HC Deb 22 January 1996 vol 270 c3W
Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consult the Governor of the Bank of England with a view to establishing guidelines to ensure protection coverage for hank customers in cases of(a) bank malpractice, (b) overcharging and (c) breach of contract; and if he will make a statement. [9882]

Mrs. Angela Knight

[holding answer 18 January 1996]: The code of banking practice and the banking ombudsman scheme already provide guidance on these issues, and offer definitive and flexible methods of resolving disputes. Customers now have far more information than ever before about banking practices, fees and interest payments, and about what they should do if they wish to discuss, or complain about, the services they receive.

Mr. Carlile

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will implement the recommendations of the Government's 1989 review of banking services to provide for(a) the power of a bank to withdraw any complaint which has wide ramifications or raises important legal issue from the banking ombudsman's jurisdiction to be exercised only with the concurrence of the ombudsman, (b) compulsory production by a bank of any relevant documents of information and (c) publication of information about a complaint if a customer consents; and if he will make a statement. [10232]

Mrs. Knight

[holding answer 18 January 1996]: Recommendations (a) and (b) are now reflected in the latest version of the banking ombudsman's terms of reference—paragraphs 20–22 and 5(b) respectively. The ombudsman does not publish details of customers' complaints but his annual report does quote figures on the types of complaints received by the ombudsman. The report also quotes examples of specific complaint, without revealing the identity of the complainant, to illustrate the circumstances of a particular case.

Mr. Carlile

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to require banks to establish hank customer councils; and if he will make a statement. [10234]

Mrs. Knight

[holding answer 18 January 1996]: No. This is a matter for banks and their customers.