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Britain to tap $1 bln of 'dormant' money for social and green jobs

Britain's financial watchdog stated on Friday it has widened the range of inactive possessions, or cash in financial companies' accounts to tap a potentially additional 880 million pounds ($ 1.12 billion) to fund social and environmental jobs in a cashstrapped economy.

The dormant money refers to cash in bank and building society accounts untouched for at least 15 years and where efforts to trace the owner have actually shown unsuccessful.

The monetary firms can voluntarily transfer the cash to an authorised recover fund for circulation, though a traced owner of the money can recover it.

Given that 2011, the UK Dormant Assets Scheme (DAS) has actually unlocked more than 745 million pounds ($ 948.68 million) for social and environment initiatives, from over 1.35 billion pounds in dormant bank and structure society accounts, the Financial Conduct Authority said in a statement.

The growth of the plan is estimated to possibly unlock a further 880 million pounds, the FCA stated. While Britain invests over a trillion pounds a year, every penny counts for the new Labour government dealing with tight public finances.

The Federal government has estimated that around 240 million pounds in overall will be provided from the expansion of the DAS to fund social and environmental efforts.

Following a public consultation, the FCA on Friday stated the scheme will be broadened to include dormant financial investment assets and cash hung on behalf of a client, in scope.

Our proposals should result in a boost of funds being released to support excellent causes from financial investment possessions and customer money assets that are moved to the DAS, the FCA said in its final policy statement.

At the very same time, our proposals must allow consumers who have a right to reclaim inactive properties to do so without hold-up or difficulty, thus securing a suitable degree of protection for consumers.

(source: Reuters)