§ Lord Ahmedasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the current figures and what have the figures been over the last 30 years for corporate overdrafts: that is, credit limits for small and large businesses; and [HL2224]
What are the current figures and what have the figures been over the last 30 years for corporate terms loans: that is, loans by small and large businesses that are repayable by a deadline. [HL2225]
§ The Minister for Science, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville)There are no figures for credit limits if what is meant by that is information on the maximum amount of borrowing allowed under overdraft agreements. Nor are there figures available going back 30 years on the total amount of overdraft and term lending.
However, the following figures, based on returns from Lloyds TSB, HSBC, NatWest, Barclays, Royal Bank of Scotland, Bank of Scotland and Clydesdale Bank, are published by the British Banker's Association. These relate to bank lending to businesses with a turnover under £1 million.
All £ billions at end December.
Overdrafts Term loans 1992 19.40 1992 20.10 1993 16.63 1993 21.62 1994 13.85 1994 22.36 1995 12.33 1995 22.92 1996 11.68 1996 22.37 1997 11.39 1997 22.68 1998 10.80 1998 25.17 1999 10.40 1999 26.40