BANK SPLIT ON CASH BOOST; your money.

Byline: CLINTON MANNING

THE Bank of England's key committee was divided three ways over plans to pump more money into the economy.

Minutes from the Monetary Policy Committee's November meeting reveal a real difference of opinion over the strength of the recovery.

Seven members of the nine-strong MPC - headed by governor Mervyn King - right, backed a pounds 25billion increase in quantitative easing, taking the economy's total cash injection to pounds 200bn.

But the Bank's chief economist Spencer Dale felt this was "unwarranted" and could help fuel house and share prices.

By contrast David Miles, who joined the committee in June, called for an extra pounds 40bn of help to avoid any risk of the recovery stalling.

WE SAY: The fact that the Bank of England's gurus can't agree shows just how tough it is to assess where the economy is heading.

There is evidence of a pick-up - particularly in the housing market - and signs that Christmas may not be as bleak as some feared for the High Street.

But rising unemployment, higher taxes and a general election are all clouds that remain on the horizon.