§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will refer bank margins on interest rates to the Office of Fair Trading for inquiry in to the extent and effectiveness of competition.
§ Mr. LilleyI would of course ask the Director General of Fair Trading to investigate any anti-competitive practices by banks of which I had evidence. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked his officials, with the Bank of England, to look into concerns which have been raised about bank lending and my regional offices have been arranging a number of meetings between banks and small businesses.