Cable calls for all lenders to follow the RBS lead

"This welcome news will be of great relief to struggling RBS customers. However, it will be a mere drop in the ocean unless it is followed by the whole industry. The Government must now insist that all the nationalised and part-nationalised banks follow suit."

Commenting on the announcement that mortgage lending fell by nearly 70% in October, Vince Cable said: "As the housing market continues to fall we should expect to see the amount of mortgage lending to fall. However, a collapse of this magnitude suggests this is much more than people choosing not to move house.

"Banks are continuing to put the squeeze on borrowers even for those who are clearly able to repay their loans.

"It is critical that the Government ensures the banks start lending again to prevent this recession becoming deeper and even more painful."