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G20 pledges tougher bank action G20 pledges tougher bank action
(40 minutes later)
Finance ministers from the world's most powerful economies have agreed a series of measures to try to regulate the global banking system.Finance ministers from the world's most powerful economies have agreed a series of measures to try to regulate the global banking system.
They want a system that rewards long-term performance rather than short-term risk-taking.They want a system that rewards long-term performance rather than short-term risk-taking.
However the G20 meeting in London did not agree on specific limits on the amounts individual bankers get paid.However the G20 meeting in London did not agree on specific limits on the amounts individual bankers get paid.
Britain, the US and Canada opposed the idea, agreeing to ask the Financial Stability Board to examine the issue.Britain, the US and Canada opposed the idea, agreeing to ask the Financial Stability Board to examine the issue.
It will report back to the summit of G20 leaders in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania later this month.It will report back to the summit of G20 leaders in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania later this month.
Critically now the job is to make sure that you translate those principals into practical propositions that actually bite and actually work Alistair Darling
The G20 countries agreed on measures requiring banks to disclose the pay and bonuses of their highest-paid employees and to allow bonuses to be "clawed back" if decisions which seemed successful later go wrong.
The FSB has also been asked to look at the desirability of new rules which would allow regulators to rule on whether the total pool of cash set aside by a bank for bonuses is excessive, given its long-term financial stability and strength.
Ministers also pledged to continue financial support for the global economy until recovery from recession is secured.
They said they would develop co-ordinated "exit strategies" to deal with ballooning public deficits once the recession is over.
The finance ministers agreed to continue with economic stimulus plans
UK Chancellor Alistair Darling said all bankers were obliged "to make sure that their pay practices are responsible".UK Chancellor Alistair Darling said all bankers were obliged "to make sure that their pay practices are responsible".
He said that ministers were determined to stop banks and financial institutions getting themselves into positions where they could be brought down. He said: "Above all we are determined to take action to stop banks or other financial institutions getting themselves into a situation where their pay-and-reward practices actually encourage people to take risks which bring their institutions into a situation where they could be brought down with catastrophic results."
The chancellor added that every single banker had to realise they would not be here if it had not been for the efforts of countries and taxpayers. Concrete proposals
Discussing possible regulation of bonuses, he said: "If you have got an institution that is struggling or it's in the process of rebuilding itself the regulator could say that pool set aside for bonuses is really too big."
Mr Darling added: "Critically now the job is to make sure that you translate those principals into practical propositions that actually bite and actually work.
Gordon Brown: "Too early a withdrawal of vital support could undermine the tentative signs of recovery we are now seeing"
"We need to have standards that are observed right across the world."
The US Treasury Secretary, Tim Geithner, said there was broad agreement on the need for change.The US Treasury Secretary, Tim Geithner, said there was broad agreement on the need for change.
He said: "Changing compensation practices fundamentally will be fundamental to future reform, and we're going to move forward and do that."He said: "Changing compensation practices fundamentally will be fundamental to future reform, and we're going to move forward and do that."
International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn said that governments now had to act.International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn said that governments now had to act.
"The problem is we need to go beyond agreement. We need to have concrete measures.""The problem is we need to go beyond agreement. We need to have concrete measures."
Ministers have agreed to raise "significantly" the say of emerging nations' on the world stage.