Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, What estimate he has made of the effect on the public purse of the sale of the Government's stake in the Royal Bank of Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

The Chancellor has recieved independent advice from the Governor of the Bank of England and from Rothschild that it is in the interests of taxpayers to begin now to sell our stake in RBS. This is the right thing to do for the economy and for British taxpayers, and to ensure the best price possible.