HIGHLAND LECTURE MAKES MOCKERY OF BANK OF ENGLAND’S SNUB

HIGHLAND LECTURE MAKES MOCKERY OF BANK OF ENGLAND’S SNUB

SNP MSP Rob Gibson, Deputy Convener of the Scottish Parliament’s Economy Committee, has challenged the Bank of England to stop running scared of appearing in front of the committee after he revealed that their Deputy Governor is able to address an event in Inverness later this month.

Rob Gibson's call follows the latest snub from the institution to the committee after the members asked for a representative to give evidence to its inquiry into the future of banking.

Despite the Bank's refusal to send any staff to the Committee - as they say they are not accountable to the Scottish Parliament - they repeatedly offer themselves for meetings throughout Scotland. One of the latest examples is their Deputy Governor, Charles Bean, delivering a lecture at the University of the Highlands and Islands.

Commenting on the Bank of England’s latest snub Mr Gibson said:

"Despite repeated requests from the Committee for a representative to come and give evidence to the inquiry they have refused point blank, instead offering patronising statements which have angered members of the committee.

“This inquiry is important, but without a full examination of the Bank of England and the regulatory systems they operate we cannot get to the bottom of what happened in the industry - or focus on its future.

"The inquiry has questioned many people from around the UK including the BBC's Robert Peston. However we repeatedly get a no show from the Bank of England. It makes me wonder - have the Bank of England got anything to hide?

"I again issue the invitation for a representative from the Bank of England, perhaps Mr Bean himself, to spare some of his time to give evidence in front of the Committee in Edinburgh. Surely the prospect can't be that scary!"