Oral Answers to Questions

Andrew Gwynne Excerpts

Thursday 14th October 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Prisk]

We met the banks yesterday and are perfectly willing to engage with them on how that could happen. We may well wish to ensure that the Government have a stake in that role, but as we received the recommendations just yesterday, I am sure the hon. Gentleman and the Committee that he chairs will understand that we want to examine them more closely. The new growth fund is a positive step which will deal with the gap that Rowlands identified in the case of mid-cap businesses. It is a welcome step, and the Government want to work with the banks to make it work effectively.

[Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish) (Lab)]

But does the Minister agree with the Deputy Prime Minister, who said on 27 April on Radio 5 Live about state-owned banks not lending enough to small businesses:

“What we’re saying is that the directors of those banks should be held responsible and if they fail to honour those lending targets they should be sacked”?

[Mr Prisk]

I have learned to make a habit of always agreeing with the Deputy Prime Minister.