§ Mr. GouldTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if his Department made any assessment of consumer opinion regarding privatisation of Girobank among its customers before his statement in the House on 7 June;
(2) how many customers of Girobank wrote to him urging its privatisation before his statement in the House on 7 June.
§ Mr. ButcherPrivatisation should strengthen Girobank and allow it to provide more services. Customers should welcome this. None wrote to support it before the announcement. They will have seen no need to urge the Government to make a proposal consistent with their own policies.