MISCELLANEOUS BANK CHARGES

Early day motion 829, tabled 3 March 2005 by Mike Hancock (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 18 members.

That this House urges the Government to instigate an inquiry into the miscellaneous, but unavoidable charges made by banks, such as survey fees, booking fees, arrangement fees, higher lending charges fees and sealing of deeds fees, which are little more than a backdoor method of increasing their excessive profits, made at the expense of ordinary working people; notes that the NatWest Bank has increased its sealing of deeds fees by 350 per cent. in 18 months; and calls on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to institute a windfall tax on the profits of the banks in order that they are used for the common good rather than simply profiting shareholders.

Signatures by party: Labour 10, Liberal Democrat 6, Labour/Co-operative 1, Plaid Cymru 1.