MPs have given Britain's biggest banks nine months to clarify credit card charges.

John McFall, chairman of the Commons Treasury committee, warned yesterday: "We are not going to go away."

During cross-examination by the select committee yesterday, Matt Barrett, chief executive of Barclays, admitted that he himself did not borrow on credit cards "because they are too expensive".

He added that he advised his own children against building up big debts on plastic.

The clash came as the chief executives of Barclays, the Royal Bank of Scotland, HBOS, Lloyds TSB and MBNA Europe were called before the committee.