§ Mr. Nelsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) further to his answers to the hon. Member for Chichester on 24 January, why the published figures on the sources of funds of the personal sector and the consumer credit tables include bank credit card lending in the initial interest-free period, but exclude travel and entertainment credit card lending;
(2) what was the total of personal credit outstanding at the latest date for which figures are available; and of this total, how much was in respect of loans, hire purchase, credit cards, mail order, retail store accounts and bank overdrafts;
(3) if he has made any estimate of the extent to which restrictions upon credit cards and store accounts would lead to increases in other forms of lending such as loans, hire purchase and overdrafts; and what advantages and disadvantages exist in the application of selective as opposed to overall means of influencing the volume of personal sector credit.
§ Mr. LawsonI shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.