or other advantage for at least a period equal to the remainder of the financial year of the licensed person and a further six financial years of that person from the date of the accounting;

(e) take appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure the safe keeping of assets held by the licensed person on behalf of its clients or third parties; and

(f) ensure that, where the licensed person takes the advice of a third party authorised by the FCA to carry on regulated activities, that such third party provides independent advice.

Distance marketing of financial services

2.25 Licensed persons shall comply with the terms of the Financial Services (Distance Marketing) Regulations 2004 (SI 2004 No. 2095) so far as applicable to them.

Schedule A to Rule 2

Rule 2.13.1

Information to be Disclosed Before Conclusion of a Contract of Insurance

The name and address of the licensed person and a statement that is an ancillary insurance intermediary.
The licensed person's statutory status as a person licensed by the Society to conduct incidental financial business, including insurance distribution. This must be done by using the standard statement contained in PROF 4.1.3 R (2) of the FCA's Professional Firms Sourcebook relating to insurance distribution and mortgage activities.
The fact that items 1 and 2 may be checked on the FCA's register by visiting the FCS's website: http://www.fca.gov.uk or by contacting the FCA on 0846 606 9966.
Whether the licensed person has any holding, direct or indirect, representing 10 per cent or more of the voting rights of or the capital in an insurance undertaking.
Whether an insurance undertaking or parent of an insurance undertaking has a holding, direct or indirect, representing 10 per cent or more of the voting rights of or capital in the licensed person.
In relation to the contract of insurance provided, whether the licensed person has selected or dealt with the contract of insurance;
(a) on the basis of a fair and personal analysis of the market; or
(b) from a limited number of insurance undertakings; or
(c) from a single insurance undertaking.
If sub-paragraph (b) or (c) applies, the licensed person must also disclose whether it is contractually obliged to conduct insurance distribution in this way.
If the contract of insurance provided has not been selected on the basis of a fair and personal analysis of the market, the client shall be provided with a copy of the list of the insurance undertakings the licensed person selects from or deals with in relation to that contract.
The details referred to in paragraph (d) of Schedule B.
The details referred to in paragraph (e) of Schedule B.

Schedule B to Rule 2

Rule 2.21

Terms of Business

The terms of business referred to in rule 2.21 shall contain the following statements and disclosures:

(a) a statement as to the nature of the specific incidental financial business activities carried on by the licensed person for the client and the fact that these are limited in scope;

(b) a statement that the licensed person is licensed by the Law Society of Scotland to carry on incidental financial business;

(c) a statement that the licensed person is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Financial Conduct and Markets Act 2000;

(d) disclosure of the compensation arrangements in respect of the carrying on of incidental financial business by that licensed person, making reference to the licensed person's professional indemnity insurance under the Law Society of Scotland's Master Policy (or the equivalent cover in respect of a registered European lawyer or registered foreign lawyer, as appropriate) and to the Scottish Solicitors Guarantee Fund (or the equivalent cover in respect of a registered European lawyer or registered foreign lawyer, as appropriate); and

(e) disclosure of the complaints procedure which is operated by the licensed person, which shall include details of the licensed person's internal complaints procedure and details of the right of a client to complain to Scottish Legal Complaints Commission, 12-13 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH2 2AF. Tel: 0131 201 2130.