UPDATE: A day after the letter was sent to RBS, Ross McEwan finally agreed to appear before the Committee. A date has yet to be set.
The Scottish Affairs Committee has written to Ross McEwan, Chief Executive Officer of RBS to offer him a “final opportunity” to before the Committee before it uses its formal power to summon.
The Scottish Affairs Committee has repeatedly asked Mr McEwan to give evidence on the bank’s decision to close 62 branches across Scotland. While the bank did send some senior managers, it has so far failed to respond to the request that the person in charge appears before the Committee to justify the closures.
Westminster’s Select Committees have a power to formally summon witnesses. Failure to attend a meeting when formally summoned is contempt of the House of Commons, which is a punishable offence.
While summons are rarely issued, this power was exercised by the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee in 2016 to force Mike Ashley, owner of Sports Direct to give evidence and was also used to force Rupert and James Murdoch to appear before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee in 2011.
Local MP John Lamont, who is Vice-Chair of the Scottish Affairs Committee, has said it is time RBS treated stopped hiding from customers and justify their closures in public.
Commenting, John Lamont MP said: “To even consider issuing a formal summons is a really serious matter. It shows the huge level of frustration about RBS and their failure to engage in this process.
“Some of the branches are due to be closing their doors in 3 months and it is time the bank stopped their delaying tactics and face up to public scrutiny.
“As the head of the bank, Ross McEwan should have already appeared before the Committee to answer the many concerns that I am hearing from my constituents in the Borders.
“The bank should view this as an ultimatum - If we do not get a quick answer, I will not hesitate to push for a formal summons.”