To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to bring about the level playing field in regulations affecting companies and industrial and provident societies, to which he referred in his letter of 31 July to the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Hodge Hill.

As was stated in my letter of 31 July on this issue, the Government is keen to see, where appropriate, a level playing field between industrial and provident societies and companies and we are currently examining our options for taking forward this agenda.