asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Chichester on 14 January, whether data on lending by the main credit card companies are collected even though they are not published; and, if so whether such data include the element which represents lending in the initial interest-free period.

Data on lending by the main bank credit card companies to persons, including undistinguishably the element which represents lending in the initial interest-free period, are collected by the Bank of England.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will include figures in respect of the use of travel and entertainment credit cards as short-term borrowing in the published figures on the sources of funds of the personal sector and the consumer credit tables.

Travel and entertainment credit is used by business and personal borrowers. However, information on this form of credit is not available for either group of borrowers and therefore cannot be included in figures of the kind to which my hon. Friend refers.