§ Lady Olga MaitlandTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has had from the business community in relation to bank charges.
§ Mr. NelsonBetween 1 November 1992 and 3 February 1993 the Treasury has received some 780 complaints from small businesses about their banks. Thirty-five of these were solely about bank charges and a significant number of the rest included references to charges, but an exact figure cannot be provided without disproportionate cost.
In addition, I recently met representatives of the Bank Action Group to discuss their complaints, and my right hon. Friend the Chancellor has recently seen the chief executive of the Forum of Private Business at which relations with banks were discussed.