Mr. Stephen Mason:

Positive equity does not enter our thinking. For us it is all about affordability and what the customer can afford. If the customer can afford one of our forbearance arrangements, we offer the same forbearance whether one is in positive or negative equity. It is all down to how much a customer owes and what is his or her affordability. We do it that way and I think I gave an example earlier when somebody raised the matter.

Our split mortgages are split fairly - 50:50 - between those in positive equity and those in negative equity.