This accessible study investigates the role of banks in financing British industry. Despite the City of London's importance as a financial center, there has been much dispute over the level of support that banks have given to British industry. Michael Collins weighs the conflicting arguments. Is there evidence of failure in the money markets? Has the estrangement of financial and industrial capital hindered Britain's economic development? He places these and other questions in a historical context and provides a survey of recent literature on this contentious subject.