§ Mr. ParryTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future of Girobank.
§ Mr. ForthThe then Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster announced on 20 April that the Post Office Board had accepted a conditional offer from the Alliance and Leicester Building Society for Girobank. The Post Office and the Alliance and Leicester are engaged in detailed negotiations with a view to completing the sale as soon as practicable.
The regulatory authorities will need to be satisfied and my consent will be required before the sale can take place.