Banking (Special Provisions) Bill

My Lords, all of those facts will be clear to the European Commission. It is also the case that our own competitive authorities have a direct interest in this matter, and I want to assure the House that the Government will not approve a business plan from Northern Rock—and nor will one be submitted—unless it meets the obvious constraints that I have outlined, with Northern Rock not taking advantage of a privileged competitive position. In addition, I want to emphasise—