That the Parliament understands with concern that RBS staff expect to face significant reductions in job numbers in 2014; believes that Scotland needs a more diverse and resilient banking sector that is able to provide sustainable employment, finance small businesses and demonstrably serve the public interest; notes what it sees as Germany's successful network of small Sparkasse (savings) banks, which are run by professional bankers in order to make a profit and to benefit local economies, and believes that, to help create a more diverse and resilient banking sector, the Scottish Government should negotiate the transfer of the domestic banking operations of RBS in Scotland to a subsidiary in public ownership and split the institution into a network of local banks that would serve only their city or region, be governed by local stakeholders and hold a dual social and financial mandate.
Supported by:
John Finnie, Patrick Harvie, Margaret McDougall, Jean Urquhart