Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill [HL]

Perhaps I may have another go. I read out what the British Bankers’ Association said in the paper that it published a day or two ago. It includes accounts dating back to when the financial institution first opened, including accounts originating in banks and building societies that have since been subsumed. Let us assume that one of our great-great-grandfathers opened an account in 1850 and that he put in £100. I do not believe that if you go back to that bank or building society and say that you are the great-great-grandson, it is going to say, ““Ah, yes—we’ve got it in the old ledger, in the safe””. I believe that some time between 1850 and now it has either gone to profit or suspense. The point is whether that money is going to get to the good causes—because it is clear that it will not get anywhere else. It will stay with the bank unless it gets to the good causes, as I do not believe that after all this time anyone is going to knock on the door for the money.