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Darling hits back over Rock trust Darling hits back over Rock trust
(about 5 hours later)
Chancellor Alistair Darling has moved to calm fears about the nationalisation of Northern Rock after it emerged the bank's best assets would stay private.Chancellor Alistair Darling has moved to calm fears about the nationalisation of Northern Rock after it emerged the bank's best assets would stay private.
Mr Darling said taxpayers would not benefit from the nationalisation of a firm holding £45bn of Northern Rock's most profitable mortgages.Mr Darling said taxpayers would not benefit from the nationalisation of a firm holding £45bn of Northern Rock's most profitable mortgages.
The Lib Dems and Tories have accused the government of "asset stripping".The Lib Dems and Tories have accused the government of "asset stripping".
But Mr Darling said Northern Rock was separate from Granite and still had a sound mortgage book of its own.But Mr Darling said Northern Rock was separate from Granite and still had a sound mortgage book of its own.
Northern Rock sold half of its mortgages to a Jersey-based trust, Granite, to fund its expansion, including some of its profitable and high value loans.Northern Rock sold half of its mortgages to a Jersey-based trust, Granite, to fund its expansion, including some of its profitable and high value loans.
But the arrangement was suspended when the government stepped in to rescue it - and Mr Darling said it would be up to Ron Sandler, the man appointed to run Northern Rock, to decide whether it should continue.But the arrangement was suspended when the government stepped in to rescue it - and Mr Darling said it would be up to Ron Sandler, the man appointed to run Northern Rock, to decide whether it should continue.
'Asset-stripping' claim High quality mortgages
Critics - including the Conservative former chancellor Ken Clarke - said that meant with taxpayers would be left with the "rubbish" on Northern Rock's mortgage book, such as unsecured loans. Critics - including Conservative former chancellor Ken Clarke - said that meant taxpayers would be left with the "rubbish" on Northern Rock's mortgage book, such as unsecured loans.
But the Treasury has said Northern Rock "does not sell all its high quality mortgages to Granite; it retains a substantial volume of high quality mortgages on its own balance sheet".But the Treasury has said Northern Rock "does not sell all its high quality mortgages to Granite; it retains a substantial volume of high quality mortgages on its own balance sheet".
Lib Dem Treasury spokesman Vincent Cable earlier wrote to Mr Darling demanding to know why Granite was not being nationalised.Lib Dem Treasury spokesman Vincent Cable earlier wrote to Mr Darling demanding to know why Granite was not being nationalised.
He accused the government of supporting an "asset stripping" operation and threatened to withdraw his party's support for nationalisation - potentially delaying its passage through Parliament.He accused the government of supporting an "asset stripping" operation and threatened to withdraw his party's support for nationalisation - potentially delaying its passage through Parliament.
Mr Darling stressed in reply that Granite was entirely independent of Northern Rock - and the structure of its relationship with the bank was "a common feature for many high street banks and building societies".Mr Darling stressed in reply that Granite was entirely independent of Northern Rock - and the structure of its relationship with the bank was "a common feature for many high street banks and building societies".
He said Northern Rock's mortgage book is "of good quality and its assets exceed its liabilities" - and that Granite had no claim on the bank's assets. He said Northern Rock's mortgage book was "of good quality and its assets exceed its liabilities" - and that Granite had no claim on the bank's assets.
He added: "There would be no public benefit to the taxpayer in seeking to bring Granite into public ownership".He added: "There would be no public benefit to the taxpayer in seeking to bring Granite into public ownership".
'Reckless lending''Reckless lending'
Peers will debate the nationalisation bill until 2200 GMT and it will return to the Commons on Thursday when MPs will have an hour to put down amendments. Peers debated the nationalisation bill later in the Lords, where the Lib Dems said they would support Tory calls for amendments, and add some of their own, when it returns to the Commons on Thursday.
MPs will have an hour to put down amendments.
The government is hoping it can get the legislation on to the statute book by the end of Thursday.The government is hoping it can get the legislation on to the statute book by the end of Thursday.
Lib Dem peer Lord Newby said his party would now support the nationalisation bill.Lib Dem peer Lord Newby said his party would now support the nationalisation bill.
But he said it plans to put down amendments for greater oversight of Northern Rock by MPs and it will back a Conservative amendment to bring it under the scope of the Freedom of Information Act. But he said it planned to put down amendments for greater oversight of Northern Rock by MPs and it would back a Conservative amendment to bring it under the scope of the Freedom of Information Act.
He also attacked Northern Rock's "reckless" lending practices and urged Mr Sandler to curb them.He also attacked Northern Rock's "reckless" lending practices and urged Mr Sandler to curb them.
The Granite charitable trust was set up by Northern Rock in 1999 to raise cash for Down's Syndrome North East Association.The Granite charitable trust was set up by Northern Rock in 1999 to raise cash for Down's Syndrome North East Association.
North-East 'sensitivity' 'Sensitive'
It does not undertake any charitable activities - a structure the government says is commonly used by banks and building societies around the world.It does not undertake any charitable activities - a structure the government says is commonly used by banks and building societies around the world.
But Lord Newby asked how much cash had been donated by Granite to the charity and questioned an arrangement in which the name of a charity was "taken in vain".But Lord Newby asked how much cash had been donated by Granite to the charity and questioned an arrangement in which the name of a charity was "taken in vain".
Former Conservative chancellor Lord Lawson said Northern Rock should be closed to new business and its mortgage book sold off when market conditions improved.Former Conservative chancellor Lord Lawson said Northern Rock should be closed to new business and its mortgage book sold off when market conditions improved.
He said the government had chosen to continue running it as a business because it was "sensitive about feelings in the North East", where the bank is based.He said the government had chosen to continue running it as a business because it was "sensitive about feelings in the North East", where the bank is based.
'Tax dodge''Tax dodge'
Prime Minister Gordon Brown was earlier accused of failing to answer questions on Northern Rock, with Conservative leader David Cameron saying his lack of openness would "make Fidel Castro proud".Prime Minister Gordon Brown was earlier accused of failing to answer questions on Northern Rock, with Conservative leader David Cameron saying his lack of openness would "make Fidel Castro proud".
In exchanges at prime minister's questions, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said the way the nationalisation had been handled was "jeopardising the interests of the British taxpayers".In exchanges at prime minister's questions, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said the way the nationalisation had been handled was "jeopardising the interests of the British taxpayers".
Mr Brown insisted "stability" was the government's "watchword" - and Granite would "not affect the sale of Northern Rock to a private buyer".Mr Brown insisted "stability" was the government's "watchword" - and Granite would "not affect the sale of Northern Rock to a private buyer".
Labour MP John McDonnell has also written to the chancellor to demand an explanation of Granite's role, which he said was a "tax dodge" that increased the burden on the taxpayer and put Northern Rock jobs at risk.Labour MP John McDonnell has also written to the chancellor to demand an explanation of Granite's role, which he said was a "tax dodge" that increased the burden on the taxpayer and put Northern Rock jobs at risk.