(1) After section 214 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (compensation scheme: general) insert -

"214A Contingency funding

(1) The Treasury may make regulations ("contingency fund regulations") permitting the scheme manager to impose levies under section 213 for the purpose of maintaining contingency funds from which possible expenses may be paid.

(2) Contingency fund regulations may make provision about the establishment and management of contingency funds; in particular, the regulations may make provision about -

(a) the number and size of funds;

(b) the circumstances and timing of their establishment;

(c) the classes of person from whom contributions to the funds may be levied;

(d) the amount and timing of payments into and out of funds (which may include provision for different levies for different classes of person);

(e) refunds;

(f) the ways in which funds' contents may be invested (including (i) the extent of reliance on section 223A, and (ii) the application of investment income);