A bank chief will today face MSPs as part of a Holyrood probe into the future of jobs in the banking sector
Archie Kane of Lloyds will be questioned after a raft of redundancies over the past year at the financial giant raised fears of further cuts.
The enquiry was started after the takeover of Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) by Lloyds TSB last year, but found itself bailed out by the public purse to the tune of billions of pounds as the banking crisis intensified.
The taxpayer currently owns just over 43% of the group.
In a submission to Holyrood’s economy committee ahead of the inquiry, Lloyds insisted Scotland remained a “strong player” in global finance.
It added: “Firms in the insurance and asset management area have largely come through the recent crisis in good shape and most reports into the competitiveness of the financial sector have confirmed Scotland has maintained a strong position.”
Lloyds was also in the headlines recently when Rangers manager Walter Smith claimed the bank was effectively running the club.
This was denied by Lloyds, but prompted Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy to hold talks with the financial giant over the situation at the Scottish champions who have debts of about £30 million.
