The Bankwatch

The ICB report recommended a system to permit account number portability between banks to make it easier to switch banks.  Such a system would also switch automatic direct debits.

Lloyds Bank (60% government owned) have prepared a report to support such a move.

UK banks float £2 billion account switching plan Finextra

According to the Telegraph, the database plan would cost between £1.5 billion and £2 billion and take around two years to build, while a full account portability scheme would be £5 billion and take up to 10 years to roll out.