Mr. John Trethowan:

I will deal with the last question first, which is why some cases are being withdrawn from the process after we have become involved. The credit review process begins with a fact-finding process. We spend a bit of time with the banks and ask them for their views on why the loan application was rejected but we spend a lot more time with the borrower, be it a small business person or a farmer, to get his or her view on life and to understand his or her business better. As the process continues, sometimes we find that the reason for the decline of the loan application is not that well understood by the borrower. Once he or she understands it, the borrower can provide answers or we see answers in the work we do with the borrower. When the bank is made aware of these answers, the bank is prepared to lend.

Our objective is to ensure viable or potentially viable businesses have access to credit. I do not mind if it goes through as a credit appeal or the bank decides it has enough information to make the loan of its own volition. It does not appear in the figures and slightly distorts some of the work we do but the borrower has benefited from the process and has obtained credit. I am not too worried if people withdraw and get credit as long as they do not withdraw and are lost, which is the concern.