To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many bank branches have been closed in the last six months by banks in which the Government have purchased a shareholding in the last two years. (279434)

The Government's shareholdings in the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Lloyds Banking Group (Lloyds) are managed by UK Financial Investments Ltd (UKFI), and for Northern Rock and Bradford and Bingley they are currently managed by the Treasury. All shareholdings in these banks are managed on a commercial basis. The closure of branches is an operational decision for the board of each bank.

It is a matter for each bank to disclose this information.