§ 96. Mr. Barnettasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has issued directives preventing joint stock banks from carrying out personal loan schemes similar to that recently announced by Giro and Mercantile Credit Limited; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Taverne:No. The joint stock banks, in common with other banks and large finance houses, including Mercantile Credit, have been asked not to relax their restrictions upon the availability of credit for personal spending.