[]b] The European Union has approved plans for Northern Rock to be split in two - paving the way for a partial sale of the nationalised bank.
One business, described as the 'good' bank, will hold deposits, carry out new lending and hold some existing mortgages.
A second 'bad' bank will be set up to hold the rest of the mortgages and repay outstanding government loans.
Critics fear the taxpayer may still be left with losses, racked up from the assets that remain with the bad bank.
The BBC reports the restructuring is expected to take place by the end of the year.
