UK government-backed lending to SMEs rises to 4.1 billion pounds

LONDON (Reuters) - Government-backed bank lending to small and medium-sized British businesses hit by the coronavirus rose to 4.1 billion pounds as of April 28, up from 2.8 billion pounds the week before, trade body UK Finance said on Thursday.The Bank of England has criticised banks for the slow pace of lending under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan scheme, which is 80% government-backed, and on Monday the government launched a new scheme for 100%-backed loans of up to 50,000 pounds..