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Islamic Bank of Britain

Answer

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Charity Commission. I have asked the Commission to reply.Letter from Andrew Hind, July 2009:"As the Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, I have been asked to respond to your written Parliamentary Question on whether the Charity Commission has had any recent discussions with representatives of Lloyds Banking Group on the Group's decision to order the Islamic Bank of Britain to cease processing payments for Interpal.""In response to your question, the Commission has not had any recent discussions relating to this decision. The decision made by Lloyds Banking Group is not one in which the Commission can become directly involved or seek to influence, as it is a business decision for any bank as a supplier of financial services as to whom they offer those services. However, the Commission as regulator is clear that in order to operate effectively and transparently when delivering aid or other charitable work, every charity must ""have access to banking services. We would have serious concern if a charity were not able to operate for lack of a bank account, because of the harm that could result to its charitable work and its ability to operate transparently.""The Commission does on occasion engage with the banking industry generally in the course of its business, and has held discussions with the banking industry in relation to a number of issues affecting charities including the impact of overseas countries designation lists.""I hope this is helpful."

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

288312; 496 c1043-4W

Session

2008-09

Subjects

Lloyds Banking Group Interpal

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk