Government-supported banks in the UK need to increase their targets for credit availability in 2010. This is in accordance with the lending targets set up in the budget.

The figure, suggest experts, will be more than £80bn. It is higher than what was decided during last year.

Yet, the step has been seen as a victory for the banks since the company repayments have not been included in the target calculations.

Most of the companies are paying back their debts and this should be not be included as part of the capital.

Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group have already suffered because of this. Both the banks had to set their targets keeping in mind the conditions of using the asset protection scheme. And both have said that they can't meet the targets since the companies have paid their loans and that money has been made part of the capital.

Data shows that corporate paid back £48 billion more than what they borrowed last year.

Even the apex bank has accepted the concerns and looking for a way out. It has asked RBS and Lloyd to make lending available in terms on "gross" value and not "net".