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Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill [HL]

Although I understand and to a considerable extent sympathise with the argument put by the noble Lord, Lord Higgins, if it is the case that the holders of dormant accounts will genuinely be no worse off when the balance has been transferred to a reclaim fund than they would have been if it had not been so transferred, are we really justified in imposing such burdens on banks and building societies? The larger banks and building societies could afford it, but for the smaller building societies to have to take up quarter-page advertisements in the whole national and much of the regional press is asking too much. I should be grateful to hear the Minister’s comments on that.