HC Deb 29 January 1991 vol 184 cc463-4W
Mr. Alton

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many credit cards are in circulation in the United Kingdom; what was the comparable level in 1980; what are the comparable figures on a per capita basis in other European Community countries.

Mr. Maples

The only data available are from bank issuers of Mastercard and Visa. These show that at the end

Proposed date of publication (1991)
Supplement to the Autumn Statement Friday 1 February
Department of Social Security Friday 1 February
Ministry of Defence Tuesday 5 February
Department of Employment Tuesday 5 February
Home Office (including Charity Commission) Tuesday 5 February
Cabinet Office Thursday 7 February
Chancellor of the Exchequer's Departments and Net Payments to EC Institutions Thursday 7 February
Energy Thursday 7 February
Department of Transport Thursday 7 February
Department of Health and Office of Population Censuses and Surveys Thursday 7 February
Department of Education and Science Monday 11 February
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Intervention Board and Forestry Commission Tuesday 12 February
Trade and Industry Tuesday 12 February
Environment Wednesday 13 February
Foreign and Commonwealth Office (including ODA) Wednesday 13 February
Office of Arts and Libraries Wednesday 13 February
Legal Departments Thursday 14 February
Scotland Thursday 14 February
Wales Friday 15 February
Northern Ireland Friday 15 February

Note: Copies will be available from the Vote Office.

of 1989 there were 28.6 million such cards issued in the United Kingdom. The comparable figure at the end of 1980 was 11.7 million. Data for other countries could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

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