Wednesday newspaper round-up: Debt, post-Brexit travel, IoD, Ombudsman

MPs have accused the government of a “deeply regrettable” failure to put in place strong guarantees that the UK’s green investment bank will continue to support renewable energy after its privatisation. The public accounts committee said it was unclear whether the bank would continue to support the government’s energy policy or climate change goals, because the bank’s new owner is not legally bound to stick to its green aims. – Guardian

More than 600,000 people in financial difficulties last year sought help from the debt charity StepChange, including disproportionate numbers of single parents and those in rental accommodation. The charity said 619,946 new clients contacted it for debt advice last year – 3.5% more than in 2016, and 22% more than four years earlier. – Guardian

Consumer rights group Which? has warned that the UK’s largest travel companies are failing to properly warn millions of holidaymakers about the risk of post-Brexit flight cancellations. The consumer advocate said it asked tour operators Thomas Cook and Tui, airline Jet2 and online travel websites Expedia and On The Beach what they were doing to inform passengers what might happen to holidays being taken after the March 29 deadline next year for a Brexit deal with the EU. - Telegraph

The Institute of Directors has named easyJet's former finance director Chris Walton as its interim chairman, to replace Lady Barbara Judge who resigned late last week amid allegations of racism and bullying. Mr Walton, who previously served as the industry body's audit chairman and is currently non-executive council member at the group, had been put forward for the role by the IoD board, and was ratified by the council this evening. – Telegraph

Britain’s financial arbiter came under fresh pressure last night as MPs demanded to know how many flawed judgments it has allegedly delivered and lenders called for an inquiry into its work. The Financial Ombudsman Service has been warned that thousands of consumers may want to reopen old cases amid growing concern that complaints were mishandled. – The Times

Intercontinental Hotels Group has teamed up with a property investor to participate in the £1.2 billion auction of the company behind the Principal and De Vere hotel brands. The Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza operator and its unnamed partner are understood to be among a small number of remaining bidders for the Principal Hotel Company, which is being sold by Starwood Capital Group, the American investment firm, through UBS. – The Times