§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what role the Bank of England has taken in promoting and encouraging the merger or takeover by other financial institutions of building societies. [21905]
(2) what encouragement his Department is giving financial institutions to merge, amalgamate or takeover competitors. [21929]
§ Mr. NelsonNone. Such decisions are a matter for the commercial judgment of the directors and owners of those institutions.