Mr. William Praskifka:

It happens reasonably regularly about matters both big and small. We have referred matters where we felt that there may have been small improper adjustments in interest rates. I do not have the figures to hand but it is something we do on a fairly regular basis. If I had to give an estimate, it is probably something we do a half dozen times a year.

The Chairman asked whether we are happy with the Central Bank's response. We are the ombudsman and we have an open relationship with the bank. We give the staff there a great deal of information. They have all the information on our complaints trends and against whom we are upholding complaints. It is entirely appropriate that they have that. It is a matter for themselves what they do with it. I assume they use it to prioritise their own work to assist them in targeting areas. The Financial Services Ombudsman is of great use in the entire regulatory framework as an early warning system. We see some problems before anyone else does but I cannot come before the committee and give an evaluation of what the Central Bank does with the information.