§ Mr. Butcherasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to reduce the rate of interest charged by the clearing house banks to the Government oral other borrowers, in view of the fact that the maintenance of their interim dividend at pre-war heights indicates that the burden of their heavy expenditure has been evaded by the banks and is being carried by their customers?
§ Captain CrookshankNo, Sir. As stated in the reply which the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for East Edinburgh (Mr. Pethick-Lawrence), on 11th July, he is satisfied that the banks have not taken any advantage of the present emergency.