§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he was consulted about Girobank's recent withdrawal of a small firms export credit support scheme: whether this, or similar matters, was set out as a service obligation in the sale of Girobank; and what those service obligations now are.
§ Mr. LeighMy right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade was not consulted about Girobank's provision of export credit schemes, nor would he expect to be. The sale agreement between the Post Office and the Alliance and Leicester Building Society in respect of Girobank did not specify the future of particular Girobank services. Subject only to regulation under the Banking Act 1987, the provision of services by Girobank, as any other bank, is a matter for its commercial judgment.