Mr. Gareth R. ThomasTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Bank of England will respond to the Treasury on progress by the banking industry in addressing the issues and recommendations highlighted by the Social Exclusion Unit's Policy Action Team report No. 3; and if he will make a statement. [114358]
§ Mr. TimmsThe report of Policy Action Team 3, "Enterprise and Social Exclusion", was published in November 1999. It recommended that the Bank of 443W England should be invited to report regularly on finance for business among deprived groups and communities. The Bank of England has agreed to take on this role, and it will report in due course.