asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether the security offered to Johnson Matthey Bankers by the Gomba-related companies was in accordance with normal banking practice; and if he will make a statement;(2) what was the amount owed to Johnson Matthey Bankers by companies associated with Abdul Shamji and Gomba Holdings, his Jersey-registered master company, when the Bank of England acquired Johnson Matthey Bankers in October 1984;(3) what steps Johnson Matthey Bankers has taken to secure its loans to Gomba-Stonefield and other Shamji related companies;(4) whether Johnson Matthey Bankers has lent additional funds to Shamji or Gomba-related companies since 1 October 1984; and if he will make a statement;(5) by how much Johnson Matthey Bankers assisted Gomba-Stonefield at the end of the week ended 21 June; for what purpose; and if he will make a statement.

JMB's transactions with individual customers are commercial matters. Its lending decisions are the responsibility of JMB's new management; and are confidential between the bank and its customers. The Government are not involved in such decisions.